Exchange Communications Whitburn under the direction of Ian Porthouse was crowned Scottish Champion in Perth on Sunday evening following one of the most closely fought top section contests for many years.

Four contenders

Before the announcement of the results the main foyer of the concert hall hummed to the sound of differing opinions, arguments and points of view, as the supporters of no less than four bands put forward persuasive cases to support their causes.

Stunned

The three traditional heavyweights of Whitburn, Co-operative Funeralcare and Kirkintilloch were all fancied to take the Hannaford Jubilee Trophy, but so too were Lochgelly, who stunned the audience with their powerfully constructed rendition to close the contest.

Opinion

In the end the only opinion that did count came from the two men in the box, and both Stan Lippeatt (who stepped in to replace David Read who was ill) and Lt. Col. Graham Jones racked up the levels of expectation with some well chosen remarks, before Whitburn was declared the 2011 champion, and with it claim the right to represent Scotland at the 2012 European Championships in Rotterdam.

"It was a player’s piece and you got a player’s decision," Stan told the audience. "There were some impressive performances today, but we had no doubt about the winners."

There was no doubting that, with Chris Bradley, Whitburn's principal cornet player picking up the prestigious Terris Medal for his fine contribution to Whitburn's winning performance.

It’s a great result – and one that came from hard work and real determinationWinning MD, Ian Porthouse

Pleased

Whitburn took the title for the first time since 2008, and the winning MD was a pleased man, despite the fact that he missed the results ceremony as he was making the long haul drive back to Wales.

He later told 4BR: "It’s a great result – and one that came from hard work and real determination. I felt the band produced a solid, classy performance on stage and they can gain a great deal of confidence ahead of the Grand Shield."

High quality

Despite the disappointment of losing their title as they searched for a hat trick of wins, Co-operative FuneralCare conducted by Dr Nicholas Childs returned to London after producing a high quality performance off the number 1 draw.

However, it later emerged that they were pushed all the way to the Albert Hall by an inspired Lochgelly conducted by Allan Ramsay, with a performance of ‘Paganini Variations’, that benefitted from a stunning opening featuring ‘Best Euphonium’ winner Glen Van Looy, as well as the foundation work of their prize winning bass section and the subtle shading of ‘Best horn’ player, flugel, Karen Brow.

Bit stunned

MD, Allan Ramsay was perhaps even more delighted at the result than the eventual qualifiers: "I’m a bit stunned," he told 4BR. "But the way the band played today, it didn’t come as a surprise."

Disappointed

Kirkintilloch meanwhile will have left Perth disappointed that their high energy approach full of exciting sounds didn’t quite resonate in the box as it did in the hall, as they missed out on a podium finish, despite the prize winning effort of Luke Williams on trombone.

First Section

Earlier on Sunday there was the sound of the screams of delight from the supporters of Kirkintilloch, as Charles Keenan led Kirkintilloch Kelvin to the First Section title for the second time in three years.

They were the one band to stamp their quality on ‘Le Carnival Romain’ to take the title by a clear two point winning margin and book their place in Cheltenham.

Well indeed

The winning MD, was proud of his band’s efforts on a piece that brought back many happy memories for him. "I know the piece very well indeed, so I knew what was needed after learning all about it from the great David James and others."

That was certainly apparent from the word go, as they were the only band on the day to overcome the opening two bars with pin point accuracy and follow it with contrasting lyrical flow and vibrant well paced energy – a point emphasised by the prize winning contributions of horn player Rebecca Ritchie and euphonium, George Good.

Two or three

Adjudicator Stan Lippeatt made a number of pertinent points in his summing up. "There were two or three good performances today," he revealed. "The box was in right place so we could everything that was going on what is a very difficult piece. Well done to the soloists though – especially the soprano and euphonium. We didn’t get too many good opening bars though – just two dotted minims on the score, but they caused all sorts of problems."

Jump for joy

Joining Kirkintilloch at the finals will be Broxburn & Livingston, conducted by Charles Farren. Their supporters jumped for joy as they claimed their first finals appearance since 2006, thanks to a purposeful well managed account.

Just missing out this year was Arbroath Instrumental, who produced a vibrant account under Michael Robertson’s direction to show their continued development.

Second Section

The honour of being crowned the first Area champion of 2011 went to City of Discovery directed by Bruce Wallace, who took the Second Section title on Saturday.

Their solid, balanced performance of ‘Resurgam’ saw the band from Dundee pick up both the John Little Hamilton Cup and the Scottish Region Challenge Cup to head to Cheltenham and the Lower Section National Finals for the first time since 2006.

Absolutely delighted

The winning MD was understandably delighted when speaking to 4BR – in fact ‘...absolutely delighted’ as he put it with a smile as wide as the mouth of the River Tay which runs just by Perth Concert Hall.

There was further cause for celebration as solo euphonium player Neil Watson picked up the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award for his fine contribution to the victory.

Joining them will be Granite City Brass from Aberdeen, conducted by Lt Col. Robert Owen. They reversed last year’s seventh place finish to claim their first finals spot since 2007.

Impressed

The two qualifying bands impressed adjudicators Peter Bassano and Lt Col Graham Jones OBE, who felt the pair had produced worthy performances on what Graham pertinently called , ‘...music from another era, but with very modern problems to overcome’.

Just missing out on a finals place was Annan Town, who posted a solid podium finish following their relegation from the First Section last year.

Third Section

There were wonderful sounds of celebration ringing into the Perth air on Saturday night, as one of Scotland’s youngest senior outfits, Brass Sounds Inverclyde, claimed their first ever Regional title by winning the Third Section.

Conducted by Lynda Nicholson, and only formed seven years ago, they produced a fine rendition of the tricky set work, ‘A Little Light Music’ to book their place at Cheltenham.

Watson advice

Lynda revealed that she took the advice of her mentor, James Watson, who recently passed away, to ensure her band was prepared for the contest. “He always used to say that you never won anything if you didn’t work hard”, she said. “And the band has worked so hard over the past few weeks.”

The secret to their first taste of Scottish success, according to the two judges, David Read and Stan Lippeatt, was based it seemed on Lynda’s intelligent approach to the tricky tempos – especially in the fearsome ‘tarantella’.

Good sense

“Theirs was perhaps the steadiest of the day,” David said later. “But it made so much sense and ensured we heard all the detail. Overall it was a very good performance.”

Joining the band in Cheltenham will be St David’s Brass, who put behind them four years of near misses to finally book their place under the direction of John Dickson.

Their well thought out performance was enhanced by the quality of their cornet work, especially that of Stuart Dixon on principal, who deservedly won the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award.

Just missing out this year was Jedforest Instrumental (the judges praised the top three bands in particular for their performances) after they posted their best result at the contest since 2004.

Fourth Section

Despite there only being seven bands in the Fourth Section, it was a question of quality rather than quantity for the judges Melvin White and Peter Bassano, as MacTaggart Scott Loanhead conducted by Mark Bell, took their first Scottish title since 1992.

Means the world

And that wait was made all the more worthwhile for the MD and his band – “It means the world," Mark said as clutched the Besson Challenge Cup and the Scottish Region Challenge Tribute close to his ample chest.

“Despite being relegated last year, we saw this as an opportunity to blood new players from our youth set up, such as our 14 year old principal cornet and others. It shows that investing in youth really works, and now it has paid off.”

Good to hear

Adjudicators Melvin White and Peter Bassano were impressed not just by the winners on the day. “It was good to hear the bands capture the spirit of the piece today,” Melvin said. “There were some tempo issues but it was a pleasure to listen to the bands perform a piece they could cope with.”

Joining then at the finals will be Tayport Instrumental conducted by Frank Culross, who built on last year’s 3rd place to claim their first finals appearance since 2001, thanks in part to the contribution of their ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award winner, cornet player Irene Reid.

Clear margin

These two bands ended up a clear margin ahead of the rest of the field, but there was encouragement for all the contenders on the day, with the consistent Queensferry Community picking up 3rd place under James Anderson.

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Championship Section:
Sunday 27th February

Test Piece: Paganini Variations (Philip Wilby)
Adjudicators Stan Lippeatt & Lt. Col Graham Jones

1. Exchange Communication Whitburn (Ian Porthouse) — 193*
2. Co-operative Funeralcare (Dr Nicholas Childs) — 192*
3. Lochgelly (Allan Ramsay) — 190
4. Kirkintilloch (Garry Cutt) — 189
5. Kingdom Brass (Andy Duncan) — 188
6. Dalmellington (Richard Evans) — 187
7. Newtongrange Silver (Nigel Boddice MBE) — 186
8. Bo'ness & Carriden Silver (Steve Sykes) — 185
9. Unison Kinneil (Colin Mackenzie) — 184
10. Bon Accord Silver (Selmer Simonson) — 183

*Two bands qualify for the finals

Best Cornet: Chris Bradley (Whitburn)
Best Trombone: Luke Williams (Kirkintilloch)
Best Euphonium: Glen Van Looy (Lochgelly)
Best Basses: Lochgelly
Best Horn: Karen Brow (Lochgelly)

First Section:
Sunday 27th February

Test Piece: Le Carnival Romain (Hector Berlioz arr. Frank Wright)
Adjudicators: Melvin White & Stan Lippeatt

1. Kirkintilloch Kelvin (Charles Keenan) — 188*
2. Broxburn & Livingston (Charles Farren) — 186*
3. Arbroath Instrumental (Michael Robertson) — 185
4. Clackmannan District Brass (Paul Kiernan) — 183
5. Johnstone Silver (Raymond Tennant) — 182
6. Newmilns & Galston (Alec McCutcheon) — 181
7. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (Jim Chamberlain) — 180
8. Bathgate (Eoin Tonner) — 179
9. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) — 178

*Two bands qualify for the finals

Best Instrumentalist: George Goode (euphonium) — Kirkintilloch Kelvin
Best Horn: Rebeccah Ritchie — Kirkintilloch Kelvin

Second Section:
Saturday 26th February

Test Piece: Resurgam (Eric Ball)
Adjudicators: Peter Bassano & Lt. Col Graham Jones

1. City of Discovery (Bruce Wallace) — 187*
2. Granite City Brass (Lt. Col (Retd) Robert Owen) — 185*
3. Annan Town (APD) (David Shanks) — 184
4. Irvine & Dreghorn (John Boax) — 183
5. Croy Parish Silver (Ken Blackwood) — 182
6. Shotts St. Patrick's (Michael Marzella) — 181
7. Kilmarnock Concert (Craig Anderson) — 180
8. Dunaskin Doon (John Boax) — 179
9. St. Ronan's Silver (David McLeod) — 178
10. Tullis Russell (Martin Ramsay) — 177
11. Selkirk Silver (Mark Bell) — 176
12. Barrhead Burgh (Brian Keachie) — 175

*Two bands qualify for finals

Best Instrumentalist: Neil Watson (Euphonium) — City of Discovery

Third Section:
Saturday 26th February

Test Piece: A Little Light Music (Philip Wilby)
Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt & David Read MBE

1. Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Lynda Nicholson) — 189*
2. St. David's Brass (John A Dickson) — 188*
3. Jedforest Instrumental (Phil Rosier) — 187
4. Perthshire Brass (George D Annan) — 186
5. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (David Neil) — 184
6. Peebles Burgh (Alex Knox) — 182
7. Renfrew Burgh (Tony Pacher) — 180
8. Langholm Town (Alan Fernie) — 178
9. Dumfries Town (Peter Heyes) — 176
10. Dunfermline Town (Andy Shaw) — 175
11. Bon Accord Silver 'B' (Richard Kidd) — 174

*Two bands qualify for finals

Best Instrumentalist: Stuart Dixon (Cornet) — St David's Brass

Fourth Section:
Saturday 26th February

Test Piece: Prelude, Song & Dance (John Golland)
Adjudicators: Peter Bassano & Melvin White

1. MacTaggart Scott Loanhead (Mark Bell) — 177*
2. Tayport Instrumental (Frank Culross) — 175*
3. Queensferry Community Brass (James Anderson) — 171
4. Dysart Colliery (Gavin Lindsay) — 170
5. Callander Brass (Ian Milligan) — 169
6. Penicuik Silver (Stuart Black) — 168
7. Dundee Instrumental (John Tonner) — 167

*Two bands qualify for the finals

Best Instrumentalist: Irene Reid (Cornet) — Tayport Instrumental
Youngest Bb Bass Player: Greg Rusca (Dundee Instrumental)