The Flowers Band directed by Paul Holland emerged from two days of intriguingly variable competition at Skegness to be crowned 2011 Butlins Mineworkers Champion.

Hold on

They took the magnificent Warwick Vase and cheque for £7,000 back to their Gloucester base after holding onto their overnight lead on Darrol Barry’s 'Requiems' despite producing an uneven entertainment programme on Sunday afternoon.

However, such was the fluctuating nature of their rivals playing over the weekend that despite their third place on the Sunday they still took the title for a second time by a clear three point winning margin.

Uneven

Desford had to be content with second place following a frustratingly uneven defence of their title, whilst Virtuosi GUS claimed third place after producing varying performances that saw them come 7th on the set work but top the entertainment discipline.

David Read MBE told 4BR that despite some fine playing on show over the two days...the test piece, and especially with its tempo markings had proved difficult to overcome...whilst they rewarded the more innovative programmes on the Sunday4BR

Inventive

Redbridge’s failure to impress the entertainment judges cost them the chance of a second Butlins title in three years as they ended in fourth, whilst Woodfalls highly inventive Scandinavian themed entertainment set boosted them from overnight obscurity to fifth overall.

Entertaining

Thoresby’s consistent performances saw them end in sixth place, whilst EYMS will have returned home pleased that their Sunday programme under Alan Morrison gained them the £1,000 Most Entertaining Band prize, whilst principal cornet Neil Day picked up £300 for winning the Geoff Dove Best Soloist Award.

Difficult

Adjudicator David Read MBE told 4BR that despite some fine playing on show over the two days, he acknowledged that the test piece, and especially with its tempo markings had proved difficult to overcome on the Saturday, whilst they rewarded the more innovative programmes on the Sunday.

Flowers Band Manager Lee Downie believes the win will now give Flowers a timely boost of confidence ahead of a busy contesting season. "It’s a great win," he said. "We put in plenty of hard work and Paul did a fantastic job as usual. It sets us up for Yeovil in a couple of week’s time before we head to Torquay and Blackpool. We are aiming to get to London and Birmingham this year – and this win has given us a real boost of confidence."

First Section

There was also a huge boost to the confidence of Yorkshire’s City of Sheffield Band as they took the First Section title under the baton of David Holling on the Saturday.

A delighted MD, with winners banner draped around his neck in the bar, told 4BR that the victory sets them up for the stern test of 'Carnival Romain' at Bradford following their victory on 'Granite Variations'.

"This was a difficult piece, but we put in the hard graft and it paid off. We are moving in the right direction now with a great set of players and a real determination to add to this win at St George’s Hall."

Keen affair

The First Section contest at Bradford should be a keen affair as Sheffield pipped rivals Yorkshire Imperial to take the £2,000 first prize, whilst Longridge flew the flag for the North West in coming third.

Langley will head to to Bedworth boosted by their fouth place finish, whilst the remaining top six places were taken by the Midland duo of Foresters Brass 2000 and Carlton Brass.

No American joy

There was to be no joy for the Americans of Central Ohio Brass though, although they will not forget their first appearance at the Butlins contest in a hurry.

Flight delays in the USA meant that the majority of the band did not arrive in Manchester until Saturday morning, where thanks to the help of the organisers they were ferried across country to get to Skegness just after lunch.

The contest controllers and rival bands also agreed to allow the band to play last on the day, and with jet lag, lack of rehearsal and unfamiliarity with their surroundings they understandably couldn’t quite raise their game enough and had to be content with 16th place.

They did however thoroughly enjoy the event and the reception they received on the Saturday evening when they provided an entertaining concert for the audience at the Centre Stage venue.

Second Section

Duncan Byers and Mossley took the Second Section title and the £2,000 winners cheque in an evenly matched contest.

The North West band’s performance of 'Rise of the Phoenix' saw judges John Roberts and Brian Rostron award them the title ahead of rivals Haslingden & Helmshore, who had to be content with the runners up prize for the second year running.

A revitalised Dodworth Colliery ended in third, with the final top six places taken by South Yorkshire Police, Blidworth Miners Welfare and Uppermill.

Third Section

There was the promise of a long night of celebration on Saturday following Pemberton Old DW Band’s win in the Third Section.

Band Chairman Brian Halliwell was digging deep into his pockets to fill up the Butlins Trophy with a celebratory tipple after the North West band took the £2,000 first prize under the baton of Peter Ashley.

Means as much

"This means as much to me as anything I’ve done in banding," Brian told 4BR. "The band has come such a long way, and to win here is fantastic. Everyone connected with the band and the Pemberton organisation deserves it."

Pemberton’s performance of the set work, 'Hungerford Town' saw beat off the strong challenge of second placed Hucknall & Linby Brass, with Eccles Borough in third.

City of Bradford, Rivington & Adlington and Whitworth Vale & Healy filled the remaining top six places, in what developed into a hard fought contest in the Royal Arthur Suite.

Fourth Section

Dronfield CMW Band successfully defended their Fourth Section title under the direction of MD, John Davis.

And according to Chairman, Adrian Wood, victory sets them up with a huge boost of confidence ahead of their debut in the Yorkshire Area in Bradford in a few weeks time.

Yorkshire boost

"We can now look forward to that really boosted by this win," he told 4BR following the announcement of the results. "We had to relocate our bandroom at the end of last year and that meant that we now have to move from the Midlands to Yorkshire. It’s a daunting task, but if we play like this again I think we can make a real impression at St George’s Hall."

Stern test

Darrol Barry’s 'Contrasts' proved to be a stern test for the bands in the Royal Arthur Suite on Saturday morning but adjudicator’s Alan Fernie and Barry Thompson had no doubt about their winner, or the bands that filled the top six places.

In the end Market Rasen took the runners up sport ahead of third placed Pleasley Colliery with Banovallum, Burbage (Buxton) and Welbeck Estates close behind.

Youth Section

There was a great atmosphere and plenty of brilliantly talented young performers providing wonderful brass band entertainment in the Reds venue on Sunday.

At the same time as the senior outfits battled against each other, a more relaxed atmosphere saw a host of bands deliver inventive entertainment programmes, much to the delight of the audience and thoroughly impressed judges.

Formidable

In the main Youth Contest it was the formidable Youth Brass 2000 led by Chris Jeans that defended their title with an outstanding performance to take the £1,000 top prize ahead of the excellent Lions Youth Brass and Enderby Youth.

Cracking playing

Meanwhile, in the Junior Ensemble event, four brilliant sets of players from Shirland Training, Gresley Colliery Youth, Wigston and Shirland Ensemble put a smile on everyone’s faces with some cracking playing.

In the end it was Shirland Training who took the honours, but each of the bands and their MDs were winners in a contest that was a huge success.

Full retrospectives of the weekend’s events will appear on 4BR in the next few days.

Results:
2011 Butlins Mineworkers Festival
Skyline Resort
Skegness

Championship Section:
(Set test + Own Choice) = Total
Test Piece: 'Requiems' — Darrol Barry
Adjudicators: David Read MBE, Paul Cosh, Paul Norley

1. Flowers (Paul Holland) (1 + 3) = 4
2. Desford Colliery (Russell Gray) (2 + 5) = 7
3. Virtuosi GUS (John Berryman) (7 + 1)= 8
4. Redbridge Brass (Jeremy Wise) (3 + 6) = 9
5. Woodfalls (Garerth Pritchard) (8 + 2) = 10
6. Thoresby Colliery (Melvin White) (5 + 7) = 12
7. Marsden Silver Prize (Glyn Williams) (4 + 9) = 13
8. Zone One Brass (Richard Ward) (6 + 8) = 14
9. EYMS (Alan Morrison) (10 + 4) = 14
10. Blackburn & Darwen (Nick Sheppard) (9 + 10) = 19

Highest Placed Mining Band: Desford Colliery
Most Entertaining Band: EYMS
Geoff Dove Soloist Award: Neil Day (EYMS)

First Section

Saturday 22nd January
Venue: Reds, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: 9.00am
Commence: 10.00am

Test Piece: Granite City — Darrol Barry
Adjudicators: Steve Sykes and Major Paul Norley

1. City of Sheffield (David Holling)
2. Yorkshire Imperial (David Nesbitt)
3. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
4. Langley (Cliff Parker)
5. Foresters Brass 2000 (Pete Collins)
6. Carlton Brass (Geoff Hawley)
7. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford)
8. Ipswich & Norwich Co-op (Graham Chambers)
9. Haverhill Silver (Mark Ager)
10. Phoenix (West Midlands) (John Ward)
11. Bedworth Brass (Guy Bennett)
12. Enderby (Jonathon Mott)
13. Cawston (Lee Sharp)
14. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
15. Cornerstone Brass (Gavin Lamplough)
16. Central Ohio Brass (Jessica Sneeringer)
17. Kippax (David Lancaster)
18. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson)
19. Murton Colliery (Dennis Noble)
20. Harborough (Chris Groom)

Highest Placed Mining Band: Kippax

Second Section

Saturday 22nd January 2011
Venue: Lakeside, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: 8.45am
Commence: 10.00am

Test Piece: Rise of the Phoenix — Darrol Barry
Adjudicators: John Roberts and Brian Rostron

1. Mossley (Duncan Byers)
2. Haslingdon & Helmshore (David Holland)
3. Dodworth M W (Elliot Darwen)
4. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker)
5. Blidworth Miners Welfare (Martin Heartfield)
6. Uppermill (Alan Widdop)
7. Leicester Cooperative SMW (Graham Jacklin)
8. Fulham Brass (Simon Jones)
9. Northfleet Brass (Melvin White)
10. Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery (Johnathon Fenwick)
11. Becontree Brass (Adam Cooke)
12. Shirebrook MW Unison (Mark Wilcockson)
13. Ibstock Brick Brass (Huw Thomas)
14. Delph (Jonathon Davies)
15. Denham Hendon Brass (Gordon Davies)
16. Betteshanger Colliery (David Cutting)

Highest Placed Mining Band: Dodworth Miners Welfare

Third Section

Saturday 22nd January
Venue: Royal Arthur Suite, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: 8.30am
Commence: at the conclusion of the Fourth Section

Test Piece: Hungerford Town — Darrol Barry
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy and Graham O'Connor

1. Pemberton Old DW (B) (Peter Ashley)
2. Hucknall & Linby Brass (Paul Whyley)
3. Eccles Borough (Marieka Gray)
4. City of Bradford Brass (Lee Skipsy)
5. Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson)
6. Whitworth Vale & Healey (John Binns)
7. Brighton & Hove City Brass (Matthew Hackett)
8. Tewkesbury Town (Nigel Morgan)
9. Stamford Brass (Robert Prew)
10. Hitchin (Craig Patterson)
11. Amington Band (Wesley Kendrick)
12. Thoresby Colliery Youth (Christine Lippeatt)
13. Hemel Hempstead (David Klein)
14. Thurcroft Welfare (Ken Vernon)
15. Maltby Miners Welfare (Terry Clifford)

Highest Placed Mining Band: Amington Band

Fourth Section

Saturday 24th January
Venue: Royal Arthur Suite, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: 8.15am
Commence: 9.300am

Test Piece: Contrasts — Alan Fernie
Adjudicators: Alan Fernie and Barry Thompson

1. Dronfield CMW (John Davis)
2. Market Rasen RPC, Alan Needham,
3. Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Keith Buxton)
4. Banovallum Brass (Steve Ingham)
5. Burbage (Buxton) (Steve Critchlow)
6. Welbeck Estates Brass (Robert Deakin)
7. Whitwell Brass (Lyndon Cooper)
8. The Melton Band (Graham Sutton)
9. Dinnington Colliery (Jonathon Beatty)
10. Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) (Ian Knapton)
11. Bestwood Black Diamonds (Brian G Draper)
12. Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes (Steven Askew)

Highest Placed Mining Band: Dronfield CMW

Youth Section

Venue: Reds, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: Pre-drawn
Commence: at the conclusion of the Junior Ensembles

Programme of Music not to exceed 20 minutes but must include a march and a hymn tune
Adjudicator: Alan Fernie and Barry Thompson

1. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
2. Lions Youth Brass (Nigel Birch)
3. Enderby Youth (Trevor Hounsome
4. Shirland Welfare Training (Dave Harvey)

Coleshill Youth Band (Stephen Fagg)
Croft Mid Band (Ian Bromley)

Youngest Player Award: Luke Winslake, Croft Mid (7)

Junior Ensemble

Sunday 23rd January 2011
Venue: Reds, Butlins Skyline Resort
Draw: Pre-drawn
Commence: 11.00am

Own Choice programme of ten minutes duration to include a hymn tune
Adjudicator: Marie Smith

1. Shirland Training Ensemble 1 (Dave Harvey)
2. Gresley Colliery Youth (Peter Hylton)
3= Wigston Enterprise Band (Julie Maxwell) & Shirland Training Ensemble 2 (Dave Harvey)