Tredegar underlined their growing stature as a major contesting force with a clear cut victory at the All England Masters International Championship in Kettering on the weekend.

Rankings move

Less than 24 hours after a high profile appearance at the Champions League Final at Wembley Stadium, the British Open champion became the first Welsh band to claim the Masters title, and in doing so moved up to number 2 in the provisional World of Brass/4BR Rankings.

Directed by Ian Porthouse, a high class performance of Darrol Barry’s ‘Gemini’ set work saw them decisively take the £4,000 first prize ahead Midlands Area champions Virtuosi GUS, with Senior Cup winners Marsden Silver in third.

Solo award

The visiting Americans of Fountain City claimed fourth with euphonium player Lee Harrelson taking the 4BR ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award. The remaining prizes went to bands closer to home, with the Midlands duo of Newstead Brass and Jaguar Land Rover coming fifth and sixth respectively.

Worth it

The winning MD was understandably delighted that a busy weekend of concert and contest work had paid off for his band.

He told 4BR: "We invested a lot of time and energy in both the Wembley appearance and the Masters. The fun came at the football, and it was well worth it in terms of the publicity and media profile it gave the band.

The hard work came at the contest – and that was well worth it in terms of the title, prize money and the rise in the rankings."

Tredegar’s appearance outside Wembley, broadcast to over 600 million people world wide, was picked up by Sky Sports, Sky News and the BBC – although Sky’s anchorman Jeff Stelling, not renowned for his banding knowledge, told viewers that he thought they were part of Barcelona’s travelling support as the band played the Catalonian’s team song.

Clearly defined

However, much like the Spanish champions, Tredegar handed their rivals at Kettering a clearly defined lesson in how to claim a major championship title, with a commanding winning performance full of technical security and musical nuance.

Adjudicator David Read MBE, who was joined in the box by Ronald Holz and Dennis Wilby, told 4BR that the Welsh band had claimed a very impressive victory.

It was outstanding. They were clear winners. The standard of the solo and ensemble playing in particular was excellent. The two top bands were some way in front of the rest today David Read MBE.

Outstanding

"It was outstanding," he said. "They were clear winners. The standard of the solo and ensemble playing in particular was excellent. The two top bands were some way in front of the rest today.

There was a very good performance from the band in second (Virtuosi GUS), but Tredegar was a clear margin ahead of that."

Pleased

Virtuosi GUS MD John Berryman was his usual magnanimous self in defeat. "Congratulations to Ian and Tredegar. They are a very good band, but I felt we pushed them all the way today.

I was very pleased with our performance and the progress we are making all the time."

Principal cornet player James Fountain made a memorable final appearance before he joins Grimethorpe, with a superb display of lyrical playing in the demanding cornet solo – on a day when only a handful of players got to grips with the homage to the legendary Maurice Murphy.

Best Instrumentalist

It also underlined the decision to award the 4BR ‘Best Instrumentalist’ Award to a euphonium player – Fountain City’s Lee Harrelson.

"We felt only a few cornet players really played the main solo feature with the right style, and none really played it flawlessly," David Read added.

"There were three of four fine efforts, but the real artistry came for the euphonium players today."

Good use

None more so in their opinion than the popular American, who revealed that the prize will go to a good use.

"Helen (Tyler) and I are getting married in a few months, so I think I know where the money will be going," Lee laughed. "We have had a great time once more in the UK with the band and this performance will give us a huge boost ahead of the Euro Brass contest next week."

Further success

There was also further contest success for Glyn Williams and his rapidly improving Marsden Silver Band. They followed up on their recent Senior Cup victory by securing the final podium courtesy of an exciting, solidly delivered performance from the early number 4 draw.

With Jospeh Parisi leading a stylish Fountain City into fourth place, solid accounts from Newstead Brass and Jaguar Land Rover under the batons of the experienced Duncan Beckley and Dave Lea filled the remaining top six places.

Deal of debate

Darrol Barry’s ‘Gemini’ had caused a great deal of debate before a note had been blown at The Lighthouse Theatre.

The general opinion sought by 4BR, found many MDs and players disappointed and uninspired by it – although they agreed that it had proved to be a difficult piece to overcome successfully without a high unforced error count.

It may have also accounted for the number of performances blighted by major individual and ensemble blemishes — with misplaced choices of tempo, dynamic and eccentric Heath Robinson approaches to the troublesome cornet solo.

Variable standard

David Read told 4BR that the overall standard outside the prizes had been variable.

"There were real problems with many performances – the lack of ensemble balance especially. We noted the options taken with the cornet solos and other solo lines.

The bands that did well managed to create contrast in the dynamics as well as play with security and precision. Many struggled to do that today."

Disappointment

There was disappointment for the two in form bands that narrowly missed out on promotion to the British Open in Blackpool recently, with Pemberton Old Wigan DW ending in 7th and Redbridge in 11th.

British Open rivals Tongwynlais and Hepworth also returned home rueful of their Masters appearance after coming 8th and 15th.

Before the announcement of the results there was welcome presentation made to Stan Kitchen of the All England Masters International Dedicated Service Award, whilst the evening Gala Concert saw the musical entertainment provided by the newly crowned Masters Champion Tredegar and Virtuosi GUS.

Retrospective articles and images of the Masters competition will appear on 4BR later this week.

Result:

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Sunday 29th May
Test Piece: Gemini — Darrol Barry
Adjudicators: Ronald Holz, David Read MBE and Dennis Wilby

Result:

1. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
2. Virtuosi GUS (John Berryman)
3. Marsden Silver (Glyn Williams)
4. Fountain City (Dr Joseph Parisi)
5. Newstead Welfare (Duncan Beckley)
6. Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea)
7. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham)
8. Tongwynlais Temperance (Philip Harper)
9. Aveley & Newham (Nigel Taken)
10. Zone One Brass (Richard Ward)
11. Redbridge Brass (Jeremy Wise)
12. Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligott)
13. Friary Guildford (Chris King)
14. Sovereign Brass (Stan Lippeatt)
15. Hepworth (Michael Howley)
16. NASUWT Riverside (Ian Robinson)
17. Wantage Silver (Philip Bailey)

4BR Best Instrumentalist: Lee Harrelson (Euphonium) — Fountain City