In what turned out to be perhaps the most closely fought contest of the weekend, Hitchin claimed a memorable National victory under the direction of MD Craig Patterson.

Stood out

Adjudicators Mark Wilkinson and Chris Davies gave thoughtful pre-results analyses of the engaging set work, ‘Three Ancient Customs’ by Richard Huw Cole, later telling 4BR that ‘three bands stood out from the middle of the pack’.

Chris revealed that the duo ‘wanted pictures’ created by the bands in their interpretations, and that was certainly what they felt they got from the Londoners, who provided them with a high class marker at the halfway point of the contest that wasn’t to be beaten.

Challenge

Mark said: "It was a challenging and engaging test piece – very well written with lots of melodic lines. Some bands were a bit heavy though, especially when the music really needed lightness."

Chris added: "One or two overcooked it. We were not looking for the loudest or the fastest band today – just the best band playing this piece. That’s what we wanted and that’s what we felt we got."

Composer impressed

Not only were the judges impressed by the winning performance, but the composer of the test piece too. He later told 4BR that he had in fact had the top three bands in the same order as the duo, but also added that he felt the winners produced a very fine rendition of his work.

Huw said: "Hitchin really lifted the music from the page. It was a lovely, very accomplished performance."

Early marker

The early contest marker had been set by eventual third placed finisher Trinity Girls conducted by Stuart Barton, whilst the closest challenge after the comfort break came from runner-up Elland Silver directed by James Shepherd.

A little further back were the top six trio of Whitworth Vale & Healey, Jedforest Instrumental and AW Parker (Drybrook), all of whom the judges felt had perhaps ‘just lost focus’ to rob them of their change of capturing the title.

Good leveller

On what they termed ‘a good leveller’ they also felt that the bands that ended up further down the pecking order has struggled more with the technicalities of the score, although both Mark and Chris made special mention of the quality of the solo playing — especially from the flugel horns.

The Best Instrumentalist Award went to Stuart Black of Jedforest Instrumental, who produced a superb individual contribution to his band’s fifth paced performance off the number 1 draw.

Winner's delight

For Hitchin’s winning conductor Craig Patterson, who posed with the National Trophy flanked by his equally delighted 12 year daughter who played on the front row cornet section with the band, the victory was the culmination of five years of enjoyable hard work and commitment under this command.

He told 4BR: "It’s fantastic news. I think this is the first time a London band has come in the top six for 11 years, so it’s very pleasing. We work hard, the commitment is superb and there is a lovely blend of players – from my daughter’s age right past pension age!"

First hand experience

Craig also revealed that the result was especially pleasing as he had plenty of first-hand experience of rivals north of the Watford Gap in his student days.

"I knew how good the bands from Yorkshire and the North West were when I was in college at the RNCM. I’m pleased though that the judges just didn’t go for the volume of sound and looked deeper into the music in the score. I think that was our strength today. All the players were superb."

Bright future

The future now looks bright for Hitchin with a number of talented youngsters coming through the ranks, even if they are losing some of them to university and college.

A confident MD, who later conducted MK Brass in the Second Section Final added: "We are looking forward to promotion as we feel we can really make a mark at a higher level."

Roses challenge

The strongest challenge as the MD thought, did eventually come from the ‘Roses’ bands, with Elland Silver producing a colourful and exciting account under James Shepherd to end in second place.

A very happy Kathleen Harrison claimed the trophy from Philip Morris of Kapitol Promotions with a kiss and a hug that very nearly winded him!

"We are very happy with that result," Kathleen delightfully chirped as Mr Morris tried to catch his breath.

Bragging rights

Meanwhile, Trinity Girls claimed the regional bragging rights over rivals Whitworth Vale & Healey after delivering a very persuasive early marker under the baton of Stuart Barton to pip their rivals to the final podium place.

On a weekend of pretty scarce picking for the bands travelling down from Scotland, there was an encouraging performance from Jedforest Instrumental off the number 1 draw to come fifth, helped by that outstanding personal contribution of their prize winning flugel horn, whilst a well constructed rendition from AW Parker (Drybrook) saw them claim sixth.

Disappointed

Behind them though were a number of bands who may just have left Cheltenham as disappointed as a punter who had just backed a potential winner only to see it fall at the last fence.

On what was a memorable weekend for London banding though, Hitchin will have headed back up the M4 knowing that they can now proudly claim to be the best Third Section band in Britain.

Iwan Fox

Hitchin really lifted the music from the page. It was a lovely, very accomplished performanceComposer, Richard Huw Cole

Sunday 23rd September
Test Piece: 'Three Ancient Customs' — Richard Huw Cole

Adjudicators: Dr Chris Davis OBE & Mark Wilkinson

Results
1. Hitchin, Craig Patterson, (London & Southern Counties), 9
2. Elland Silver, James Shepherd, (Yorkshire), 14
3. Trinity Girls Brass, Stuart Barton (North West), 5
4. Whitworth Vale & Healey, John Binns, (North West), 18
5. Jedforest Instrumental, Phil Rosier, (Scotland), 1
6. A.W. Parker (Drybrook), Steve Ruck, (West of England), 16
7. Epping Forest, Denis Desmond, (London & Southern Counties), 13
8. Ibstock Brick Brass, Huw Thomas, (Midlands), 2
9. Pontypool Brass, Mike Davies, (Wales), 11
10. Bream Silver, Bryn James, (West of England), 3
11. Ripon City, Malcolm Dibb, (North of England), 12
12. Besses Boys, James Holt, (North West), 6
13. Long Eaton Silver Prize, Sharon Stansfield, (Midlands), 8
14. Daventry Brass, Bob Stradling, (Midlands), 4
15. Ogmore Valley Silver, Alice Jones, (Wales), 15
16. Perthshire Brass, George Annan, (Scotland), 10
17. Emley Brass, Garry Hallas (Yorkshire), 7
18. Kirkby Lonsdale, Allan Greenwood, (North of England), 17

Best Instrumentalist: Stuart Black (flugel) — Jedforest Instrumental