It may have been a windy and showery day in upper Wensleydale on the weekend, but it didn’t deter the competitors or the audience who packed into an iconic venue to listen to bands at the famous Hardraw Scar Contest.

Successful event

Organised by the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association in the grounds of the Green Dragon Inn everyone had to endure the odd shower of rain and blustery winds, but it proved to be yet another highly successful event.

Winners

Adjudicator, John Roberts, awarded the open title to Harrogate with local favourites Leyburn winning the B Section.

Meanwhile, the entertainment judges could not split the programmes of Hade Edge or Ratby Mid, who had travelled all the way from Leicestershire to participate in the contest, and the prize was shared.

Enchanted

Harrogate’s winning performance was topped by Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s, ‘Enchanted Kingdom’, as the final number of their 20 minute set.

Principal cornet player Rob Illsley won the ‘Best Soloist’ prize for his dazzling performance of Philip Sparke’s ‘Song & Dance’ and the band won the best hymn tune prize with Peter Graham’s arrangement of ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’.

Filming

The victory was especially pleasing as their performance was being filmed for a programme to be shown on BBC2 next year.

We’re proud to be performing and promoting original music to mainstream audiences, and the reaction to ‘Enchanted Kingdom’ was tremendous. I hope it inspires other bands to perform similar piecesMD, Craig Ratcliffe

Proud

MD Craig Ratcliffe told 4BR: "We’re proud to be performing and promoting original music to mainstream audiences, and the reaction to ‘Enchanted Kingdom’ was tremendous. I hope it inspires other bands to perform similar pieces."

The Band is now looking forward to their trip to Cheltenham to compete in the First Section National Finals.

Results:
Section A:

1. Harrogate (Craig Ratcliffe)
2. Elland Youth (Samantha Harrison)
3. Hade Edge (Simon Wood)
4. Wetherby Silver (Alan Seymour)
5. Otley (Gordon Eddison)

Best Solo: Harrogate
Best March: Elland Youth
Best Hymn: Harrogate

Section B:
(4th and ungraded)

1. Leyburn (George Lundberg)
2. Ratby Mid (Geoff Newman)
3. Shepherd Group Concert (Mike Pratt)
4. Friendly (Carol Caton)

Best Solo: Leyburn
Best March: Ratby Mid
Best March from an ungraded band: Shepherd Concert
Best Hymn: Leyburn
Best Basses: Burneside Brass

Special Prizes:
Best original piece composed within the last 40 years: Wetherby
Most Entertaining: Hade Edge and Ratby Mid