Report & Result: 2018 NWABBA Rochdale

Oldham Band (Lees) continue on their fine run of 2018 form with a fifth consecutive victory, as Delph, Eccleston Brass and Tewit Silver claim section awards.

There was an excellent day of contesting amid the ornate Victorian splendour of Rochdale Town Hall on the weekend as 29 bands took to the stage for the North West Area BBA contest.

It drew a large and appreciative audience too, as well as support from sponsors Hanson Springs, WT Building Services, KP Industries and The Flying Horse and trade stands from Pennine Music and Creative Brass.

There was also as a great variety of own-choice selections for adjudicators John Doyle and Benjamin Richeton to compare and contrast, with just one piece duplicated in a section.

Fifth title for Oldham

Oldham Band (Lees) continued their superb run of 2018 form, winning the combined Championship/First Section title with a rousing performance of 'Dances & Alleluias' under John Collins.

It gave the band their fifth title of what has turned into a memorable year following victories at Brass at the Guild, the North West Area, Senior Cup and National Finals.

The band also left with the 'Best Instrumentalist' and 'Best Percussion' accolades.

An exciting rendition of 'Paganini Variations' saw Vernon Building Society maintain their good form under Stig Maersk in coming runner-up, whilst a solid performance of 'A London Overture' giving Hade Edge third.

Delph success

There was a keen battle for the honours in the Second Section, where a dozen well-led bands provided John Doyle with plenty of food for thought.

In the end it was Delph who recorded their first substantive contest success since winning the Third Section National title in 2010 as they secured victory under Phil Goodwin with a cracking rendition of Philip Sparke's 'Kaleidoscope'.

Close behind came Welsh contenders Ifton Colliery with a robust account of 'The Saga of Haakon the Good', whilst Whitworth Vale & Healey showed their ambition with a colourful account of 'James Cook — Circumnavigator'.

Middleton, the recently crowned Second Section National Champion of Great Britain had to be content with fourth place as they reprised the Cheltenham test-piece, 'Firestorm' off the number 1 draw, whilst last year's champion Horwich RMI fell to a disappointing 12th.

Successful Episode for Eccleston

North West Area champion Eccleston Brass maintained their good 2018 form with a solid victory in the Third Section — courtesy of a well worked performance of 'Episodes for Brass' which they reprised from their recent appearance at the National Finals in Cheltenham.

Uppermill returned to the Area test-piece 'Napoleon on the Alps' to come a strong second, with Skelmersdale Prize producing an engaging performance of 'Dimensions' to end third.

Tewit on top

Although there were only four bands in the Fourth Section, it produced a fine contest — headed by an excellent winning performance from Tewit Silver under Martin Hall.

Fresh from their runner-up finish at the National Finals, they produced an excellent performance of 'Dimensions' by Peter Graham to repel the strong challenge of Parr St Helens ('The Aeronauts') with Welsh visitors Seindorf Beaumaris making a welcome return to the contest stage in coming third playing 'Northern Landscapes'.

Oldham Band (Lees) continued their superb run of 2018 form, winning the combined Championship/First Section title with a rousing performance of 'Dances & Alleluias' under John Collins4BR

Results:

Championship/First Section:

Adjudicator: John Doyle

1. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
2. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Stig Maersk)
3. Hade Edge (Jonathan Beatty)
4. Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt)

Best Instrumentalist: Baritone — Oldham Band (Lees)
Best Percussion: Oldham Band (Lees)

Second Section:

Adjudicator: John Doyle

1. Delph (Phil Goodwin)
2. Ifton Colliery (Scott Lloyd)
3. Whitworth Vale & Healey (Chris Binns)
4. Middleton (Kevin Gibbs)
5. Flixton (Matthew Ryan)
6. Slaithwaite (Ryan Watkins)
7. Farnworth & Walkden (Luke Pallister)
8. Royal Buckley Town (Keith Jones)
9. Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
10. Pemberton Old DW B Band (Ben Dixon)
11. Besses o'th' Barn (Trevor Halliwell)
12. Horwich RMI (John Hinkley)

Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Ifton Colliery)

Third Section:

Adjudicator: Benjamin Richeton

1. Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
2. Uppermill (Dean Redfearn)
3. Skelmersdale Prize (Ben Coulsen)
4. Thornton Cleveleys (Stephen Craig)
5. Pilling Jubilee Silver (Steve Hartley)
6. Cleethorpes (Brian Harper)
7. Hoover Bolton (Craig Mann)
8. Littleborough (Adrian Woodhead)
9. City of Chester (Ewan Easton)

Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Eccleston Brass)