The Oxfordshire & District contest took place at Marlborough School in Woodstock recently, with bands given the opportunity to give their Area set works an early run out if they so wished.

All four awards

One such was certainly Aldbourne, directed by David Johnson, who warmed up for their West of England top flight challenge by claiming first prize with their rendition of ‘St Magnus’.

The band also claimed all four awards on offer from adjudicator John Winterflood, from overall winner to ‘Best Soloist’, ‘Best Bass Section’ and the separate award for ‘Best March’.

Confidence boost

In a nice boost of confidence ahead of Torquay, the adjudicator called the winner’s performance ‘majestic’ — something not lost on Band Chairman James Sheppard who told 4BR:

"The band is now perfectly placed to put on a great performance at Torquay. We have been working hard on the few areas that we know need to improve in order to achieve our aim of qualification for the Royal Albert Hall."

In the other sections there were wins for Brackley and Jubilee Brass.

The band is now perfectly placed to put on a great performance at TorquayBand Chairman James Sheppard

Results:

Championship Section:
1. Aldbourne
2. Kidlington

Best Instrumentalist: Percussion section of Aldbourne
Best Bass Section of the Day: Aldbourne
Best March: Aldbourne

Section A: (1st/2nd Section)
1. Brackley
2. Yiewsley & West Drayton

Highest Second Section Band: Brackley
Best Instrumentalist: James Randle (euphonium) — Brackley

Section B: (Unregistered/4th Section)
1. Jubilee Brass
2. Witney Town
3. Bletchington

Highest unregistered Band: Yarnton
Best Instrumentalist: Nick Sudworth (Percussion) – Jubilee Brass

Band with most players under 19: Yarnton
Youngest Player: Anna Hipkiss (Yarnton)