The Rainford Band dispelled the last vestiges of lingering disappointment from their recent appearance at the First Section National Finals in Cheltenham, as they secured a fine championship victory at the Fleetwood Contest under the baton of Neil Samuel.

Powerful reprise

Their powerful reprise of Tom Davoren’s celebratory ‘VIVAT!’ saw them claim the Parr Hall Trophy and the £400 winner’s cheque with a performance deemed a ‘clear winner’ by adjudicator Paul Andrews.

The delighted MD Neil Samuel picked up the prize as the winning conductor whilst the band’s impressive bass quartet won the section award. Oldham’s euphonium player Ben Wright took the ‘Best Euphonium’ prize on what was a wonderful debut for the young player.

Well worked

A well worked performance of ‘Variations on an Enigma’ gave the emerging Oldham (Lees) under John Collins a deserved runner spot, just ahead of Morecambe, who delivered a solid early contest marker on ‘A London Overture’ directed by Andrew Warriner.

Paul Andrews commented on some of the slightly ambitious choices of the competitors, which perhaps accounted for a couple of occasionally misfiring accounts, but praised the winners for their forthright approach and technical security.

Second Section:

There was a close battle between two in-form bands in the Second Section to see who would celebrate in the Marine Hall bar with a pint or two of special 4Bars Best bitter.

In the end a solidly constructed ‘Connotations’ by Flixton under the baton of Stephen Curtis just had the edge over a purposeful account of ‘Blazon’ by Tyldesley conducted by Robert Tyalor.

It enabled Flixton to claim the Squire Eccles Trophy and the £400 first prize, although there was some consolation for Tyldesley in picking up the £200 for second place plus the ‘Best Basses’ award.

Paul Andrews praised the leading bands for the quality of their performances, noting the way in which both conductors took sensible approaches to both dynamics and tempo.

Just a little way behind the leaders came Hoover (Bolton), who claimed the final podium place ahead of Dobcross and Eccleston thanks to a determined performance of ‘Trittico’ under the baton of Trevor Halliwell.

Third Section:

There was plenty of quality playing on show in an enjoyable Third Section contest, which was eventually won by an impressive performance of ‘A London Overture’ by Blackpool Brass conducted by Tariq Ahmed.

Precise and detailed, it claimed the Carol Baker Memorial Trophy and £400 first prize by repelling the challenge posed by a fine rendition of ‘Variations on a Chord’ by Eccles Borough conducted by Marieka Grey. Their performance was enhanced by the prize winning contribution from their percussion section.

Besses Boys reprised their recent National Finals set work of ‘Three Ancient Customs’ to end in third, whilst there was much to enjoy from the remaining contenders, who once again showed the strength in depth of competitive banding at this level in the North West.

Fourth Section:

There was a stamp of quality about Parr St Helen’s winning performance in the Fourth Section, as the National Final runner up gave an outstanding reprise of the Cheltenham set work, ‘A British Isles Suite’ to claim the Pamela Baxendale Trophy and £400 first prize.

There was even the opportunity for the audience to enjoy the band’s ‘schneewalzer’ swaying too, whilst the keen ear of adjudicator John Doyle in the box made special mention of the quality and consistency of the band’s tuning and intonation, which he described as ‘outstanding’ for a Fourth Section band.

Excellent appraisal

John gave an excellent appraisal of the contender’s performances, whilst reminding the younger players that even in his high profile career with the likes of Black Dyke and Leyland, he had only ever won six contests.

Just a little way behind the winners came a well worked ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ from runner-up Thornton Cleveleys directed by Stephen Simpson, with Cheltenham finalists Darwen Brass producing a solid rendition of the Jonathan Bates test piece to end in third.

The ‘Best Euphonium’ prize went to Lindsay Shields of Copull & Standish.

Youth Section:

Paul Andrews was also full of praise for the two youth bands that locked horns to try and claim the Stan Winter Memorial Trophy and the £400 first prize earlier in the day.

He stated that he had thoroughly enjoyed the performances of ‘Saint-Saens Variations’ and ‘Little Suite for Brass’ from Stockport Schools and Pemberton Old Wigan DW respectively, with Stockport just having the extra quality to claim the honours.

Pemberton’s bass section and tenor horns won the individual prizes.

On what was a very well run day by the event organisers, the prizes were presented to the competing bands by Malcolm Brownbill and Martin Gernon (above in picture with Rainford Band representative)of Centre Stage Uniforms.

The delighted MD Neil Samuel picked up the prize as the winning conductor whilst the band’s impressive bass quartet won the section award4BR

Results:
Championship Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews

1. Rainford (Neil Samuel)
2. Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
3. Morecambe (Andrew Warriner)
4. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Colin Short)
5. Harrogate (Craig Ratcliffe)

Best Basses: Rainford
Best Euphonium: Ben Wright — Oldham (Lees)

Second Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews

1. Flixton (Stephen Curtis)
2. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
3. Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell)
4. Dobcross Silver (Kenny Pain)
5. Eccleston Brass (Daniel Brooks)

Best Basses: Tyldesley

Third Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
Adjudicator: John Doyle

1. Blackpool Brass (Tariq Ahmed)
2. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
3. Besses Boys (James Holt)
4. Lostock Hall Memorial (Iain Knight)
5. Farnworth and Walkden (Peter Ashley)
6. Pemberton Old Wigan DW 'B' (Peter Ashley)
7. Eagley (Matthew Ryan)
8. Skelmersdale (David Chapman)
9. Rivington & Adlington (Brian Harper)
10. Stalybridge (Graham Smith)

Best Percussion: Eccles Borough

Fourth Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
Adjudicator: John Doyle

1. Parr St. Helens (John Ludden)
2. Thornton Cleveleys (Stephen Simpson)
3. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
4. Lees (John Collins)
5. Tarleton Brass (Gillian Bould)
6. Coppull & Standish (Matthew Stringer)
7. Pilling Jubilee Silver (John Roberts)

Youngest Player: Natasha Prescott (Parr St. Helens)
Best Euphonium: Lindsay Shields (Coppull & Standish)

Youth Section:
Test Piece: Own Choice
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews

1. Stockport Schools Brass (James Holt)
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (John Don Duncan)

Youngest Player: Olivia Banks
Best Basses: Pemberton Old Wigan DW
Best Tenor Horn: Pemberton Old Wigan DW