The final round of Regional Championships was marked by shocks and surprises on the weekend, as Wales, the North of England and London & Southern Counties all saw top section pre-contest favourites beaten.

Tong top in Wales

Perhaps the biggest eye-opener came in Swansea, where defending champion Cory could only manage fifth place as the in-form Tongwynalis Temperance marked their 125th anniversary by claiming their first ever Welsh title under the direction of Steve Sykes.

With qualification for Kensington already secured from their fourth place finish at the National Finals last year, they produced a performance of ‘Harmony Music’ that caught the ear of adjudicator Paul Cosh to snatch victory from Tredegar, with Northop in third, Burry Port fourth, and the world number 1 ranked band in fifth – their lowest finish at the contest since 1991.

Tongwynalis will now represent Wales at the 2014 European Championships in Perth, whilst Tredegar and Northop join them and Cory at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

In the other sections there were title victories for Tylorstown, Goodwick, Severn Tunnel and Ebbw Valley Brass.

Full results:
http://4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=16691

Fifth place at Swansea was Cory's lowest top section finish since 19914BR

Regency period returns in London

At the other end of the M4 there was an equally stunning result in Stevenage, as Regent Brass under the baton of Alan Duguid upset the form book.

Their performance of the Philip Sparke set work certainly impressed adjudicator John Berryman in the box at the Gordon Craig Theatre to give the band their first regional title success since 1994.

They will be joined at the Royal Albert Hall by the in-form Friary Guilford, as they claimed the second qualification place under Chris King. Pre-contest favourites Redbridge Brass failed to qualify for a second successive year as they could not repel the challenges of their rivals off the number 1 draw.

In the other sections there were victories for Kidlington Concert Brass, Hitchin, Amersham and Simon Langton Brass.

Full results:
http://4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=16690

Riverside triumph in Darlington

To round off a weekend of top section surprises, NASUWT Riverside claimed their first ever North of England Championship title in Darlington under the baton of Ray Farr.

They rounded off the contest at the Dolphin Centre with a rendition of ‘Harmony Music’ that certainly impressed the banding world’s most experienced adjudicator David Read MBE.

It meant that pe-contest favourites Reg Vardy had to be content with second place, with reigning champions Felling just missing out on a second successive London appearance in third.

In the other sections there were victories for Harrogate, Ripon and Trimdon Concert, whilst there was a double celebration for the Riverside organisation and their supporters as Riverside Concert won the Third Section under the direction of Bryan Tait.

Full results:
http://4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=16690