British Open champion Tredegar continued their impressive run of contesting form on the weekend by notching up their seventh victory in eight contests this year.

Retained title

Under the direction of Ian Porthouse, the odds on favourite retained the Wychavon title and the £1,500 top prize for the third year in succession, with a reprise of their recent winning programme at the National Eisteddfod of Wales.

Despite picking up two time limit penalty points, a programme that featured two items by their own composer in residence, percussionist Matt Hall, as well as 'Best Soloist', trombonist Stephen Sykes and their prize winning percussion team, was more than enough to take the Wychavon Cup back to Wales once again.

Pressure

Tredegar’s MD told 4BR that despite the margin of victory, his band certainly felt the pressure to perform.

"We certainly didn’t take anything for granted," Ian said. "We made sure we put the work in and I was pleased by the way the band responded on stage. The pressure was on us, and with Stephen and our percussion team on brilliant form and the rest of the band really upping their game, it proved to be a boost ahead of the National Finals."

The top section contest saw a Welsh one/two, with rivals BTM taking home the £600 on offer for second place under Tom Davoren, with Pemberton Old Wigan DW coming third.

The decision of the newly crowned British Open champion to make the trip to Evesham was welcomed by contest organisers, and on their 21st anniversary, were delighted that a large and appreciative audience enjoyed all five sections over the two days.

Tredegar’s performance rounded off a wonderful weekend, and we were just as pleased that the audiences enjoyed the playing of all the bandsContest organiser, Clive Allen

Young players

Festival organiser Clive Allen told 4BR: "Tredegar’s performance rounded off a wonderful weekend, and we were just as pleased that the audiences enjoyed the playing of all the bands. One of the highlights was seeing so many young players such as those in the Worcestershire Youth Band, who deservedly won the Tracy Sollis Cup as the best local band."

First Section

In the First Section, a world premiere performance helped Foresters Brass 2000 under Peter Collins to the Roger Spragg Festival Cup and the £1,000 top prize.

With an eclectic mix of repertoire that leant heavily on the arranging talents of former player Leigh Baker and the current resident conductor Alwyn Green, Foresters opened with Leigh’s, 'Saints Fantasy', complete with choreography, before Matt Hampton delighted the audience with his sensitive playing in 'The Angel’s Prayer'.

With a quick change in mood to feature a bit of Barry Gott jazz, the main portion of their winning programme was taken up by the world premier of the famous, 'Sorcerer’s Apprentice' arranged by Alwyn, before the band rounded things off with a tongue in cheek 1 minute blast from the cartoon 'Top Cat'.

Alwyn himself was still beaming with satisfaction when he spoke to 4BR: "I’m really enjoying conducting and playing with the band. They are such friendly people and such willing players, and the decision to play the Paul Dukas work came off a treat.

"We have a concert in Bournemouth coming up and I think it will form part of our concert programme there for certain."

Second place went to Vernon Building Society Poynton, with Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) in third. The keenly contested 'Best Soloist' prize went cornet player Chris Lewis of Aldbourne, with the percussion prize going to Enderby.

Second Section

Another band enjoying a hat trick of victories at the contest was Strata Brass, conducted by David Hirst.

The entertainment contest specialists took the Danny Freer Cup and the £750 top prize for a third year with a programme that opened with the prelude, 'Praise Him', and also featured flugel soloist Maria Beazer on 'Beneath the Willows', as well as music as diverse as, 'The Magnificent Seven' to 'Glorifco Aeternum' to close.

Enjoyed contest

Paul Wilkinson told 4BR: "We really enjoy the contest and always make a weekend of it, staying in Worcester. The result is a great way to celebrate the news of the extension of our sponsorship with Strata for a thirteenth year, and gives us a huge boost for the rest of the contesting season."

He added: "The band has gone through a number personnel changes during the last few weeks in addition to losing one of our percussionists through illness, but we have worked hard for this
result. Our MD David Hirst picked a programme which obviously did the
trick!"

Strata was pushed all the way to finishing line by Tilbury from London under the baton of lan Duiguid , whilst Welsh contenders Ynyshir was third, with their euphonium player Heather McDown and the percussion section winning the individual awards.

Third Section

There was plenty to celebrate for Eccles Borough in the Third Section, as the band from the North West claimed their maiden victory on their debut at the contest under the direction of Marieka Gray.

In a programme described by adjudicator Roy Sparkes as being; '…very entertaining, well played and well presented…played with panache', Eccles took the Three Towns Trophy and the £600 first prize with a contrasting mix of repertoire that included everything from the film music, 'The Incredibles' to Swahili singing and two of the band’s players Matt Price and Matt Shaw doing their take on Morecambe and Wise in 'Singing in the Rain'.

Wonderful job

Val Davies told 4BR: "We really enjoyed the contest and to win on our first appearance was great. Marieka is doing a wonderful job with us and this sets us up for the rest of the year with the Fleetwood contest next on the horizon."

Eccles took the title by a narrow single point margin from Daventry Brass, who took the ‘Best Percussion’ prize, with Corus (Port Talbot) in third. Amington Band’s flugel horn player Rebekah Noons took the solo award.

Fourth Section

It was a question of making sure the adjudicator was on board in more ways than one with AW Parker (Drybrook) Band’s victory in the Fourth Section, as conductor Kevin White cheekily asked Roy Sparkes to monitor his mobile phone throughout his band’s performance as his wife was in hospital expecting their baby.

Spirit

Roy entered very much into the spirit of the request, stopping the band between one of the pieces just to give an update on her progress!

Thankfully, Kevin didn’t have to shoot off, and with a programme that lent heavily on musical influences from both North and South America he directed his band to take the VECTA Trophy and the £500 first prize.

Kevin, who is still waiting for news from the maternity ward, told 4BR: "If things had meant my shooting off mid performance I think the band would still have gone on to win as they were playing so well.

"I have to thank them all for their understanding though as well as for their playing, with Martin Mustoe’s cornet playing on the solo ‘Georgia on my Mind’ taking my mind off other things for a few minutes for certain. He was great."

With the band benefiting from an influx of young players from their burgeoning Academy things are now looking up for the band too.

Delighted

Second place on the day went to a delighted Worcestershire Youth Brass Band under Nicky Daw, who delighted the audience with their enthusiasm and talent, with Amy Hiles picking up the ‘Best Soloist’ Award for her rendition of 'Sugar Blues', whilst the young percussion team picked up the section award. Third place went to Cheltenham Silver.

Results:

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: John Berryman

1. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) – 194
2. BTM (Tom Davoren) – 190
3. Pemberton Old Wigan DW Band (Mark Bentham) – 188
4. Milton Keynes Brass (Craig Patterson) – 186
5. Phoenix West Midlands Brass (Simon Platford) – 184

Best Soloist: Stephen Sykes (Tredegar)
Best Percussion: Tredegar

First Section:
Adjudicator: Melvin White

1. Foresters Brass 2000 (Alwyn Green) – 183
2. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Kevin Gibbs) – 182
3. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford) – 180
4= Aldbourne (Christian Lewis) –178
4= Mossley Band (Duncan Byers) – 178
6. Shirley Band (Dave Lea) – 177
7. Bedworth Brass (Guy Bennett) – 176
8. Enderby (Jonathon Mott) – 175
9. Wigston ()Garry Sleath) – 174
10. City of Coventry (Stephen Cooper) – 173

Best Soloist: Chris Lewis (Aldbourne)
Best Percussion: Enderby

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Melvin White

1. Strata Brass (David Hirst) – 175
2. Tilbury Band (Alan Duiguid) – 174
3. Ynyshir (Dean Evans) – 172

Best Soloist: Heather McDown (Ynyshir)
Best Percussion: Ynyshir

Third Section
Adjudicator: Roy Sparkes

1. Eccles Borough (Marieka Gray) – 185
2. Daventry Brass (Nigel Howard) – 184
3. Corus (Port Talbot) (Jamie Jones) – 183
4. Amington Band (Wesley Kendrick) – 182
5. Hungerford Town (Tim Crouter) – 181
6. Avonbank (Evesham) Brass (Andy Davison) – 180
7. Valley Brass (Haydock) (David Chadwick) – 179

Best Soloist: Rebekah Noons (Amington)
Best Percussion: Daventry Brass

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Roy Sparkes

1. A.W. Parker (Drybrook) Band (Kevin White) – 181
2. Worcestershire Youth Brass (Nicky Daw) – 180
3. Chelthenham Silver (Angie Shepherd) – 178
4. Coleshill Town (Stephen Fagg) – 177
5. Newport Borough (Sean O’Neil) – 176
6. Malvern Hills & District (John Swindells) – 175
7. Bratton Silver (Simon Carr) – 173

Best Soloist: Amy Hiles (Worcestershire Youth)
Best Percussion: Worcestershire Youth