Lee Skipsey from City of Bradford receives the winning trophies from sponsors Brian & Jennifer Halliwell
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Nicholas Childs
Start: 17.30hrs
Section completed: 19.05hrs
5. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
A London Overture (Philip Sparke)
Some bright and alert playing hallmarked a quite convincing performance. Some hurdles not quite taken cleanly in the solo lines but in the main the MD held the whole together well.
4. Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Chivalry (Martin Ellerby)
Punchy and driven when required the whole melded nicely by MD. Good muted sounds and trombones play with plenty of confidence. The recurring theme had a comfortable air in an overall quite convincing performance.
3. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford)
Variations on an Enigma (Philip Sparke)
Steady and confident approach to a demanding piece. Odd blemishes in solo lines don't overly detract and thematic material held together quite well. Music built well to a stimulating conclusion.
2. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Norman Law)
Epic Symphony (Percy Fletcher)
The whole had well plotted thematic lines but with a less pointed articulation in the opening 'Recitare' than many who approach this work. Smooth confident sounds hallmarked the 'Elegy' which led to a purposeful and quite confident 'Heroic March' to conclude.
1. Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Prisms (Peter Graham)
Handled well in the main but not without some faltering in the demanding solo lines. Good lower band, good close and all through a nicely plotted thematic course set by MD.
Action from the Northern Open Championships being held at the Theatre Royal, St. Helens, sponsored by R.Banks & Son (Funerals) Ltd.
Second Section:
Adjudicator: Dr Nicholas Childs
Started: 15.30hrs
Section completed: 17.25hrs
7. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
Corpus Christi (Robert Redhead)
'Dry Bones' and other spiritual themes sang cleanly across a spirited performance to round out a really good contest. Solid and punchy ensemble give it 100%.
6. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
Blazon (Peter Graham)
Good musical shape and strong direct lines were the character of the performance. odd scratch here and there but another in a line of well programmed test pieces.
5. Middleton (Jonathon Davies)
The Plantagenets (Edward Gregson)
Plenty of alert playing with warm lower band sounds. Just the odd blemish but plenty of convincing lines to reward the listener.
4. Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell)
Trittico (James Curnow)
Solid and moving forward the performance had moments of bright and illuminating sounds. The standard continues to impress.
3. Besses o’th Barn (Alan Wycherley)
Variations on 'Laudate Dominum' (Edward Gregson)
Rhythmic and driven. Many moments of good playing in a solid show. Very good fugue and overall a nicely judged performance.
2. Lindley (Jason M Smith)
Purcell Variations (Kenneth Downie)
Broad sounds from the ensemble and confident solo lines support and overall strong performance.
1. Greenall’s (Karl Stott)
Kaleidoscope (Philip Sparke)
Solid and driven performance. Broad ensemble sounds and detail delivered. Decent marker.
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Third Section:
Adjudicators: Neil Samuel & Gareth Brindle
Start: 11.50hrs
Section completed: 14.50hrs
11. Nelson Brass (Roy Waite)
Dimensions (Peter Graham)
Steady and balanced approach with very measured tempi. Overall — Simple and uncomplicated in style.
10. Blackpool Brass (Tariq Ahmed)
A London Overture (Philip Sparke)
A concentrated and polished performance. Bright with good solo lines and a shimmering ensemble tone. A serious challenge for top spot.
9. Farnworth and Walkden (Peter Ashley)
Variations on Maccabeus (Kevin Norbury)
Efficient and compact style with nothing overdriven. A safe and generally clean performance but perhaps just needed a little more tonal 'sheen' to lift the overall.
8. Rivington & Adlington (Brian Harper)
Crusade (Rieks van der Velde)
Energetic and alive, with only the odd scratch, in a solid contest performance that had some good ensemble work supporting the overall.
7. Old Hall Brass (John North)
Kingdom of Dragons (Kevin Norbury)
Purposeful and alert all across but with touches of tenderness when required. Very big percussion sounds. Perhaps not a winning display but nonetheless a decent show.
6. Skelmersdale (David Chapman)
The Once and Future King (Andrew Baker)
Despite some solid ensemble sounds this was not quite on the money today for us. Good shape but perhaps just a few too many unsettled moments in the overall musical picture.
5. Pemberton Old Wigan DW ‘B’ (Peter Ashley)
Hollywood (Goff Richards)
A robust and energetic performance that was perhaps just a little strident at times but a solid show with plenty of good playing around the stands.
4. Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles W. Kitchen)
Saint-Saëns Variations (Philip Sparke)
Bold in style but some timing and unsettled ensemble sounds catch the ear throughout the performance which may prove costly in this strong section.
3. Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth)
Northern Landscapes (Peter Graham)
Happy and playful ensemble to open and close describes the mood for the overall. Warm sounds and good lower band in fugue help in delivering a decent contest performance.
2. Eagley (Matthew Ryan) 2
Kaleidoscope (Philip Sparke)
Confident and balanced opening sets the mood for a solid performance. Clean and pointed with only the odd timing issues noted.
1. Besses Boys (James Holt)
Olympus (Philip Harper)
Bold and forceful opening. Good contrast between sections is maintained. Solid marker to commence the section.
Stalybridge
Withdrawn
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Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: Neil Samuel & Gareth Brindle
Pre-Drawn:
Commenced: 09.00hrs
Section Completed: 11.35hrs
10. Lees (John Collins)
Northern Landscapes
Effective and clean performance. Lots of drive and energy esp. in an energetic and rhythmic final section.
9. Ifton Colliery (Stephen Curtis)
Northern Landscapes — Peter Graham
Safetly delivered performance that grew in stature as it progressed. Good conclusion with lots of style.
8. Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
Roman Tryptich — Leigh Baker
Forthright and driving sounds. Not without few solo blemishes but overall a good attempt to invoke the necessary mood and drive.
7. Dobcross Youth (John Parkes)
The Dark Side of the Moon — Paul Lovatt-Cooper
A performance that had real contrasting moments. Some quite effective dynamic and driving playing whilst a quieter section not so quite so commanding due to tuning mostly.
6. Blackley (Adrian Smith)
Darkwood — Dan Price (Original new work)
Dynamically contrasted with lots of decent sectional work on display. Effective lower band sounds are called upon and executed.
(A new piece in 3 movements not without impact and interesting writing. More ensemble and sectional in style rather than soloistic. Music written to depict the hamlet of Blackley mentioned in the Domesday Book and its landmarks including Boggart Hole Clough).
5. Cadishead Public (Craig McFarland)
Anglian Dances — Alan Fernie
Confident rhythmic style. Good contrast with lots of detail.
4. Sale Brass (John Dickinson)
A Malvern Suite — Philip Sparke
Steady and purposeful approach. A few wayward 'noises' heard but an overall decent show.
3. City of Chester Brass (Philip Mottershead)
The Land of the Mountain and the Flood — Hamish McCunn arr. Glyn Bragg
Brave attempt at this challenging work but not without a few crackles and some looser moments.
2. Parr St Helens (John Ludden)
British Isles Suite — Jonathan Bates
Bold and rhythmic throughout (once more with a 'Schneewalzer' sway in 3rd mov'). Lots of confidence in both the solo lines and ensemble.
1. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
A Malvern Suite — Philip Sparke
Opened the contest with a good solid account with nice solo lines and a well balanced ensemble.
