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4BR Review of the Year
Second Section.
Our man John James casts his eye back over the contesting year
in the Second Section.
That the National Finals, Pontins and Mineworkers trophies were
all won by Yorkshire bands demonstrates that the White Rose is in
a pretty healthy state and the music played by the bands at these
contests was superb. Kenneth Hesketh’s quirky, witty suite
of music ‘Danceries’ inspired by the 17th century tunes
and customs of courtly Olde England, Eric Ball’s ‘Sunset
Rhapsody’ originally written for the British Open Championships
in 1958 and ‘The Essence of Time’ by Peter Graham originally
the set test-piece at the European Championships in 1990 were well
chosen. ‘Danceries’ was included in the 4BarsRest awards
- it demanded lots of skill and thought and the best bands made
it sound a real treat.
Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson) took the honours in Torquay with
a cracking performance but followed this up with an unlucky 13th
at Pontins. That shouldn’t detract from the fact that they
sounded a very good outfit indeed during the year. Although they
missed out at Tameside they took the Holme Valley Contest title
a couple of weeks later and were well placed at Buxton. A deportment
prize on Whit Friday came their way during a very good season under
the direction of their tremendous MD Simon Wood who penned a wonderful
Nationals Diary for our articles & features section. One of
the bands up for nomination in the 4BarsRest awards.
Horbury Victoria, just a point behind them at the Regionals, were
Yorkshire’s other National representative and their youth
band competed well in the community section at the National Youth
Championships in February. Elland Silver had a busy year highlights
of which was an entry of 75 soloists for their Slow Melody &
Quartet contest, five members of their Youth Band, with their MD
Samantha Harrison, featuring in an episode of a TV series 'Where
The Heart Is.' and their prize winning performance at Denshaw on
Whit Friday. The ‘Weaver Building Group Brass Band’
signed a new three-year contract and so changed its name to Strata
Brass and under this banner they took the Mineworkers title in Blackpool.
Runners-up in the contest were Stanley Newmarket and that went some
way to make up for a disappointing Regionals result.
We conclude the year in Yorkshire with Norman Law and his Old Silkstone
Band who took a number of trophies back home. Starting in May at
Buxton their prize-winning season continued at the Easingwold March
and Deportment Contest. They won both Pontins and the Wilkinson
Northern Open in fine style and the hard working committee must
be congratulated on their splendid efforts when in July the inaugural
March and Hymn tune contest took place in the village. Their year
was spoiled though when thieves forced the door at the bandroom
at Silkstone Lodge in October and stole instruments worth more than
£30 000.
Before we move on we should take time out to commend the Officials
and Stewards who were involved in the Pontins contest. Buffeted
by extraordinarily high winds the wall of the Lunar Bar creaked
and groaned all though the Second Section contest. The marquee normally
used to help with organisation of the registry was blown down and
the extreme weather created problems for contest control, what with
the Championship Section running simultaneously, it has to be said
that they coped admirably.
Following a number of complaints concerning the facilities on offer
at the Belevedere Park Club the Midlands Areas in 2003 will see
all sections held at the Burton Upon Trent Town Hall but this year
qualifying from Belevedere were the Brackley District, Shirley and
Langley Bands. The Midlands bands returned excellent results in
Torquay finishing in 2nd, 3rd and 7th places respectively. Brackley
District runners-up National Finals performance benefited from some
super individual playing from the horn, flugel and bass trombone
and they rounded their year with a top ten place at Pontins.
It was an especially important year for one of Shirley Band key
players, flugel horn player Robin Mills who celebrated 50 years
of continuous membership of the band and he helped them secure 3rd
place at the National Finals. September was a good month for the
band from the Borough of Solihull as it saw them take runners-up
and best soloist prize at the Wychavon Entertainment Contest. Langley
Band won the Midlands Regional in a strong twenty-band field having
moved into the second section in 2002.
Croy Parish Silver had, for a number of years, been a consistent
challenger for a Nationals Final place and this was achieved in
2002 when they won the Scottish Regionals. They were also well placed
in the WSBBA contest in May. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass had Alan
Ramsey to head their challenge in Torquay and gained a top ten place.
They took the Carnegie contest prize and were the best second section
band at the WSBBA contest making them perhaps the most consistent
second section band in the Scottish region this year.
In the North West Moston and Beswick (Manchester), Lancashire Life
Morecambe and Bollington Brass were the three bands that probably
stood out in this Section. Moston and Beswick (Manchester) became
Tameside Open Victors in April, a result they replicated at Buxton
in May playing their own choice music for 2002 ‘The Land of
the Long White Cloud (Aotearoa)’ by Philip Sparke. By this
time they were already North West Regional Champions having conquered
at Blackpool in March and MD Rob Taylor steered them to more awards
when they finished 4th in National Finals in Torquay and 3rd at
Pontins.
They returned to winning ways at the North West Open Championships
in October when they also took the Best Cornet Section award. Considering
the busy contest schedule they had to meet they could well have
figured higher than 6th off the dreaded number 1 draw at the Wilkinson
Northern Open. A season & a half and without question one of
the best bands in the country in this section in 2002. Lancashire
Life Morecambe finished 6th in the National Finals being runners-up
in the Regionals and Bollington Brass were well placed in the Areas
before taking the runners-up prize at the Buxton Festival. They
performed well again in Buxton when another trophy went their way
with the runners-up prize in the Buxton Entertainment Contest in
September before they rounded out the year on another high when
they were 2nd at the Wilkinson Open.
In the Northern Section Langbaurgh Brass took the Regional title
and finished in the frame at Torquay (6th). They had a great year
in 2001and simply cemented their progress and confirmed their status
this year. Cockerton Prize Silver were runners-up at the Regionals
after winning the Annual County Durham 62nd Grading Contest in February,
under the direction of Graham Catherall securing a victory over
Ferryhill Town. Pride Valley Brass were most consistent and picked
up a couple of trophies in finishing third at Spennymoor in February
and CISWO in November.
Northfleet and Becontree Brass marched forward to Torquay and both
came away with mid-table placings. Northfleet matched their talents
in a very strong Pontins contest and came away a little disappointed
but the London & Southern Counties grading tables showed their
promotion for 2003 together with Stonesfield Silver. Becontree Brass
celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2002 by reaching their 5th National
Finals appearance the last 7 years and when Bill Rumford announced
his retirement in the summer he became the band’s first President
an acknowledgement in having conducted the band through from 4th
section to 2nd Section.
The Welsh Dragon was represented by Penclawdd and Rhyl Silver at
the National Finals but they returned without the silverware on
this occasion. In South Wales Markham won at both the WWBBA Ammanford
Contest, Ebbw Vale and were third in the Treorchy entertainment
competition making it a good contesting year. When taken together
with their National appearance Rhyl Silver who were runners-up in
both the top section and second section at North Wales Brass Band
Annual Championships in November, were perhaps the pick of North
Wales.
In the West Of England Torbay Brass and Bendix Kingswood took the
Regional places and travelled to Torquay. Torbay played with credit
at Bugle and picked up a cornet prize and went back to Torquay in
November where they were runners-up in the South West Brass Band
Association contest. Chalford figured well in contests this year.
They competed really well against tough opposition to claim runners-up
spot at the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association Contest, took
the Weston Super Mare title, finished 4th at Pontins and with only
one band entered the 2nd section in Gloucester they continued their
winning ways.
One of the highlights of their summer programme was the Youth Band's
participation in a Golden Jubilee summer fair at Horsfall House
nursing home in Minchinhampton. Guest of hounour was The Princess
Royal and she was full of praise for musical director, Steve Tubb
and the band. Stourport-on-Severn had David Maplestone, who was
also flying high with the Staffordshire Band, at the helm this year
and they won the Wychavon Entertainment Contest under his baton.
They gave the Weston Super Mare contest a good go and could never
have had their performance considered ‘safe’ at Pontins.
They read their pieces very individually, taking risks with dynamic
and tempo, but it didn’t come off for them all the time in
2002. Stuart Chappel took over the baton of the Lanner and District
Silver Band in April 2001 the band has been transformed. Although
they were the only entry in the Annual Cornwall Brass Band Contest
held in Truro Second Section, they showed their ability at Bugle
with a Hymn Tune win and a test-piece prize .
They ended the year on a high note taking 1st place at the Annual
Championships of the South West Brass Band Association in Torquay.
The Poole Contest held a couple of weeks ago saw Phoenix Brass (Crewkerne)
take the award , but to go back almost a year Malcolm Bronwnbill
covered the Truro Contest held in March and this started his busy
and impressive line of contest adjudication in 2002 the culmination
of which was his place in the Albert Hall box.
Before this section is concluded it would be remiss not to note
that it welcomed bands from other shores in 2002. BrassBand Gent
from Belgium lifted 2nd prize at the SCABA 53rd Autumn Contest in
October and Radøy Brass were most impressive and played a
blinder under Gareth Pritchard to thoroughly deserve their award
at the Pontins Championships.
© 4BarsRest
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