A wonderful contest full to the brim with a dozen ensembles playing great choices of music was eventually topped for the second successive year by the outstanding Gold Award players of Wardle Academy Brass.

You really did have to keep pinching yourself at times at what you were hearing from bands made up of youngsters aged under 16 — all led with tremendous energy and enthusiasm by MDs who should have been sponsored by Colgate toothpaste such was the way in which they kept flashing smiles of encouragement to their charges from first note until last.

Outstanding

The winners under Lee Rigg were outstanding — a comment made by both adjudicators Ben Richeton and Martin Heartfield in their written notes and excellent remarks before the results.

Opening with the splendid sounds of 'The Old 100th' by Vaughan Williams, they went on to produce a great swagger rendition of 'The Howitzer' march that was a piece of musical ordnance that rumbled the foundations of the Goose Nest Hall.

A lyrical rendition of the hymn tune 'Angelus' led into the bold ambition of 'Dimension' by Peter Graham to round off a winning performance that was fully deserving of its golden accolade from the judges.

And although Lee Rigg had little time to hang about (he conducted three winning performances on the day in two venues) he later told 4BR that this was the performance that perhaps gave him greatest satisfaction.

"The players are at an age when they are really getting into their hobbies — and that includes all sorts of other things at Wardle Academy,"he said. "So to give a performance like this when they also have so much else going on in their young lives is a huge credit to them and their families.

I can't thank them all enough — and they certainly keep me on my toes!"

Sparkling

So too did Beaumaris Band led by Bethan Lowri, who produced a sparkling 15-minute set that got the feet tapping with the 'Theme from Rocky' before encapsulating stylistic variance with the hymn tune 'Missionary'.

Then came 'A Whole New World', 'Ghostbusters' and 'Take it to the Max' — an appropriate finale given that they really did give every last ounce of musical energy to gain their well-deserved Gold Award.

Whilst these two fantastic bands were a little way ahead of the rest of the field, there were a host of super performances to enjoy from the other 10 contenders — led by the Silver Award winners Chalford Youth in third, just ahead of Fred Longworth High School and Lions Junior Brass.

Super Evie

Chalford's flugel player Evie Hawes-Nunn (in a band whose average age was just 13) took the 'Best Instrumentalist' award for a super rendition of 'Concierto de Aranjuez' — described by the judges as 'excellent', as MD Steve Tubb once again showed that theirs is an organisation that continues to produce an inexhaustible supply of young musical talent.

Great credit too for the efforts of Fred Longworth High School (who also had a super flugel star on 'Saving All My Love for You') and Lions Junior Brass, whose 'Slam Dunk' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper was a fantastic opening item.

Emerging quality

The Bronze Award winners certainly showed their emerging quality; with Dobcross Youth Band (with a ship-shape 'Pirates of the Caribbean'), Elland Junior Band (a great 'Drums of Corona'); Hawkley Hall High School (a thumping 'MacArthur Park') and Soundhouse Youth Brass Plymouth (a lovely 'Irish Blessing') all delivering sets of musical contrast and confidence.

And with the contest ethos all about development, the solid foundations of excellent teaching were on show with the Merit Award winners of Macclesfield Junior Brass Band (with a great xylophone feature), Stockport Schools Intermediate (a toe-tapping 'Birdland') and Tewit Youth Intermediate (a dramatic 'Game of Thrones' theme).

to give a performance like this when they also have so much else going on in their young lives is a huge credit to them and their families.I can't thank them all enough — and they certainly keep me on my toes!MD, Lee Rigg

Result:

Junior Section:

Adjudicators: Martin Heartfield and Ben Richeton

Own-choice programme not exceeding 15 minutes playing time which must include at least one original piece of music composed for brass band and two verses of a hymn tune from the Red Hymn Book

1. Wardle Academy Junior Band (Lee Rigg) (Gold Award)
2. Beaumaris Band (Bethan Lowri) (Gold Award)
3. Chalford Youth Band (Steve Tubb) (Silver Award)

Silver Award:

Fred Longworth High School (Helen Robinson)
Lions Junior Brass Band (Tom Hancock)

Bronze Award:

Dobcross Youth Band (Matt Hindle)
Elland Junior Band (Samantha Harrison)
Hawkley Hall High School (Steven Cavanagh)
Soundhouse Youth Brass Plymouth (Gary Thompson)

Merit Award:

Macclesfield Junior Brass Band (Tim Grindey)
Stockport Schools Intermediate Brass Band (Tom Ridgley)
Tewit Youth Intermediate Band (Dave Dunn-Birch)

Best Instrumentalist: Evie Hawes-Nunn (flugel) — Chalford Youth