Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Band have finished their contest season on a bit of a high by coming runner up at the recent Ripon Entertainment Contest held in the awesome surroundings of Ripon Cathedral.

Most Entertaining

The band were only beaten top the title by Ripon’s home band, but Ireland was delighted to still be able to take home with them the trophy for the day’s ‘Most Entertaining Band’ along with a truly impressive set of remarks by adjudicator; Richard Evans.

Socked it to us

His written remarks contained the memorable phrases – "..you certainly woke us up and socked it to us..." and added that he would certainly come to one of the band’s concerts in future.

It was Ireland’s opening piece, the showy, ‘Kongelela’, took seemed to have woken everyone up from their slumber, played completely without music and very nearly raising the roof of the cathedral itself!4BR

Raising the roof

It was Ireland’s opening piece, the showy, ‘Kongelela’, took seemed to have woken everyone up from their slumber, played completely without music and very nearly raising the roof of the cathedral itself!

The band is now taking a short break before starting work on their preparation on the test piece ‘Henry V’ for the National Finals in Cheltenham.