The Tameside Open Brass Band Championship took place at Dukinfield Town Hall on the weekend, where despite a number of late withdrawals there was a keen competitive atmosphere just a week after the last round of Area contests came to a close.
Spheres
Hammonds Saltaire put behind them the disappointment of coming 5th in the First Section at Bradford as they claimed the £600 top prize in the Championship Section.
Under the direction of Morgan Griffith, they produced a fine performance of ‘Music of the Spheres’ to take the title by a clear three point margin over Stannington Brass, with Ashton under Lyne in third. Both these top section bands reprised ‘English Heritage’.
Solid performance
In the Second Section another band who missed out on a trip to Harrogate, fought back to winning ways, as Oldham (Lees) conducted by John Collins produced a very solid performance of ‘Essence of Time’ to take the title ahead of Uppermill, with Dobcross Silver in third.
Hammonds Saltaire put behind them the disappointment of coming 5th in the First Section at Bradford as they claimed the £600 top prize in the Championship Section4BR
Oceans
The Third Section saw victory go to Thornton Cleveley conducted by Steve Simpson, who didn’t compete at the Areas. They produced a fine performance of ‘Oceans’ to take the title ahead of Harrogate bound York Railway Institute who made the trip down from the North of England, with another Harrogate bound band, Farnworth & Walkden in third.
Darwen victory
Earlier in the day in the Fourth Section, there was a win for Darwen Brass, who also put behind them the disappointment of the Winter Gardens, where they came 8th, to produce a well shaped performance of ‘Music for a Festival’ to take the £600 top prize ahead of a number of rivals who beat them thee, including Besses Boys in second and Boarshurst Silver in third.
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
1. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths) – 192
2. Stannington Brass (Derek Renshaw) — 189
3. Ashton under Lyne (Martyn Evans) – 187
4. Rainford (Neil Samuel) — 186
5. Mossley (Duncan Byers) — 184
Withdrew: Timperley (Alan Hobbins)
Second Section:
Adjudicator: Derek Braodbent
1. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins) – 185
2. Uppermill (Alan Widdop) — 184
3. Dobcross Silver (Grenville Moore) — 183
4. Middleton (Matt Stringer) — 182
Withdrew: Tyldesley (Rob Taylor)
Third Section:
Adjudicator: Thomas Wyss
1. Thornton Cleveleys (Steve Simpson) – 185
2. York Railway Institute (Gordon Eddison) – 183
3. Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley) — 182
4. Formby Brass (Louise Hough) — 181
5. Stalybridge (Eric Landon) — 179
6. Blackley (Adrian Smith) — 178
Withdrew: Coppull & Standish (Graham Martin)
Withdrew: Hoover (Bolton) (Trevor Halliwell)
Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Thomas Wyss
1. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley) – 183
2. Besses Boys (James Holt) – 181
3. Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth) – 180
4. Dobcross Youth Band (James Garlick) — 179
5. Arnfield Brass (Adrian Loader) — 177
6. St Johns Band Mossley (Stephen Corbett) — 176
Withdrew: Denton Brass (Colin Myers)
Withdrew: Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Withdrew: Parr (Richardson Ltd) St Helens (John Ludden)
