St. Ronan’s Silver rounded off their contesting year with a comprehensive victory in the Scottish Challenge Cup in Perth.

Evocative account

Conducted by Chris Bradley, who just a week previously had tasted success of his own in winning the ‘Best Flugel’ award at Brass in Concert with Whitburn, they produced an evocative account of Simon Dobson’s emotionally charged ‘Penlee’ to claim the trophy and £250 first prize.

The band from Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders initially qualified for the event following its win at the Scottish Championship in March.

Good form

Since then they have enjoyed a fine year, impressing many with their performance at the National Finals in Cheltenham, where they were unlucky not to have featured in the prizes and coming runner-up at the recent Borders Entertainment Contest.

On this occasion however all three independent judges were unanimous in their praise of their performance, each placing it first in their order of preference.

Moved

Adjudicator Leigh Baker summed up his written remarks by saying: "Wow – I feel quite moved at the close and so do the audience. A great show – thank you all. So colourful, so descriptive."

As with the Scottish Challenge Shield, a number of withdrawals meant that only four bands took to the Perth Concert Hall stage, although the standard was high thanks to well chosen own selections that showed off each band’s musical ambition.

Solid performances

Barrhead Burgh eventually claimed second place and the Highest Placed Fourth Section Band award under Brian Keachie thanks to a solidly delivered ‘Laudate Dominum’ with the rapidly rising Tullis Russell Mills Intermediate showing the progress they have made during 2013 with vibrant account of ‘Dark Side of the Moon’.

Peebles Burgh rounded off the results table with a solid delivery of ‘Dimensions’.

Great weekend

It also proved to be a great weekend for the Innerleithen organisation with the St Ronan’s Future Band competing in the Scottish Youth Championships, where they were awarded second prize in the novice section.

Band Secretary Keith Belleville later told 4BR: "We are delighted with the performances of both our bands in Perth at the weekend. The hard-work put in by all of the players and both conductors has really paid off with excellent results."

We are delighted with the performances of both our bands in Perth at the weekend. The hard-work put in by all of the players and both conductors has really paid off with excellent resultsSecretary Keith Belleville

Results:
Scottish Challenge Cup

Adjudicators: Leigh Baker, Simone Rebello, John Boax
Own Choice
Baker/Rebello/Boax = Total

1. St.Ronan's (Chris Bradley): 1/1/1 = 3
2. Barrhead (Brian Keachie): 4/2/2 = 8
3. Tullis Russell Intermediate (Steven Craig): 2/4/3 = 9
4. Peebles Burgh (Stephen Baird): 3/3/4 = 10

Highest placed Third Section Band: St Ronan's
Highest placed Fourth Section Band: Barrhead Burgh