The 1st Old Boys Band organisation certainly warmed up for their forthcoming appearances at the European Championships in Ostend by showcasing their individual talents at the recent BBLNI annual Solo & Ensemble competition held in Belfast.

Adjudicators Glyn and Helen Williams were particularly impressed as they awarded their players no less than 11 first prizes in the 14 classes.

Huge boost of confidence

The success has given the band a huge boost of collective confidence ahead of the senior 1st Old Boys Band taking part in the Challenge Section and the 1st Old Boys Youth Band participating in the Development Section of the European Championships in Belgium at the end of April.

Great start

A spokesperson told 4BR: "This is a great start to an exciting year for the band. We are looking forward competing in the Europeans of course, especially as we have shown what great talent we have in both bands that have benefitted from working recently with Mike Fowles and members of the Foden's Band on their recent annual Armagh trip.

The success has given the band a huge boost of collective confidence ahead of the senior 1st Old Boys Band taking part in the Challenge Section and the 1st Old Boys Youth Band in the Development Section of the Europeans4BR

Successes

The list of 1st Old Boys winners and podium finishers (some as young as 10 years of age) were: Joanna McCullough (cornet); Owen Brannigan (trombone); Louise Bell (cornet); Andrew Milligan (tuba); Ross Lyness (trombone); Mark Bingham (cornet); Daniel Sharpe (horn) and Mercer MacWilliam Hughes (trombone). There were also a number of ensembles successes.