Co-operative Funeralcare regained domestic supremacy in Perth last weekend with a commanding title success at the Scottish Championship.

Directed by Dr Nicholas Childs, their performance of ‘St Magnus’ left no one in any doubt that the extensive cache of silverware that comes with victory was heading back to the ‘Co’ bandroom vaults for a record 21st time.

Euro bonus

In addition to the prizes for ‘Best Cornet’, ‘Best Trombone’, ‘Best Horn’, ‘Best Basses’, the Walter Hargreaves Trophy to the winning conductor and individual medals to each of the players, the band will now have the honour of representing Scotland at the 2015 European Championships in Freiburg, Germany.

The winning rendition was described by adjudicator Michael Dodd as, ‘...a fantastic performance full of music and great soloists’, whilst David Read MBE added that it was, ‘... a performance that would stand up anywhere — superbly directed.’

Enjoyed

With individual awards won by Jimmy Hayes, Nigel Cox, Billy Rushworth and their Trojan bass quartet, it was little wonder Dr Nicholas Childs was still delighted when 4BR finally caught up with him to reflect on victory:

“I really enjoyed working with this exciting and talented band to create our fifth Scottish Championship success together,” he said, before adding: “I would personally like to personally thank Allan Ramsey for his help and assistance in preparing the band to such a high standard. It was an exceptional performance on stage.”

Allan himself returned the compliment: “Nick really inspired us, and allied to our determination to regain the Scottish title we knew we had produced something special.”

Clear cut

On the end the two point winning margin over rivals Whitburn was clear cut, as the reigning champion, directed by Ian Porthouse, never recovered from a poor opening, whilst an inspired performance from Dalmellington under Richard Evans pushed them all the way to the Albert Hall.

Meanwhile, there were other surprises in the final results table, as Clackmannan District and Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass finished ahead of the more fancied pre-contest contenders of Kingdom Brass and British Open challengers Kirkintilloch.

In a contest that was won in such an impressive overall manner, any sense of drama at the results came with that secondary qualification battle as David Read MBE and Michael Dodd took close on 20 minutes to decide on who would join Co-op in Kensington.

Other surprises

The judges told the audience that they had real difficulty deciding the duo, so it came as a relief to Whtburn that they denied Richard Evans the opportunity to make a long awaited final’s appearance with the band he first led to the Scottish Championship title in 1978.

Heartfelt

He later told 4BR that despite just missing out on an emotional return, he was thrilled that he was able to direct Dalmellington in perhaps its finest Scottish Championship performance since that 1978 triumph.

“The band couldn’t attend the Albert Hall in 1978 due to tragic deaths, so to be able to direct them again, and to play so well, brought back so many memories. I’m absolutely thrilled for such wonderful people who will always hold a very special place in my heart.”

First Section:

There was an equally clear cut victory for Granite City Brass in the First Section, as Bruce Wallace led the Aberdeen based band to the Archie Smith Memorial Trophy and a long trip south to Cheltenham thanks to an outstanding rendition of ‘Cry of the Mountain’.

It certainly impressed the adjudication team of David Hirst and Stan Lippeatt, with David referring to it in his written remarks as having, ‘... some very musical moments — the band were on top of the music and conveyed the composers intentions’, whilst Stan Lippeatt added that it was, ‘... a performance that had lots of good playing.’

Clear

It gave Granite a clear two point winning margin over their impressive Aberdeenshire rivals Bon Accord, who will now join them at the finals.

The remaining top six places in a contest that showed the emerging strength in depth of First Section banding went to Unison Kinneil in third, with the remaining top six places taken by Newmilns & Galston, Bo’ness & Carriden and Dalkeith & Monktonhall.

“It was a very special performance,” Granite City Band Secretary Martin Neale told 4BR. “Bruce has really driven the band forward in his preparation, so even though we didn’t come here with specific contest winning aspirations, as soon as we came off stage we knew we were going to be in with a real chance of success.”

Amazing mix

Martin added that victory has also been achieved with a quite amazing mix of player experience.

“Our horn section totals over 190 years of age, whilst our youngest play is just 14. We were especially pleased though to see our outstanding euphonium player Lewis Catto, take the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award.

We have had our ups and downs in the last few years, but this result gives us a huge boost for the future for a band that prides itself on enjoying our music making.”

Second Section:

A historic Championship ‘double’ was achieved by the Tullis Russell Mills Band organisation as both their Senior and Intermediate bands won Scottish titles in Perth.
Even an exhausting trawl through the record books failed to find another occasion when two bands from the same organisation had claimed victory in the same year, so it came as little surprise that everyone was still in a state of joyful celebration days after the event.

Wonderfully constructed

Conducted by Paul Drury, the senior Tullis Russell Mills Band secured their title success thanks to a finely constructed performance of ‘Chaucer’s Tunes’, which adjudicators David Read MBE and Alan Morrison described as having ‘consistency, character and quality from start to finish’.

It gave the band a clear two point winning margin over rivals St David’s Brass directed by John Dickson, who also produced a rendition that displayed admirable technical security without quite having the same sense of character as the winners — something the judge’s remarked upon before the announcement of the results.

Different

‘Two very different performances,’ was how Alan described the qualifiers, ‘one steady but a little bland, the other more colourful’.

St David’s principal cornet Stuart Dickson won the SBBA Medal as the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ for his fine contribution to their performance.

Tullis will now head to Cheltenham with a band that has grown in maturity over the past few years thanks to the development of home grown players.

Satisfying

A spokesperson later told 4BR: “That’s perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the victory. We had nine players who we have developed over the past few years, so this success is based on doing things with a commitment to the long term future of the band.”

In a contest where consistency was the key to success, third place went to a colourful but occasionally fragile Arbroath Instrumental, with the remaining top six places taken by Perthshire Brass, St Ronan’s Silver and Shotts St Patrick’s.

Third Section:

Although packed with young players, and with an overall average age of just 17, Tullis Russell Intermediate Band MD Stevie Craig told 4BR that it didn’t stop the celebrations running long into the night at Perth, after his band claimed its first Scottish title success.

“I think you can imagine we had a fantastic time after the announcement of the results,” Stevie admitted. “To come so far and achieve so much in such a short space of time is remarkable: The players were simply fantastic on stage — simple as that!”

Third appearance

Formed just three years ago, and only making its third Championship appearance, Tullis claimed the title thanks to an excellent account of ‘Partita’ (Postcards from Home) that gave them a narrow one point victory over fellow qualifiers Dunaskin Doon.

As well as taking the William Anderson Trophy, the Regional Challenge Cup and commemorative medals for each player, solo horn player Joanne Koizel also claimed the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award for her outstanding contribution.

Adjudicators, Stan Lippeatt and Alan Morrison were certainly impressed by the winner’s rendition, calling it, ‘excellent’ and ‘impressive’ in their remarks.

Publicity

Stevie told 4BR that to mark the contest success and to enjoy the historic ‘double’ with their senior counterparts, both bands will join together for a celebration evening where the Scottish Championship winning medals will be presented.

“The ‘Double’ has given both bands great local publicity,” Stevie added. “And now we are going to enjoy ourselves all over again!”

In a contest that contained a number of well constructed performances, third place went to Barrhead Burgh, with the remaining top six places taken by Selkirk Silver, Irvine & Dreghorn and Langholm Town.

Fourth Section:

Scottish banding’s long term investment in grass roots banding was seen in full bloom in the Fourth Section, where a wonderful field of 14 bands took to the stage to perform ‘Three Spanish Impressions’ by Alan Fernie.

Good standard

With a good overall standard for Michael Dodd and David Hirst to enjoy in the box, it was an excellent performance from Callander Brass under Ian Milligan, which eventually claimed the Besson Challenge Trophy, the Scottish Regional Challenge Tribute and medals for each delighted player.

Joining them in Cheltenham will be Tayport Instrumental conducted by Frank Ross, whilst debutants Whitburn Heartlands just missed out in third.

Tayport’s solo trombonist won the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award for their excellent contribution to their qualification success, whilst Kirsty Adams of Whitburn Heartlands Band had the honour of being the youngest BBb tuba player of the day.

Impressed

The judges were certainly impressed by the winners, calling their performance, ‘musical and confident’ and ‘well directed’ in their written remarks.

Earlier, there had been a further display of the growing importance of grass roots development when two bands took part in the first Section 4B event.

Coalburn Intermediate and Newlands Concert Brass performed own choice music to gain the opportunity to gain free tuition from composer and adjudicator Alan Fernie.

With the European Championship looming on the horizon in Perth, the Scottish Brass Band Association will have been delighted at the way the contest weekend ran smoothly, as well as the support the event gained from the general banding public.

I would personally like to personally thank Allan Ramsey for his help and assistance in preparing the band to such a high standard. It was an exceptional performance on stageDr Nicholas Childs

Results:

Championship Section:
Test Piece: 'St Magnus' — Kenneth Downie
Adjudicators: David Read MBE & Michael Dodd

1. Co-operative Funeralcare (Dr. Nicholas Childs) — 195*
2. Whitburn (Ian Porthouse) — 193*
3. Dalmellington (Richard Evans) — 192
4. Clackmannan District (Paul McKelvie OBE) — 190
5. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Charles Keenan) — 189
6. Kingdom Brass (Lynda Nicholson) — 188
7. Kirkintilloch (David Roberts) — 186
8. Lochgelly (Martyn Ramsay) — 184
9. Newtongrange Silver (Lee Skipsey) — 183
10. Johnstone (Paul Kiernan) — 182

* Top 2 bands qualify for National Final

Best Cornet: Jimmy Hayes (Co-operative Funeralcare)
Best Trombone: Nigel Cox (Co-operative Funeralcare)
Best Horn: William Rushworth (Co-operative Funeralcare)
Best Bass Section: Co-operative Funeralcare
Best Euphonium: Kingdom Brass

First Section:
Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt & David Hirst

1. Granite City Brass (Bruce Wallace) — 190*
2. Bon Accord (Stephen Malcolm) — 188*
3. Unison Kinneil (Craig Anderson) — 186
4. Newmilns & Galston (Nigel Boddice) — 184
5. Bo’ness & Carriden (Bryan Allen) — 183
6. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)- 182
7. Bathgate (Andy Shaw) — 181
8. Broxburn & Livingston (Paul Stone) — 180
9. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) — 179
10. Croy Silver (Kenneth Blackwood) — 178

* Top 2 bands qualify for National Final

Best Horn: Bon Accord
Best Instrumentalist: Lewis Catto (euphonium) — Granite City Brass

Second Section:
Test Piece: 'Chaucer's Tunes' — Dr Michael Ball
Adjudicators: Alan Morrison & David Read MBE

1. Tullis Russell Mills (Paul Drury) — 189*
2. St. David's Brass (John A. Dickson) — 187*
3. Arbroath Instrumental (Michael Robertson) — 185
4. Perthshire Brass (Jason Blyth) — 184
5. St. Ronan’s Silver (Chris Bradley) — 183
6. Shotts St. Patrick’s (Michael Marzella) — 182
7. Jedforest Instrumental (Phil Rosier) — 181
8. Kingdom Brass ‘B’ (Paul Kiernan) — 180
9. Annan Town (Peter Heyes) — 179
10. City of Discovery (Eoin Tonner) — 178
11. Campbeltown Brass (Paul Stone) — 177

Instrumentalist: Stuart Dickson (cornet) — St. David's Brass

*Top 2 bands qualify for National Finals

Third Section:
Test Piece: 'Partita for Band' (Postcards from Home) — Professor Philip Wilby
Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt & Alan Morrison

1. Tullis Russell Intermediate (Steven Craig) — 185*
2. Dunaskin Doon (Gary Williams) — 184*
3. Barrhead Burgh (Brian Keachie) — 182
4. Selkirk Silver (Alan Fernie) — 180
5. Irvine & Dreghorn (John Boax) — 179
6. Langholm Town (Chris Shanks) — 178
7. Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good) — 177
8. Dumfries Town (Neill McDonald) — 176
9. Peebles Burgh (Kevin Wadsworth) — 175
10. MacTaggart Scott (Jamie MacVicar) — 174

Instrumentalist: Joanne Koziel (horn) — Tullis Russell Intermediate

*Top 2 bands qualify for National Finals

Fourth Section:
Test Piece: 'Three Spanish Impressions for Brass Band' — Alan Fernie
Adjudicators: Michael Dodd & David Hirst

1. Callander Brass (Ian Milligan) — 184*
2. Tayport Instrumental (Frank Culross) — 183*
3. Whitburn Heartlands (Robert Fraser) — 182
4. Highland Brass (Mark Bell) — 181
5. Bon Accord Silver ‘B’ (Robert Fraser) — 180
6. Buckhaven and Methil Miners (David Neil) — 179
7. Dunfermline Town (Scott Findlater) — 178
8. Queensferry Community Brass (James Anderson) — 177
9. Dundee Instrumental (Frank Culross) — 176
10. Creetown Silver (Stuart NcNab) — 175
11. Penicuik Silver (Stuart Black) — 174
12. Stranraer Brass (Yvonne Williamson) — 173
13. Dysart Colliery (Bruce Fraser) — 172
14. Hawick Saxhorn (Colin McCabe) — 171

Instrumentalist: Solo Trombone — Tayport Instrumental
Youngest BBb Bass: Kirsty Adams — Whitburn Heartlands

*Top 2 bands qualify for National Final