Woolston Brass has won the 132nd New Zealand National Championship title in Timaru.

28th win

Conducted by Graham Hickman, the band from Christchurch claimed the famous Championship Gold Trophy for a fourth consecutive year and a record 28th time in total.

They pipped rivals Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass, directed by David Bremner, by a single point over the two days and three separate musical disciplines.

A resurgent North Shore Brass conducted by Colin Clark ended third overall after securing deserved podium finishes in each section of the contest.

Emotional

Clutching the KGL Smith Memorial Trophy as the winning conductor, a clearly emotional MD paid tribute to his record breaking band: "Thanks boys and girls. Every year you put in the hard yards. You deserve it."

Both Woolston and Wellington certainly lived up to their billing as pre-contest favourites, ending tied for first place after the sacred item section, with North Shore just a point behind tied in third with Waitakere.

Motto

Wellington, just edged ahead at the end of the first day with a sparkling rendition of the set work, ‘Breath of Souls’.

However, Woolston lived up to its motto of ‘Persevere, so there is Strength’, as they managed to overhaul the single point margin with an outstanding performance of their own choice selection ‘From Ancient Times’, which gained a standing ovation from an appreciative audience in the Theatre Royal auditorium.

Analysis

Prior to the results, Chief Adjudicator Dr Robert Childs gave a detailed analysis of just what he had been looking for from the competing bands, as well as his methodology behind his marking system which he said, was deliberately weighted toward the test piece and own choice selections.

"The standard of the top bands could stand comparison with any National Championship in the world," he said. "I heard nine super bands today. All played music they liked and could play. It was a much tighter contest today in the own choice than on the set work, which put some bands and players under the spotlight."

Bluffing

After detailing the difficulties of the six main cadenzas and the need to ensure that the second ensemble reprise of the PLC work was played at faster tempo than the first, he continued:

"There was some ‘bandsman’s bluffing’ on ‘Breath of Souls’, with percussion sometimes obliterating the band parts – perhaps deliberately so. It’s difficult to bluff a bluffer," he added, as he jokingly pointed to himself.

Complimentary

As to the own choice selections, the Welshman was complimentary about what he heard – especially from the winners.

"It’s difficult to compare an easy choice well played against a harder choice with a few mistakes, but I went for the best, most musical performance."

That gave Woolston the edge, with their rendition of the former European Championship set work by Jan van Der Roost aided by the prize winning contribution of principal cornet Kevin Hickman, which saw him become the first recipient of the Gill Evans Memorial Trophy.

Woolston awards

Woolston won both the Mervyn Walters Memorial Cup and Trust Cup awarded to the band with the highest points in the own choice section and to its conductor.

In addition, the percussion quartet claimed the ‘Best Section’ award for their contribution on the set work, and veteran Drum Major, Graeme Bremner, took the Duff Manning Memorial Trophy after leading the band to yet another ‘Parade of Bands’ street march success.

Wellington consolation

There was some consolation for Wellington, who performed 'Titan's Progress' as their own choice selection, as they took home the Norman Goffin Memorial Cup after gaining the highest points on the set work.

The band also shared the Les Francis Memorial Trophy as joint highest point’s scorers in the sacred item discipline.

The Elgar Clayton Memorial Trophy as the ‘Outstanding Instrumentalist’ on the set work went to euphonium player David Mallet of Leopard Coachlines Canterbury Brass.

Other winners

Eastern Bay of Plenty was the clear cut winner of the B Grade Championship title, as they claimed the Championship Challenge Shield by a massive 10.5 point winning margin.

Second place went to Trust Porirua City Brass who just managed to squeeze past 2011 runner up Hamilton City Brass.

There were successful titles defences in both the C Grade and D Grade Championships.

Papakura RSA Brass once more took home the NZBBA Challenge Cup with a comprehensive victory in the C Grade from Te Awamutu Brass, with Woolston Concert Brass in third.

Meanwhile, there was a repeat of their 2011 success for Cambridge Brass in the D Grade event, as they claimed the EW Rose Memorial Challenge Shield by a two point margin from Rangiora Brass with New Brighton Silver in third.

Solo Champions

As always at the Championships there was a superb turn out of competitors for the various national solo and ensemble honours.

The ‘Blue Riband’ senior ‘Champion of Champion’ Solo title once again went to the remarkable Bb tuba virtuoso Phil Johnston of Woolston Brass, who beat off the challenge of cornet and horn champions John Lewis and Mike Ford.

The Junior version was claimed by Kieren Smith, whilst the legendary Riki McDonnell added the Senior Invitation Slow Melody title and the Masters title to his amazing CV of solo successes.

Further details:

Further details will be published as we get them.

More information: www.festivalofbrass.co.nz

Live streaming: www.brassbanned.com

Thanks boys and girls. Every year you put in the hard yards. You deserve itGraham Hickman, MD, Woolston Brass

Results:

A Grade:
Adjudicator: Robert Childs
Venue: Theatre Royal, Timaru

Sacred/Test/Own Choice = Total

1. Woolston Brass, 95/145/146 = 386
2. Perlorus Trust Wellington Brass, 95/146/144 = 385
3. North Shore Brass, 94/142/142 = 378
4. St Kilda Brass, 93/135/140 = 368
5= Ascot Park Hotel Brass Invercargill, 93/138/136 = 367
5= Leopard Coachlines Canterbury Brass, 93/140/134 = 367
7. Footscray Yarraville City Band, 93/134/139 = 366
8. Marlborough District Brass, 93/139/131 = 363
9. The Trusts Waitakere Auckland Brass, 94/136/132 = 362

Set Work Outstanding Soloist Award: David Mallet (euphonium) – Leopard Coachlines Canterbury Brass
Set Work Best Section: Percussion (Woolston Brass)
Best Principal Cornet in Own Choice: Kevin Hickman (Woolston Brass)

B Grade:
Adjudicator: Robert Childs
Venue: Theatre Royal, Timaru

1. Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass, 83/144/143 = 370
2. Trust Porirua City Brass, 84/140/135 = 359.5
3. Hamilton City Brass, 82/133/144 = 359
4. Addington Brass, 82/138/137 = 353
5. Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass, 82/135/133 = 350
6. Alpine Energy Timaru Brass, 81/130/139 = 350
7. The Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass, 81/127/141 = 349
8. Auckland City Brass, 80/126/131 = 337

C Grade:
Adjudicator: David Childs
Venue: Moutain View High School Auditorium , Timaru

1. Papakura RSA Brass, 80/140/140 = 360
2. Te Awamutu Brass, 78/137/136 = 351
3. Woolston Concert Brass, 78/134/137 = 349
4. Ascot Park Hotel Auxiliary Brass, 77/131/139 = 347
5. Nelson City Brass, 77/128/134 = 339
6. Mosgiel Brass, 76/125/133 = 334

D Grade:
Adjudicator: David Childs
Venue: Moutain View High School Auditorium , Timaru

1. Cambridge Brass, 81/142/139 = 362
2. Rangiora Brass, 80/140/140 = 360
3. New Brighton Silver Band, 79/138/138 = 355
4. Motueka District Brass, 79/135/138 = 352
5. Roxburgh Pioneer Generation Brass, 78/133/139 = 350

Youth Grade:
Adjudicator: David Childs
Venue: Moutain View High School Auditorium , Timaru

1. Nelson Vivace Youth Brass, 79/137/138 = 354