Tredegar continued on their rich vein of early season form by winning the Welsh Open Brass Band Entertainment Championship at the South Wales Miner’s Eisteddfod in Porthcawl on Saturday.

Eighth title

Conducted by Ian Porthouse, they took the title for the eighth time in the contest’s 13 year history, by a clear two point margin over rivals BTM, conducted by Tom Davoren, with Pontins Champion, Tongwynlais, under Philip Harper, in third.

£1,000 first prize

Less than a month after winning at Yeovil, Tredegar secured the £1,000 first prize and the impressive CISWO Challenge Cup, courtesy of a 20 minute programme that was amended from due to their flugel star Zoe Hancock appearing at the 'BBC Young Brass Soloist' Competition in Manchester.

Tredegar opened with Matt Hall’s high tempo 'Activate', followed by Stephen Sykes lyrical rendition of 'I Loves You Porgy'. A Yeovil reprise for 'Swinging Matilda' and Matt Hall’s 'Smile' led into the finale and Benjamin Tubb’s innovative take on 'Danse Macabre' complete with skeletal violin lead and a codetta finish with Howard Snell’s arrangement of 'Folk Festival'.

They produced excellent dynamics and control – it really was an outstanding performanceDavid Read

Real quality

Adjudicator David Read spoke to 4BR after the results, and was impressed by the winners: "There was real quality about their playing today," he said. "They produced excellent dynamics and control – it really was an outstanding performance."

Speaking to 4BR before the results, Ian Porthouse declared himself pleased with his band’s performance. "Given that we lost one rehearsal due to the weather I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the band today. We are playing with real confidence at present."

Impressive runner up

David Read was equally impressed by the runner up BTM, who took home £500, and made a point of highlighting the contribution made by their MD, Tom Davoren: "BTM played very well off the early draw, and I thought that a number of their pieces were cleverly played and very well thought out," he added.

Their programme included two Davoren originals – his 'Visions of Kholkis' to close and the trombone solo, 'Reflections & Dances', which was given a truly virtuoso rendition by Jonathan Pippen to take the 'Secretary’s Rose Bowl' trophy – his second successive award after taking the solo prize at Yeovil.

Merit

Third placed Tongwynlais Temperance also produced a polished programme to gain the final podium finish and win £300. "Theirs was another performance that had some fine playing and some clever arrangements," David said.

Stood out

It was these three performances that stood out on the day, although he felt there was much to enjoy from each of the remaining bands.

David added: "The top three were a step ahead of the rest, but I enjoyed a great deal of what each of the bands played. The one point margin between the bands outside the top three reflected how close they were. My only criticism was with tuning at times and some of the trombone playing seemed out of balance – but I felt that could have been the acoustic of the hall."

Encouragement

With the Welsh Area Contest just a few weeks away, there was encouragement for Beaumaris after their slick performance under Gwyn Evans of a folk/jazz inspired mix saw them come fourth.

Lydbrook and Staines (who won £600 in prize money after taking the award for highest placed 1st section band and most entertaining stage presentation) will also return home over the Severn Bridge pleased by their day’s work.

Popular contest

Although two bands’ did drop out, the organisers will have been encouraged by the coverage the event gained on national Welsh television as well as through local media, despite the news that funding for the contest may be reduced in 2011.

Contest controller Rob Gowing told 4BR: "We are already looking ahead and will be working hard to secure the future of what is a very popular contest. We hope to make further announcements about next year’s event over the next few weeks."

The first announcement was that the annual Graham Rees Memorial Award of a £500 bursary was to be given to Gwyn Owen of the Beaumaris Band to further his educational studes.

Results:

1. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) – 196
2. BTM (Tom Davoren) – 194
3. Tongwynlais Temperance (Philip Harper) – 193
4. Beaumaris (Gwyn Evans) – 191
5. Lydbrook (Steve Sykes) – 190
6. Staines Brass (Melvin White) – 189
7. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins) – 188
8. Burry Port (Craig Roberts) – 187
9. Abergavenny Borough (Paul Holland) – 186
10. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Gareth Ritter) – 185
11. Markham & District (Nigel Seaman) – 184

Best Soloist: Jonathan Pippen (BTM)
Highest Placed 1st Section Band: Staines Brass
Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: Staines Brass
Youngest Player: Alexander Rees (Tongwynlais Temperance)