It was not just the Celtic Manor in Wales that experienced terrible weather for competitors on the weekend, as a host of bands braved the elements to compete at the Bolsover Festival of Brass on Sunday.

Encouragingly the organisers reported that over 2,500 people packed into the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton and Pinxton Village Hall throughout the day to enjoy the entertainment provided by the bands.

Newstead take top title

And after a long day of battle, it was Newstead Brass conducted by Duncan Beckley who left clutching the Wilson Bowden Developments winner’s trophy and the £500 Championship Section top prize, courtesy of a polished and contrasting entertainment programme that found favour with adjudicator David Read.

Baking hot

The movement’s top judge told a baking hot packed hall that he had no problems picking the winners from the seven band field, but had more difficulty with the podium places and below.

He also took the opportunity to remind the bands and audience about some of the things that needed to be taken into account by competitors at entertainment contests nowadays – especially the need to be innovative and fresh in their approach to presentation and musical content.

His remarks gave a clear indication why the bands that opted to fill the majority of their programmes with high paced, high volume repertoire in an unforgiving acoustic didn’t feature in the prizes.

Contrast

Contrast, consistency and classy execution was certainly on display with the winners, who opted for repertoire as diverse as Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen to Philip Sparke, Dan Price and Freddie Mercury, whilst their solo euphonium player Lyndon Cooper delivered an outstanding performance of ‘Party Piece’ by Philip Sparke to take the ‘Best Soloists’ prize.

Behind the winners came a polished 20 minute programme from Ratby Co-operative conducted by Michael Fowles, whilst a more traditional approach from Powerfuel Hatfield under Graham O’Connor secured third place.

First Section win for Imps

Three competitions took place at Pinxton Village Hall, where a Mark Freeh inspired programme claimed the winner’s trophy and the £400 top prize in the First Section for Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel under David Nesbitt.

Their programme included ‘When the Saints’ and ‘Phantom Regiment’, whilst their principal cornet was showcased in the ‘Godfather Waltz’. Clare Daws and Adrian Nurney were featured in ‘Valse’ before the band wrapped up its winning programme with ‘Old Man River’.

Performing at 9.00am didn't perturb City of Sheffield from taking the runners up spot courtesy of a highly entertaining set, whilst third place went to Vernon Building Society Poynton Band, who left their Cheshire base at 5.30am.

The band's baritone player Andrew Lawton certainly wiped any sleep from his eyes as he gave a top class rendition of Peter Graham's ‘Brillante’ to win the ‘Best Soloist’ prize.

Adjudicator, Allan Ramsay paid tribute to all the bands for their level of performances whilst observing the need to think about adapting their sound to the acoustic of the venue, with a number missing the opportunity to impress by not lowering the ensemble volume.

Strata claim victory

An entertaining Second Section saw the £350 first prize head to the home entertainment contest specialists, Strata Brass conducted by David Hirst.

After their recent win at the Wychavon contest Strata took to the stage full of confidence to produce a polished and diverse 20 minute programme that included ‘The Magnificent Seven’, ‘Festive Prelude’, ‘Beneath the Willows’, featuring flugel soloist Maria Beasley and ‘Go Down Moses’ before closing with ‘Glorifico Aeternum’.

It was enough to deservedly give them the title ahead of an impressive South Yorkshire Police conducted by Leigh Baker and Barnsley Building Society directed by Rob Straw, whose podium finish was enhanced by the fine flugel playing of ‘Best Soloist’ winner Amy Shepherd with a splendid rendition of George Michael’s ‘Faith’.

Rolls Royce performance

The day started on the stroke of 9.00am at the Post Mill Centre with a winning Third Section performance from Rolls Royce Derby Band conducted by Graham Cardwell – despite there only being 10 hardy souls in the audience to witness it!

In spite of the lack of atmosphere, the winners produced a professional account of themselves from the opening ‘Te Deum’ and Andrew Sharpe’s fine account of ‘Buster Strikes Back’, to the hymn tune’ ‘Be Still’ and xylophone feature ‘Two Imps’, with soloists Geoff Shaw and John Watson, before finishing with ‘Rock Music III’.

David Horsfield was an impressed adjudicator, with all five bands producing varied, balanced programmes, with a number of quality featured soloists.

Second place was claimed by Ireland Colliery Chesterfield, who later went on to win the Fourth Section, with Hucknall & Linby coming third. Their soprano player Emma Wood delivered a super rendition of ‘Demelza’ to take the solo prize.

Relton enjoys 4th Section

William Relton presided over fives hours of entertainment as eleven bands battled for the title in the Fourth Section. In a packed Pinxton Village Hall, the experienced adjudicator told how much he'd enjoyed the day and praised everyone concerned — including the organisers.

Ireland Colliery and Ian Knapton took the title and the £200 top prize after delivering a well measured programme that opened with ‘Kongolela’ followed by ‘A Little Prayer’. The band's euphonium player, Chris Knapp shined in ‘Varied Mood’ with ‘Be a Clown’ and ‘Magga’ from ‘The Four Noble Truths’ competed their winning set.

Dan Price's Tottington Public, from Bury in Lancashire, was the last band to play just before 7.00pm, and their entertaining programme claimed second place, whilst the final podium slot went to Whitwell under Lyndon Cooper.

Barnsley Metropolitan's 18 year old cornet player, Josh Simms, described as ‘an outstanding soloist’ by William Relton, took the solo prize for his rendition of ‘Sugar Blues’.

Brass band music is certainly on the rise again and due to the popularity of this event and the amount of bands that want to take part, we are looking to expand the contest into a weekend festivalBolsover Council

Juniors shine

Three bands took part in the Unregistered Section that saw Stone Town from Staffordshire take the title with a programme that included the march, ‘Glendene’ and the theme from the film ‘Gladiator’.

The undoubted highlight though was the 43 youngsters aged between 9-15 from Macclesfield Youth Juniors, who royally entertained the audience to claim second place, whilst Dearne Valley and Frank Hoyland from Yorkshire finished third.

Adjudicator Allan Ramsay spoke of his delight about what he'd witnessed, reminding those involved about the importance of intonation and tuning before he headed back on the long road to Glasgow to conduct a recording for Listen to the Band.

Fantastic

Bolsover District Council Cabinet Member for Arts and Leisure, Councillor Ann Syrett told 4BR: "What a day! Fantastic music, breathtaking soloists, fabulous performances and a great atmosphere made sure everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Both venues were packed from start to finish and provided an excellent opportunity for the bands and audiences to socialise as well as perform.

"It was also great to see bands at grass-roots level competing with some very talented young people coming through the ranks and performing extremely well. Brass band music is certainly on the rise again and due to the popularity of this event and the amount of bands that want to take part, we are looking to expand the contest into a weekend festival."

Full Results:

Championship Section: Inter-County Challenge
Adjudicator: David Read MBE

1. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley)
2. Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles)
3. Powerfuel Hatfield (Graham O’Connor)
4. Thoresby Colliery (Huw Thomas)
5. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard)
6. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Kevin Gibbs)
7. Stannington Brass Band (Derek Renshaw)

Highest Placed Mining Band: Newstead Brass Band

First Section:
Adjudicator: Allan Ramsay

1. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Nesbitt)
2. City of Sheffield Band (David Holling)
3. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Kevin Gibbs)
4. Silk Brass (Macclesfield) (David Holling)
5. Raunds Temperance (Robin Norman)
6. Strata Brass (David Hirst)
7. Kippax (David Lancaster)

Highest Placed Colliery Band: Strata Brass
Best Solo Player: Vernon Building Society Poynton – A. Lawton
Most Entertaining Band: Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel

Second Section:
Adjudicator: David Horsfield

1. Strata Brass (David Hirst)
2. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker)
3. Barnsley Building Society (Rob Straw)
4. Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield)
5. Emley Brass (Gary Hallas)

Best Soloist: Barnsley Building Society

Third Section:
Adjudicator: David Horsfield

1. Rolls Royce Derby (Graham Cardwell)
2. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Ian Knapton)
3. Hucknall & Linby MC (Paul Whyley)
4. Lofthouse 2000 Brass (Andrew Whitaker)
5. Ratby Co-operative Mid Band (Geoffrey Newman)

Best Soloist: Soprano — Hucknall & Linby MC
Highest Placed Colliery Band: Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: William Relton

1. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Ian Knapton)
2. Tottington Public (Dan Price)
3. Whitwell (Lyndon Cooper)
4. Ratby Co-operative Mid Band (Geoffrey Newman)
5. Worsbrough (John Hopkinson)
6. Dronfield (John Davis)
7. Rode Hall Silver (John Callister)
8. Barnsley Metropolitan (Alex Francis)
9. Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Keith Buxton)
10. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Steve Berrill)
11. Ilkeston Brass (David Jones)

Highest Placed Colliery Band: Ireland Colliery Chesterfield
Best Soloist: Barnsley Metropolitan Band

Un-Registered Section:
Adjudicator: Allan Ramsay

1. Stone Town (Graham Randle)
2. Macclesfield Youth Junior (Cheryl Slamon)
3. Dearne Valley Brass (Frank Hoyland)