There is a strong line up of competing bands looking to boost their coffers at the Wychavon Festival of Brass this weekend.
Saturday
Saturday sees the Second and First Section contests taking place at All Saints Church in Evesham, just off the main Market Square, with competitors hoping to impress adjudicator, Dave Lea, MD of the Midlands Area Champions, Jaguar Land Rover Band.
Second Section:
It all kicks off with what is sure to be a tough battle for the Danny Freer Cup and £750 first prize in the Second Section, where four bands pit their wits against each other starting on the stroke of 10.00am.
Reigning champion Strata Brass from Yorkshire will be up against a trio of rivals from Wales, West of England and the Midlands in Blaenavon, Cinderford and Daventry.
First Section:
With that tasty aperitif to whet the appetite, Dave Lea will then be faced with a solid looking clutch of entries in the First Section, starting at 2.00pm, with eight well matched bands from as far afield as Wales and London mixing it with the local contenders.
With a top prize of £1,000 on offer it promises to be a cracking afternoon to round off the first day of the weekend’s competitive entertainment.
Bedworth, Kibworth, Enderby, Hyde, Markham & District, Shirley, Llwydcoed and Sandhurst Silver make up a highly competitive field all looking to get their hands on the Roger Spragg Festival Cup.
Third Section:
Six ambitious bands lock horns in the Third Section at Wallace House on Sunday morning, with plenty of good music making on offer at the new community centre venue, starting at 10.00am.
Adjudicator Tom Davoran will be the man to impress, with a keenly fought cross border entertainment skirmish on the books with two Welsh contenders up against a quartet of strong looking English counterparts—all with one eye on the Three Towns Trophy.
Newport Borough, Arrow Valley, Wem Jubilee, West Mercia Police, Porthywaen Silver and Ogmore Valley will be looking to head home with a cheque for £600 in their back pockets.
Fourth Section:
As always, some of the most enjoyable entertainment of the whole weekend will be found on show in the Fourth Section, which follows at 3.00pm.
Six bands will be looking to claim the £500 first prize, by impressing Tom Davoran with their brand of entertainment.
The contest has attracted North West debutants Ellenbrook & Boothstown and Cadishead in the hope of taking the VECTA Trophy back up the M6 with them, although they are up against a strong field of local contenders in Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass, Cheltenham, Cubbington and Black Country Brass, who return this year after a long absence from the contest scene.
With prizes also on offer for the best soloist, percussion and presentation there is sure to be plenty to enjoy.
Championship Section:
The contest is rounded off by the quintet of Championship Section contenders, with another cross border battle to look forward to at the All Saints Church starting at 4.00pm for the Blue Riband Wychavon Cup.
Current Welsh champion Tongwynlais Temperance lead the Celtic assault joined by former winners BTM and Welsh League champion Burry Port.
They will be up against the re-emerging talents of Londoners Aveley & Newham and Medway—both of whom will be conducted by the experienced Melvin White.
With a first prize of £1,500 to play for and prizes for the best soloist, percussion and presentation, it should provide both adjudicator John Maines and the audience with plenty of high quality brass band entertainment to round off the weekend.
Tickets:
All day tickets are available on the day at just £10.00 with a two day weekend special at just £14.00
A spokesperson told 4BR: "The Wychavon Contest continues to provide high quality entertainment for the audiences and a wonderful competitive environment for the competing bands thanks to a very generous prize fund."
They added: "We would love to see as many people coming along to enjoy the bands. Concessions are available for supporters of competing bands — but these are only available via band secretaries so nab him now!"
More details
See website for more details: www.festivalofbrass.co.uk
The contest is rounded off by the quintet of Championship Section contenders, with another cross border battle to look forward to at the All Saints Church starting at 4.00pm for the Blue Riband Wychavon Cup4BR
Competing Bands:
Championship Section:
Sunday 15th September
All Saints Church, Evesham
Starts: 4.00pm
Adjudicator: John Maines
1. Aveley & Newham (Melvin White)
2. Medway (Melvin White)
3. Burry Port Town (Nigel Seaman)
4. Tongwynlais Temperance (Steve Sykes)
5. BTM (Dewi Griffiths)
First Section:
Saturday 14th September
All Saints Church, Evesham
Starts: 2.00pm
Adjudicator: Dave Lea
1. Bedworth Brass (Jason Glynn)
2. Kibworth (Iain Raynor)
3. Enderby (Simon Jones)
4. Hyde (Helen Kinder)
5. Markham & District (Gareth Pritchard)
6. Shirley (David Bishop- Rowe)
7. Llywdcoed (Nigel Seaman)
8. Sandhurst Silver (Ian McElligott)
Second Section:
Saturday 14th September
All Saints Church, Evesham
Starts: 10.00am
Adjudicator: Dave Lea
1. Daventry (Bob Stradling)
2. Cinderford (Kevin White)
3. Blanavon Town (James Jones)
4. Strata Brass (David Holling)
Third Section:
Sunday 15th September
Wallace House, Evesham
Starts: 10.00am
Adjudicator: Tom Davoran
1. Newport Borough Brass (Robin Hackett)
2. Arrow Valley (David Stanley)
3. Wem Jubilee (Roger Thorne)
4. West Mercia Police (Kevin Steward)
5. Porthywaen Silver (Mark Parry)
6. Ogmore Valley Silver (Alice Jones)
Fourth Section:
Sunday 15th September
Wallace House, Evesham
Starts: 3.00pm
Adjudicator: Tom Davoran
1. Cadishead Public (Craig McFarland)
2. Black Country Brass (Alwyn Manley)
3. Cleobury Mortimer Concert Brass (Saphran Ali)
4. Cheltenham Silver (Angie Shepherd)
4. Cubbington Silver (Alexander Webb)
6. Ellenbrook & Boothstown (Chris Barnes)
