There was a great day’s entertainment on offer at the recent Skelmanthorpe Slow Melody & Ensemble competition, with over 50 entries from 21 different bands from all over the North of England and the Midlands.

Delighted with standard

The adjudicator was Foden’s euphonium star Glyn Williams, and he was delighted with the standard and variety of music played, especially in the ‘11 & under’ section where all 10 players performed a different piece of music.

Black Dyke’s Jonny Bates, a former solo horn player with the Skelmanthorpe B Band was also on hand to keep everything under control as an entertaining compere.

Success

It turned out to be a very successful day for another horn player, Patricia Woodings of the Newhall Band, who took the major ‘Open’ prize along with the ‘Veterans’ section honours and the prize for the ‘Outstanding Musical Performance of the Day’.

There were other ‘double’ winners too, with Eb Bass player Tommy Tynan teaming up with Bethan Brown on baritone to claim both Ensemble Sections.

High quality

In a morning session of high quality and variety, the awards were spread out between Bethany Moore (cornet), Hannah Stell (trombone) and Julian Bayley (flugel)

Fun and games

Meanwhile, the great fun and games of the legendary ‘Random’ section concluded proceedings with Glyn confirming he cannot play the clarinet and Jonny producing a performance to forget on the musical saw!!!
Other ‘instruments’ to receive the Skelmanthorpe treatment included a ukulele and sitar.

In the end, however, it was young Eva Warren’s enthusiastic, albeit unsuccessful attempt on the clarinet which found favour with audience and adjudicator alike.

Organiser, Graham Bates told 4BR: "It was great to see so many young players taking part again, and it was great to meet friends old and new."

It was great to see so many young players taking part again, and it was great to meet friends old and newOrganiser Graham Bates

Results:

11 & Under:
1. Julian Bayley (Dobcross Youth)
2. Joshua Skyrme (Gawthorpe Brass ’85)
3. Felicity Hindmarsh (Tewit Youth)

14 & Under:
1. Hannah Stell (Skelmanthorpe)
2. Bethan Brown (Foresters Brass)
3. Joseph Wellman (Astley Youth)

16 & Under:
1. Bethany Moore (Whitworth Vale & Healey)
2. Hannah Stell (Skelmanthorpe)
3. George Newbould (Thorseby Colliery)

Junior Ensemble:
1. Bethan Brown & Tommy Tynan

Open:
1. Patricia Woodings (Newhall)
2. Bethany Moore (Whitworth Vale & Healey)
3. George Newbould (Thorseby Colliery)

Veterans:
1. Patricia Woodings (Newhall)
2. Brent Warren (Ashton under Lyne)
3. Debbie Bates (Thurlstone)

Senior Ensemble:
1. Bethan Brown & Tommy Tynan
2. Hannah Stell & Alex Kerwin

Outstanding Musical Performance: Patricia Woodings (Open Section)

,b>Random: Eva Warren (non-functional clarinet)