Despite the cold nap of weather that threatened to cause havoc with driving conditions over the weekend, there was no stopping a fine turn out of bands for the North West area season opener at Preston’s Guild Hall.

Worried

Any potential problems were dealt with impressively by contest controller Derek Atkinson and his team from Lancashire Contests, who sponsored the event, with phone calls from worried band secretaries being fielded from 6.00am in the morning.

Thankfully, by the time of the start of the Fourth Section all the bands were either at the Guild Hall on their way for what proved to be a highly enjoyable day’s contesting.

Bands not only gave early run outs to their Regional test pieces, but also stretched their ambitions on a wide selection of own choice repertoire.

Generous

With a generous prize fund up for grabs, with a first prize of £1,000 in each section there was plenty to play for too.

Two real stalwarts of North West banding were also honoured on the day with 50 year service awards made to Philip Helvin and Jeffrey Derbyshire of Longridge Band, by Lancashire Contest Chairman, Frank Hodges.

Championship Section

In a keenly fought Championship Section, there was an early season boost for pre-contest favourites Pemberton Old Wigan DW, as they scooped the first prize under the baton of Mark Bentham with a high class performance of ‘Titan’s Progress’ to claim a clear two point margin of victory over Hammonds Saltaire with Felling in third.

The Yorkshire band gave an early run out of the Area set work, ‘The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’ ahead of their return to the top section in Bradford in March, whilst Felling looked further ahead to the Spring Festival in playing ‘Elgar Variations’.

there was an early season boost for pre-contest favourites Pemberton Old Wigan DW, as they scooped the first prize under the baton of Mark Bentham with a high class performance of ‘Titan’s Progress’4BR

Classy

Pemberton however will head back here in a few weeks time for the Regional contest boosted by a victory that caught the ear of adjudicator Paul Andrews with its combination of solid ensemble discipline and classy solo contributions.

Second Section

In the First Section there was plenty for Mike Kilroy to enjoy, with Tyldesley’s winning performance, ‘Cross Patonce’ showing that the experienced Robert Taylor has already got his band in fine shape on the piece ahead of the forthcoming Areas.

That was certainly true of his impressive bass section which provided the foundation for the victory with their prize winning contribution.

Three of the six band field decided to give the Goff Richard’s set work an early run out, with Trevor Halliwell leading Hoover (Bolton) into second place. Eccleston was third under the direction of Danny Brooks with their performance of ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’.

Third Section:

A commanding performance of ‘Variations on Maccabeus’ by Blackpool Brass conducted by Tariq Ahmed took the Third Section title ahead of two ‘Olympus’ renditions from Trinity Girls in second place under Stuart Barton and Besses Boys directed by James Holt.

Fourth Section

There was a real early season boost for Tarleton in the Fourth Section as they claimed victory with a fine performance of ‘Oregon’ under the command of Gillian Bould to set them up nicely ahead of the Area championship.

Adjudicator Paul Dalton had a difficult task in separating out the top bands with runner up, Darwen Brass conducted by Steve Hartley, finishing just a point behind after their performance of ‘Music for a Festival.’

Third place went to Linthwaite directed by Tony Jaeger Fozard after they gave the Fourth Section area set work, ‘An English Folk Song Suite’ an early run out.

Results:

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews

1. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham) – 191
2. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths) – 189
3. Felling (Steve Malcolm) – 187
4. Longridge (Mark Peacock) — 186
5. Harrogate (Craig Ratcliffe)- 184
6. Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)- 183
7. Newstead Welfare (Duncan Beckley) — 181
8. Poulton Le Flyde (John Wood) — 178
9. Hade Edge (Simon Wood) — 177

Best Soloist: Stuart Lingard(cornet) — Longridge

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor) — 185
2. Hoover (Bolton) (Trevor Halliwell) — 183
3. Eccleston Brass (Danny Brooks) — 181
4. Chapletown — 180
5. Besses o'th' Barn — 179
6. Royal Buckley Town — 178

Best Soloist: Carolyn Letman (euphonium) – Royal Buckley Town
Best Basses: Tyldesley

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Stephen Brodie

1. Blackpool Brass (Tariq Ahmed) — 188
2. Trinity Girls (Stuart Barton) — 187
3. Besses Boys (James Holt) — 185
4. Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley) — 184
5. Lofthouse 2000 ((Andrew Whitaker) — 183
6. Lostock Hall (Graham Martin) — 182
7. Skelmersdale Prize — 181
8. Eagley — 180
9. Rivington & Adlington — 179
10. Old Hall Brass — 178

Best Soloist: Jessica Royle (euphonium) – Trinity Girls

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Dalton

1. Tarleton (Gillian Bould) — 180
2. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley) — 179
3. Linthwaite (Tony Jaegar-Fozard) — 177
4. Blackley (Dan Price) — 176
5. Littleborough (Adrian Woodhead) — 175
6. Lees Band (Eric Landon) — 174
7. Ifton Colliery (Milne Robinson) — 173

Best Soloist: (cornet) – Linthwaite

Prizes: £1,000; £300; £200