A display of formidable contesting purpose saw Black Dyke retain the English National Championship title in Birmingham.

Corners

Their hat-trick victory may not have been witnessed first hand by a large crowd at the university's compact Elgar Concert Hall, but news of their title winning strength will have quickly reached the farthest corners of the European banding world.

In what turned into an enjoyable, if variable day of contesting quality, Virtuosi GUS further enhanced their growing reputation for top flight consistency by coming a clear second, with Milnrow pipping Hepworth for third.

The remaining top six places went to Reg Vardy and Pemberton Old Wigan DW, with Redbridge and Hammonds behind.

No doubting

However, there was no doubting the destination of the £4,000 first prize and qualification invitation to represent England at the European Championships in Perth next year.

Under the baton of a visibly determined Dr Nicholas Childs, the Queensbury band comfortably topped both elements of the two legged contest.

A detailed, free flowing set work, ‘Diversions on a Bass Theme’, was followed after the lunch break by an outstanding performance of ‘Revelation’ — one that brought tears to the eyes of the composer Philip Wilby, sat in the audience.

Delighted manner

Speaking to 4BR the MD was delighted with the manner in which his band claimed its first hat-trick success under his command, using the topical reference to fallen Wimbledon favourites to emphasis his point.

"I know people have been saying that this result was a bit of a foregone conclusion, but I reminded my band that nothing is certain in competition," Dr Childs said. "Everybody thought Roger Federer was going to win at Wimbledon the other day, and just looked what happened."

Superb

He continued: "The players really knew they had to perform to the top of their game to win, and they didn’t let me down.

All the soloists were superb, led by Gary Curtin on euphonium (who won the set work ‘Best Soloist award) and the ensemble playing was excellent.

Our aim now is the British Open, to complete some exciting high profile projects and then look forward to 2014 and of course Perth."

Tribute

The MD also paid a heartfelt tribute to the man who he felt was simply a composing giant — Philip Wilby.

"To see him here to listen to the band play was wonderful. He is a quite remarkable man, a true composing giant and ‘Revelation’ brings the very best out of us too."

Judges

As Black Dyke celebrated, the audience was left to ponder on the remarks given by all four adjudicators before the announcement of the results.

Set work judges Paul Norley and Philip Harper felt that the range of performances on George Lloyd’s ‘Diversions’ ranged from, ‘...the very good to the stunningly superb’, although both felt it also highlighted demanding challenges in tempo and style, which were not always overcome.

Volume and weight

"It’s great music," said Paul, "although there is a difference between volume and weight, which not all bands managed successfully. Some intonation was surprisingly suspect."

Philip added: "The challenge posed by tempo and style was marked. The almost single tempo marking needed consistency and the style of the individual melody lines came from within the music — there were no showcase solos.

Only one band really captured the Largamente to close."

Own choice problems

For Alan Morrison and Steve Sykes, the eight different own choice selections also posed problems.

"We judged the music not the choices," Alan pointed out, "although at times we did question why some were made when obvious weaknesses were highlighted.

Not one band got through unscathed and there wasn't a definitive performance."

Steve agreed. "Some bands gave moments of real brilliance, but also more surprising lapses too. You could really hear the detail in the excellent acoustic — we seemed to be really ‘on top’ of the bands.

The winning performance was outstanding but it also had a few blemishes too."

Profitable GUS

Although there were some minor concerns for eventual runner-up Virtuosi GUS over the two legs, the Midlanders pocketed another £3,000 of prize money in what is fast becoming a highly profitable farewell contest tour under their popular MD, John Berryman.

They have now won nearly £15,000 so far this year, with appearances at the British Open, National Finals and Brass in Concert to come.

Excellent

Band Manager Mike Smith told 4BR: "We felt we produced two excellent performances of the set work and ‘Contest Music’. We are becoming a very consistent band at the major events and we have plenty of good form and confidence to build on for the British Open and beyond.

It’s turning into a memorable farewell to John and 80th anniversary celebration for the band."

Our aim now is the British Open, to complete some exciting high profile projects and then look forward to 2014 and of course PerthBlack Dyke Director of Music, Dr Nicholas Childs

Remarkable Milnrow

Meanwhile, a delighted Milnrow continued their remarkable run of form under Marieka Gray to claim the £2,000 for third place.

Their well crafted account of the set work saw them end the morning in second place. Crucially it also meant they were able to just about fight off the effects of waning stamina and Hepworth’s determined challenge as they ended fifth on their own choice of ‘Music for Battle Creek’.

OMG!

No wonder their players were twittering ‘OMG!’ onto their phones as the Grand Shield winners made it a memorable hat-trick of contesting results following their Albert Hall and British Open qualifications.

Speaking to 4BR, Marieka Gray said that the result further confirmed the progress her band is making as a top flight force.

"I’m delighted by the result of course, as I think its shows that we are developing with each contest performance into a consistent top flight band. Having to perform a major work as ‘Battle Creek’ just a couple of hours after the set test, was a real eye-opener for the band — both mentally and physically.

I’m proud of the way the players met that challenge. The hard work and commitment of the band is paying off."

Pipped

A disappointed Hepworth, led by Michael Fowles, just missed out on the prizes despite producing a dramatic rendition ‘Titan’s Progress’ to end third in the own choice discipline.

Fourth place on the set work in the morning saw them eventually pipped by their North West rivals

Reg Vardy produced two varied performances to end fifth under Russell Gray, with ‘Spiriti’ gaining fourth in the own choice discipline after a disappointing seventh on the set work.

Cylinders

Pemberton Old Wigan DW pipped Redbridge to claim the final top six place thanks to a purposeful rendition of the set work to go with a slightly underwhelming ‘Blitz’, whilst the Londoner’s never quite fired on all cylinders despite an exciting rendition of ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’.

Hammonds Saltaire ended eighth, producing one of the more interesting musical selections in Dudley Bright’s ‘Pursuing Horizons’, which certainly got the own choice judges thinking on how to equate it with more meatier offerings from their rivals — eventually placing it sixth.

BBE pleased

Although the latest venue for the English National only attracted a small audience (about 200 of the 400 seats were filled), there was still much for the hard working organisers Brass Bands England to be pleased about, despite the obvious difficulties of finding the venue in Birmingham and on the vast university campus.

It is hoped that the fine concert hall, excellent facilities, a public commitment from the winning band of their continued support and BBE’s desire to find a format that will attract the six English regional winners in 2014, could well see the event finally start to flourish.

Offer much

As one BBE official told 4BR: "We think this venue offers so much to help the contest grow. There is work to do of course and much to learn from the weekend, but we are determined to make it succeed."

Results:

Test piece: 'Diversions on a Bass Theme' (George Lloyd)

Set Work adjudicators: Philip Harper & Paul Norley
Own Choice adjudicators: Alan Morrison & Steve Sykes

Set Work + Own Choice = Total

1. Black Dyke (Dr Nicholas Childs): 1st/1st = 2
2. Virtuosi GUS (John Berryman): 3rd/2nd = 5
3. Milnrow (Marieka Gray): 2nd/5th = 7*
4. Hepworth (Michael Fowles): 4th/3rd = 7*
5. Reg Vardy (Russell Gray): 7th/4th = 11
6. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Stig Maersk): 5th/8th = 13*
7. Redbridge (Jeremy Wise): 6th/7th = 13*
8. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths): 8th/6th = 14

*Placing on set work take precedent

Best Soloist on Set Work: Gary Curtin (euphonium) — Black Dyke
Youngest Player: Joe Hainsworth, (15), Hammonds Saltaire