A rousing display of contesting ‘Chivalry’ gave Oldham (Lees) Band the Northern Open title at the Theatre Royal in St Helens on the weekend.

Real quality

Described by adjudicator Dr Nicholas Childs as, ’...a performance of real quality’ and ‘... a clear winner’, it gave the North West band the £400 first prize and trophy presented to them by Brian Halliwell of sponsors R. Banks & Son (Funerals) Limited.

Not surprisingly, MD John Collins wore the broadest smile of delight a man can ever give on shaking hands with an undertaker, as he received the silverware on stage.

Pleased

He later told 4BR: "I’m so pleased for the players. We knew we could have just upped the overall standard even more when we came off, but the effort and commitment shown was first class."

He added: "We really enjoyed working on ‘Chivalry’ – it’s a great piece and one that you can show your strengths on. One of those was certainly our sop player Keith Russell, who won the first ever ‘Best Soloist’ prize of his long banding career. I’ve never seen a happier man!"

Ambition

The win rounded off a year of consolidation for the band, with John revealing that they have significant ambitions for 2013. "We want to get into the Championship Section next year and take a step closer to the Grand Shield too. It won’t be for the lack of effort I can tell you."

Good enough

Oldham’s performance with Keith Russell on top sop form throughout, proved good enough to beat off the strong challenge of rivals Longridge under Mark Peacock.

They produced a fine account of ‘A London Overture’ that featured excellent individual prize winning contributions, especially in the demanding opening cadenzas from principal cornet Liz Connor and solo euphonium, Len Charnock.

In an enjoyable contest that the Black Dyke MD stated was made up of ‘hard working performances’ that he took on ‘face value’, third place went to Haydock conducted by Mark Quinn who led his band through a well handled rendition of Peter Graham’s ‘Prisms’.

That proved good enough to edge out Jackfield’s solid performance of ‘Variations on an Enigma’ and Meltham & Meltham’s more robust ‘Epic Symphony’.

Bradford class

In the Second Section a classy performance of the rarely heard ‘Corpus Christi’ by Robert Redhead gave City of Bradford the £400 first prize under the direction of MD Lee Skipsey.

He later told 4BR that it was perhaps the hardest victory of his conducting career.

"Having played under Nicholas Childs at Black Dyke I knew we had to impress him by getting both the banding basics and the musical inspiration right if we were to win.

That meant we put in the hard work on a piece that has also got perhaps the most daunting opening of any I have ever conducted – with the first chord representing the power of God. Get that wrong and you know you are in trouble!"

Six versus one

Lee was full of praise for his band in what proved to be a six against one Battle of the Roses, with Tyldesley eventually finishing runner-up thanks to a well delivered account of ‘Blazon’, with Hoover Bolton in third on ‘Trittico’.

"I did wear my little white rose badge on stage," Lee sheepishly revealed.

"But I was so proud of the performance, as it’s a piece that asks questions of all the sections of the band. Our euphonium section of Adrian Harrison and Julian Stead both put in a wonderful effort with Adrian deservedly taking the ‘Best Soloist’ prize."

Blackpool tower

Blackpool Brass rounded off their 2012 contesting season with the third win in five outings for the year under the baton of Tariq Ahmed.

With previous victories at Preston and Fleetwood they made it a North West hat-trick with a fine performance of ‘A London Overture’ that featured a prize winning trombone contribution from Simon Moore.

Good enough

It proved to be good enough to fend off the challenge of Skelmersdale in second place, who produced a colourful rendition of ‘The Once and Future King’, whilst the final podium spot went to Boarshurst Silver with a bold account of ‘Northern Landscapes’.

Rivington & Adlington’s euphonium player Rob Cowell took the ‘Best Soloist’ award for his fine efforts in their performance of ‘Crusade’ whilst Georgina Moulsdale took the ‘Best Cornet’ prize with Skelmersdale.

Adjudicators Neil Samuel and Gareth Brindle were impressed by the overall standard of performances on the day and congratulated the bands on some intelligently made choices – especially from the prize winners.

Memorable year

That was certainly the case with Blackpool with Band Secretary Sue Brady telling 4BR that the win rounded off a memorable year of progress for the seasiders – with plenty to build on for 2013.

"Tariq has done a wonderful job with us in the last 18 months or so," Sue said.

"That has really been shown this year with this third win in just five contest outings. It was a great performance and one everyone is delighted about. We can’t wait for the start of the new contesting year."

Ifton success

In an enjoyable Fourth Section, Neil and Gareth enjoyed a host of strong performances, with the eventual winners, Ifton from North Shropshire claiming the £400 first prize thanks to a well defined rendition of ‘Northern Landscapes’ under the baton of Stephen Curtis.

The band’s flugel player claimed the ‘Best Soloist’ prize.

Second place went to Cadishead Public with a confident account of ‘Anglian Dances’ under MD Craig McFarland, whilst third place was claimed by Darwen Brass with a neatly portrayed performance of ‘A Malvern Suite’ under Steve Hartley off the number 1 draw.

In a contest of well chosen repertoire, there was also a great deal on interest in the premiere of a brand new work by Blackley Band as they performed Dan Price’s ‘Darkwood’ to eventually end fifth.

Enjoyable event

It also proved to be a highly enjoyable event for sponsors Jennifer and Brian Halliwell of R. Banks & Son (Funerals) Limited who took the opportunity to thank all competitors for their tremendous efforts.

Long way

They told 4BR: "We would like to congratulate all those bands who took part in the contest and to thank all those involved in the organisation of such an enjoyable day.

We would also like to thank those people who took the time to thank us for our sponsorship: It was very thoughtful. A little kindness goes a long way and we are now looking forward to 2013."

We would also like to thank those people who took the time to thank us for our sponsorship: It was very thoughtful. A little kindness goes a long way and we are now looking forward to 2013Jennifer & Brian Halliwell

Results:
Prizes in all section: £400; £200: £100

Championship Section
Adjudicator: Dr Nicholas Childs

1. Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
2. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
3. Haydock (Mark Quinn)
4. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford)
5. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Norman Law)

Best Soloist: Liz Connor (cornet) — Longridge
Best Soprano: Keith Russell — Oldham (Lees)
Best Euphonium: Len Charnock — Longridge

Second Section
Adjudicator: Dr Nicholas Childs

1. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
2. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
3. Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell)
4. Lindley (Jason M Smith)
5. Besses o' th' Barn (Alan Wycherley)
6. Middleton (Jonathon Davies)
7. Greenall’s (Karl Stott)

Best Soloist: Adrian Harrison (Euphonium) – City of Bradford
Best Basses: Tyldesley

Third Section:
Adjudicators: Neil Samuel & Gareth Brindle

1. Blackpool Brass (Tariq Ahmed)
2. Skelmersdale (David Chapman)
3. Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth)
4. Rivington & Adlington (Brian Harper)
5. Besses Boys (James Holt)
6. Old Hall Brass (John North)
7. Eagley (Matthew Ryan)
8. Nelson Brass (Roy Waite)
9. Pemberton Old Wigan DW ‘B’ (Peter Ashley)
10. Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley)
11. Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles W. Kitchen)

Best Soloist: Rob Cowell (Euphonium) — Rivington & Adlington
Best Trombone: Simon Moore — Blackpool Brass
Best Cornet: Georgina Moulsdale — Skelmersdale

Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: Neil Samuel & Gareth Brindle

1. Ifton Colliery (Stephen Curtis)
2. Cadishead Public (Craig McFarland)
3. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
4. Parr St Helens (John Ludden)
5. Blackley (Adrian Smith)
6. Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
7. Lees (John Collins)
8. Sale Brass (John Dickinson)
9. Dobcross Youth (John Parkes)
10. City of Chester Brass (Philip Mottershead)

Best Soloist: Flugel (Ifton Colliery)