The 7th annual City of Coventry & Warwickshire Brass Festival was held at Bablake School in Coventry on the weekend, and featured an excellent line-up of players both young and old taking part in the various solo, duet and ensemble sections.

Successful defence

Flowers horn star Paul Bennett retained his Festival Champion title for the third year running, beating off the strong Midlanders duo of Murray Borthwick (Desford) and Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover), whilst Luke Barker (Shipston) (above) retained his 'Best young Instrumentalist' title as well as scooping the new '18 and under' Air-Varie accolade.

Fantastic performances

The adjudicators for the event, which saw some fantastic performances from the very youngest competitors in particular in the brilliant '10 years & under' section, were Simon Hogg and Paul White, with the members of Jaguar Land Rover Band providing the stewarding.

Flowers horn star Paul Bennett retained his Festival Champion title for the third year running, beating off the strong Midlanders duo of Murray Borthwick (Desford) and Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover)4BR

Results:

10 years & Under Slow Melody:
1. Polly Rumble (NMPAT)
2. Rebecca Fletcher (Clinton Primary)
3. Henry Fifield (Shipston)

11 to 14 Slow Melody:
1. Luke Barker (Shipston)
2. Christopher Oddy (Enderby Youth)
3. Bethan Bown (Shipston)

Open Slow Melody:
1. Paul Bennett (Flowers)
2. Murray Borthwick (Desford)
3. Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover)

Duets 14 & Under:
1. Luke Barker & Grace Coates (Shipston)
2. Grace Coates & Bethan Bown (Shipston)
3. Bethan Bown & Sasha Turner (Shipston)

Duets 15 & Over:
1. Ian Wright & Andy Mayell (Jaguar Land Rover)
2. Linda Hobbs & Mick Wild (Jaguar Land Rover)
3. Kevin Whittaker & Micah Parsons (JLR and City of Coventry Brass)

Quartets 18 & Under:
1. Shipston

Quartets — Open:
1. Jaguar Land Rover
2. Shipston

Air Varie — 18 and under:
1. Luke Barker (Shipston)
2. Christopher Oddy (Enderby Youth)
3. Sasha Turner (Shipston)

Air Varie — Open:
1. Paul Bennett (Flowers)
2. Murray Borthwick (Desford)
3. Ian Wright (Jaguar Land Rover)

Best Instrumentalist 14 & Under:
Luke Barker (Shipston)

Festival Champion:
Paul Bennett (Flowers)

Youngest Girl: Tallulah Matthews (Shipston)
Youngest Boy: Peter Coates (Shipston)