With two National titles to celebrate from the four Lower Section contests on the weekend there will be singing in the hillsides for the next few weeks in Wales, after bands from the Principality enjoyed a highly successful weekend of contesting in Harrogate.
Super Sunday
It proved to be a ‘Super Sunday’ for the Welsh, with victories in the First and Second Sections for Beaumaris and Point of Ayr, to add to the 3rd place of Mellingriffith City of Cardiff in the Third Section, and the 5th place of Tylorstown in the Second Section.
It proved to be a 'Super Sunday' for the Welsh, with victories in the First and Second Sections...4BR
Power houses
The traditional power houses of lower section banding of the Midlands and the North West also had National titles to enjoy too, with Wellington (Telford) taking the Third Section title and Lostock Hall Memorial, the Fourth.
The North West ended up with one winner, two runners up (Uppermill in the Fourth and Wardle and Anderson District Brass in the Second), as well as a 4th place for Oldham (Lees) in the Third Section and a 5th spot for Blackburn & Darwen in the First.
Good returns
The Midlands meanwhile also had one National title banner to hang on the wall whilst, there were good returns with Amington coming 3rd in the Fourth Section, University of Warwick taking 5th in the Third, City of Coventry 6th in the Second and Glossop Old, 6th in the First.
The proud representatives of the home region of Yorkshire had to make do with just the one podium finish with Skelmanthorpe’s runners up spot in the First Section, whilst YBS Concert gained a 4th place in the Second.
Mixed weekend
The West of England also had a mixed weekend with Verwood Concert Brass providing a runner up place in the Third Section and Helston and Brunel Brass coming 4th in the First and Fourth Sections respectively.
Ther were encouraging signs of a revival of fortunes in the North of England with Barton and Kirkbymoorside picking up podium finishes in the Second and First Sections, whilst Flookburgh came 6th in the Third Section.
Not great
It wasn’t a great weekend though for the bands from Scotland and London & the Southern Counties with Renfrew Burgh the lone top six finisher North of the Border in the Fourth Section where they pipped Hemel Hempstead for 5th place.
Medal Table:
1. Wales – 2 wins, 1 third
2. North West – 1 win, 2 seconds
3. Midlands – 1 win, 1 third
4. West of England – 1 second
5. Yorkshire – 1 second
6. North of England – 2 thirds
7. Scotland – 1 top six finish
8. London & Southern Counties – 1 top six finish
