It was not just in France that the sun shone on brass bands on the weekend, as the beautiful Holme Valley in West Yorkshire enjoyed the warming rays of great weather and top class contest playing.

The Civic Hall in Holmfirth played host to an excellent day of action with a wide variety of own choice test piece and march performances for an appreciative audience and adjudicator Colin Hardy to enjoy.

Strata triumph

In a closely fought top section, the title was eventually claimed by Yorkshire’s Strata Brass, who upset the form book by taking the honours with a well directed performance of ‘Tallis Variations’ under the baton of guest conductor Huw Thomas.

The band’s solo euphonium player, David Shipman took the ‘Best Euphonium’ prize for his fine individual contribution.

The nationally graded Second Section band beat off the challenge from over the Pennines of First Section Uppermill, who reprised the Area set-work ‘Brass Triumphant’. Another Yorkshire Second Section rival, Old Silkstone was third, after they renewed post Area acquaintances with ‘The Plantagenets’.

Uppermill’s strong quartet of tuba players claimed the ‘Best Bass Section’ Award, with MD Alan Widdop taking the ‘Outstanding Conductor’ honours after the band claimed the highest aggregate placing on the hymn tune and test piece combined.

The band's solo horn player Steve Gardner won the 'Best Soloist' Award.

Praise

The winning MD was full of praise for the winners, especially as he was only drafted in the week before the contest to enable regular MD Dave Holling to play bass trombone.

"Dave did a wonderful job in preparing the band for me," Huw said. "We had two hard working rehearsals and a blow through before the job, and the attitude, commitment and professionalism of the band in keeping focused on the job in hand was a real credit to them and Dave.

They really played well on stage and I was delighted to be able to link up with such a progressive organisation. On this form they are a band to watch out for."

There was also an encouraging result for the rebuilding Slaithwaite as they ended fourth playing, ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’ and came runner-up in the hymn tune discipline.

In contrast there was disappointment for pre-contest favourites and top section challengers Meltham & Meltham Mills, who failed to catch Colin Hardy’s ear with their performance of ‘Journey into Freedom’ to end fifth.

B Section:

Yorkshire Third Section Area champion Dronfield carried on their excellent 2013 form as they claimed first prize ahead of rivals Dinnington Colliery, with fellow Cheltenham qualifiers Skelmanthorpe B in third.

In a high quality contest, Dronfield’s excellent performance of ‘Oceans’ proved good enough to repel Dinnington’s well delivered ‘Between Two Rivers’ and Skelmanthorpe’s return trip to ‘Hollwood!’

Dronfield MD John Davis took home the ‘Outstanding Conductor’ Award.

There was also plenty of quality playing to enjoy from the other bands too, with Boarshurst’s ambitious choice of ‘Mountain Views’, Ireland Colliery’s ‘Resurgam’ and a cracking account of ‘A Devon Fantasy’ from the talented young players of Dobcross Youth under the baton of Jonathan Parkes.

Dronfield took the ’Best Euphonium’ prize, with the Percussion and Trombone Awards going to Dinnington Colliery and Skelmanthorpe respectively. Ireland Colliery secured the Hymn Tune award ahead of Dinnington.

Youth Section:

In a highly enjoyable youth event, the production line of superb playing talent from the village of Hade Edge shows no signs of stopping, as Simon Wood’s latest batch of great young players claimed the honours.

The band played a 15 minute programme consisting of: ‘March of the Cobblers’, a trombone duet, ‘And then She Stopped’ featuring Will Chandler and Adam Waterson that took the ‘Best Trombone’ prize, and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’.

Scissett Youth was second, with the even younger players of Hade Edge Training Band (with Henry Brown aged just six taking the Youngest Player prize) showcasing their emerging talent by coming third.

They really played well on stage and I was delighted to be able to link up with such a progressive organisation. On this form they are a band to watch out forMD, Huw Thomas

Results:
Adjudicator: Colin Hardy

Section A: Test Piece

1. Strata Brass (Huw Thomas)
2. Uppermill (Alan Widdop)
3. Old Silkstone (Simon Kerwin)
4. Slaithwaite (Simon Kerwin)
5. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Norman Law)
6. Delph (Jonathan Davies)
7. Hade Edge (Simon Wood)
8. Ripon City (Malcolm Dibb)

Hymn Tune:

1. Uppermill (Alan Widdop)
2. Slaithwaite (Simon Kerwin)

Best Soloist: Steve Gardner — horn (Uppermill)
Best Euphonium: David Shipman (Strata Brass)
Best Bass Section: Uppermill
Highest placed 2nd Section Band not in the prizes: Slaithwaite
Outstanding Conductor: Alan Widdop (Uppermill)

Section B: Test Piece

1. Dronfield (John Davis)
2. Dinnington Colliery (Jonathan Beatty)
3. Skelmanthorpe 'B' (Phil Garlick)
4. Boarshurst (David W Ashworth)
5. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Ian Knapton)
6. Dobcross Youth (Jonathan Parkes)

Section B: Hymn Tune

1. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield
2. Dinnington Colliery

Best Euphonium: Dronfield
Best Percussion Section: Dinnington Colliery
Best Trombone Section: Skelmanthorpe 'B'
Highest placed 4th Section Band not in the prizes: Dobcross Youth
Outstanding Conductor: John Davis (Dronfield)

Youth Section:

1. Hade Edge Youth Band (Simon Wood)
2. Scissett Youth Band (Simon Mansfield)
3. Hade Edge Training Band (Simon Wood)

Best Soloist in Youth Section: Will Chandler & Adam Waterson – trombone (Hade Edge Youth)
Youngest Player of the Day: Henry Brown (aged 6) – Hade Edge
Best Soloist: Tenor Horn — Uppermill

Deportment:
Adjudicator: Stuart Fawcett

1. Meltham & Meltham Mills
2. Uppermill
3. Hade Edge