The 2010 Lower Section National Finals sponsored by Geneva Instruments.

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Third Section

Sunday 26th September
Test Piece: 'Willow Pattern' — Philip Harper
Commence: At the conclusion of Section 4
Adjudicators: David Lancaster and Kevin Wadsworth

Comments by Iwan Fox

Blimey! It's been a long old day with the results to come.
No excuse for this — remember Torquay.

Not a bad contest in the Third Section but it was a question of a lack of consistency that hurt most bands today.

A close run thing for us at the top with a battle between Delph and Bolton (Hoover) with Clifton & Lightcliffe, Porthywaen and Fulham close behind. York may surprise some today with Bream our dark horse.

1. Delph
2. Bolton (Hoover)
3. Clifton & Lightcliffe
4. Porthwaen
5. Fulham
6. York

Dark horse: Bream

Band 17. Betteshanger Welfare Brass, David Cutting, London and Southern Counties

Its a slow boat to China this — very slow in fact.
It gets there in the end and lands with a real statement of intent.
Some odd tempo's mean the young lovers escape very loudly on the back of a three wheeled rickshaw.
The mandarin will certainly have heard them going for sure.
The lovers take their time in consumating things — plenty of time.
Not wham bang thank you mam this — even the fire was started on a low light.
Recovers but the doves fly slowly to their final resting place.

Overall: A tale that unfolded with the speed of a Chinese 'war and Peace'. Had the basics but was in need of flow.

Star Player: Tuba — Paul Richardson played his role to full effect.

Band 16. Porthywaen Silver, Mark Parry, Midlands

Another lumpy pork ball spoils the opening but the flugel and euph are early providers of quality.
The band catches up and the following episiodes have a real sense of style and purpose.
What a runner from the lovers — as razor sharp as Kill Bill's sword edge.
Super stuff. Lovers enjoy sensuous bit of slap and tickle led agin by the flugel.
Mandarin gets things burning nicely to kill off the desires but it leads to a pretty good phoenix from the flames impression fom the doves.
just tires to close.

overall: A really good one by a fine female flugel lead and band that nearly matched her in the mix.

Star Player: Flugel — Claire Higgins — Take a well earned bow ; tip top playing.

Band 15. Sidmouth Town, Adrian Harvey, West of England

A nearly one to start — held promise but it took just a litle too long to find its way to the Chinese mainland.
When it does though there is a hallmark of real quality about much of this and the MD tries the type of risks usually taken by student travellers in the tattoo parlours of Hong Kong.
Great escape by the young lovers — "China in Your Hand" as 'T'Pau' once sang.
Delicate love scene leads to bravura bonfire of the vanities and the rise of two very musical doves to reach a fine close.

Overall: despite the clips and blips this had start of Chinese authenticity about it.

Star Player: Flugel — Esther Harbour was a delightful young Chinese damsel.

Band 14. Llwydcoed, Gary Davies, Wales

A lumpy one to start which takes its time to head East along the M4.
Gets there but it has more chips than the local Llwydcoed Peking House takeaway.
Stylish playing has drive and the lovers make haste over the valleys to their love nest.
This was quality playing and it is followed by a love scene inspired by Bruce Lee and Charlotte Church.
Lovely stuff just marred by the eager desire to please.
the hiuse is burnt by a Welsh nationalist Mandarin before a well balanced pair of doves emerge to head to a slightly tired ending.

Overall: Merthyr meets Manchurian this. An exotic mix that didn't quite come off today.

Star Player: Iestyn Davies on Solo Cornet was a comrade Chairman mao would be proud of.

Band 13. Clifton & Lightcliffe, John Clay, Yorkshire

Just the smallest chip in the Willow Pattern to start but this is right out of Chairman Mao's backyard, setting the scene with the players following the Great Leader's instructions.
The lovers flee and leave the best impression possible — clean and tidy.
Heartfelt emotion in the boudoir before the mandarin does a 'Crossroads' and sets the hotel on fire.
This is really enjoyable playing, so well shaped and delivered.
Reeves and Mortimer would love these doves from above.
Hangs together just right to the close.

Overall: A Chinese corker from Chairman Clay and his Revolutionary Guard.

Star Player: Solo cornet — Nick Walker was a great leader of the Red Army.

Band 12. Irvine & Dreghorn Brass, John Boax, Scotland

Yet another opening series of courses that struggle to find the right feel — bull in a china shop comes to mind.
When it does though there is much to enjoy with real fleet footed and colourful flight to the hills.
Percussion is working wonders — like Chinese acrobats!
Nervous young lovers fumble under the sheets but tuba sends them up the chimney with the glee of that bloke in the 'Wicker Man' film.
Great stuff.
Big old ending as doves reach for the sky.

Overall: Another performance strong on character but so many were flawed by problems in execution.

Star Player: Stand tall the percussion section. extra portions of Sweet and Sour for all 3!

Band 11. Bream Silver, Huw Cole, West of England

Recovers from an opening that was lumpy as a sweet and sour pork ball to spring to life.
This has real style and purpose now despite the odd clip and the lovers hit the road accompanied by Hong Kong Fuey on a Woodblock.
Wowee! Great stuff; full of life and character.
Lovers enjoy themselvs despite odd mispaced fumble and tuba mandarin is a cracking Chinese Guy Fawkes.
Doves give it their all to reach for the stars!

Overall: An uneven one but an enjoyable one though.

Star Player: Woodblock/Timpani — an unknown warrior who laid his life on the line.

Band 10. Shirebrook Miners Welfare, Mark Wilcockson, Midlands

Another nervous opening course takes its time to find the way to the Orient — and not the one marked Leyton either!
Now we are there its bravura playing full of drive and excitement.
Colourful stuff this is with lovers off to bed courtesy of some fleet footed playing.
A fruity love scene is ended by a great tuba swan vesta lighter.
Fine build by the doves from above too as the band end on an upbeat note of real power and glory.
Supporters go bonkers two bars before the end!

Overall: Like a good Chinese takeaway — it got better the closer it came to the end.

Star Player: Tuba — Fu Manchu is Ruth Cartlidge

Band 9. Cheshire Constabulary, David Woolam, North West

Nervous opening takes its time to find its Oriental bearings but it gets there.
Excuse the pun but it rather 'plods' along at times.
The miscreants flee in a westerly direction as they say in crown court but they are not breaking the speed limit.
Great tubas provide the lovers with a comfy bed for the night and they enjoy it too!
Tuba is a 'Prodigy' like "Firestarter" and the lovers go up the chimney.
Birds of a feather get airborne and enjoy a big old ending to close.

Overall: Not quite a tale to remember but had its moments to savour for the Chinese detectives.

Star Player: Flugel — Rachael Woolley was a shining light here.

INTERVAL

Band 8. Goodwick Brass, Matthew Jenkins, Wales

Bold opening just has the odd sticky moment in the opening courses.
Little clips and blips take the polish off the plates at times.
The youngsters are in too much of a rush to make it to the foton of love and leave a messy trail in their wake.
Worth it though — well worth it!
The mandarin burns them like Peking Duck but they emerge from the flames and they make their ascent with control and balance to a fine end.

Overall: An excitable tale of young love this. Had its moments but not just enough today.

Star Player: Flugel — Ffion Williams — like a little Chinese firecracker. great playing all through.

Band 7. Bolton (Hoover), Trevor Halliwell, North West

Bold opening courses set a colourful scene with soprano on tip-top form.
It carries on with style and purpose too.
Not the most subtle midnight scarper by the lovers but they are entwined like Chang and Eng the Siamese twins in the bedroom.
Hot stuff!
Lovers burnt to death in dramatic style too before they fly high into the sky.
More bold stuff to end and a real ping to the final chord.
Impressive.

Overall: One Hoover that was made in China and didn't break down like a Dyson! Bravo MD and band. A real cracker this.

Star Player: Soprano Jay Shepherd — As sweet as a Chinese chip shop curry; Great playing.

Band 6. Fulham Brass, Simon Jones, London and Southern Counties

MD enters in a white suit which makes him look like a cross between Dr.No and Randell & Hopkirk Deceased.
A brave, brave man!
Slightly nervous first course but then it really comes to life.
Stylish stuff — colourful and full of drama.
Great scarper from the lovers — catch us if you can!
They really indulge themselves in the bamboo boudoir too before the fires of passion go up in smoke.
Dramatic if slightly tired end though.

Overall: A really stylish drama packed tale this. Not perfect by any means but great entertaining story telling.

Star Player: Euphonium — Michael Dawson — A Spurs man playing so well for Fulham.

Band 5. York Railway Institute, Gordon Eddison, North of England

Just a few clips to the opening starters but there is nice stuff being played especially by a young tuba mandarin.
The lovers flee quicker than Bruce Lee on a Suzuki 750cc — Wow!
Great stuff and followed by a love scene that just had odd misplaced fumble and the odd droppped match by the pyromanic mandarin.
Great old fashioned upbeat close.

Overall: A cracking effort from a young band. The odd moments but one to really enjoy.

Star Player: Matt Hoyle on Eb Bass — Fu Manchu eat your heart out!

Band 4. Delph, Philip Goodwin, North West

The opening courses of this takeaway are a tasty little apéritif.
The old mandarin has real pomposity and lovers flee with nimble bound feet.
Tasteful Mills and Boon love scene before a dramatic flaming end.
Great chopsticks choregraphy to close in style.
Bravo or Blavo!!

Overall: A really good one this. A bit of Delphware every bit as good as any Chinese crockery.

Star Player: Keith Palmer on euphonium was a tip top Ting Tong!

Band 3. Ferryhill Town, Susan Norris, North of England, 3

Takes its time to find its tuning feet but there is some nice playing on show.
The lovers flee at a fair lick leaving a bit of a messy trail behind them before enjoying the carnal pleasuresand their inflamed demise.
Ouch! this singed the edges.
A tired pair of doves made the final ascent to freedom.

Overall: A very uneven one this — a story that never quite had that happy ending.

Star player: The unknown warrior on euphonium did a fine job.

Band 2. Chapeltown, Andrew Dennis, Yorkshire

After a wait to start, where they could have built the Great Wall, it starts nervously.
Story unfolds unevenlybut with plenty of pace and colour.
Touching love scene before the pair go up in flames and they fly off with a bit of a struggle.
Just tires to end.

Overall: Recovered after a poor start to tell a colourful tale.

Star Player: Euphonium — A bold one this from Kris Garfitt

Band 1. Kilmarnock Concert Brass, Craig Anderson, Scotland

We're off with a stylish intent and plenty of atmosphere.
Some little issues as the lovers flee but tenderness on show with the love scene.
Neatly done demise and there is plenty to enjoy as it ends on an upbeat note.

Overall: Not a bad one to start and one that certainly told a story froma good young band.

Star Player: Flugel — Yvonne Gray was a Chinese Cracker