*
banner

Report & Results: 2014 scaba Autumn Contest

A successful bit of Arthurian sword wielding sees Friary Guildford lead the way at Crawley.

Friary Guildford
 

The Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association (scaba) held its annual Autumn Contest at the Hawth in Crawley recently.

Adjudicators Paul Norley and Mike Kilroy enjoyed a wide variety of music from the 21 competitors on the day, including an early run out for eventual Championship Section winners Friary Guildford of the forthcoming Royal Albert Hall set work, ‘The Legend of King Arthur’.

Friary hat trick

It gave the reigning British Open Senior Trophy champion, under the baton of Chris King, a hat-trick of 2014 contest victories, and also saw them beat rivals and fellow London qualifiers Wantage Silver, who also took the opportunity to give Peter Meechan’s composition an airing.

Third placed East London Brass also performed a former London set work with ‘Of Distant Memories’.

Work to do

And although Contest Secretary, Alex Stevens was happy with the victory, which also saw the band’s percussion section claim its individual award, she acknowledged there was still work to do before they head to Kensington on October 11th.

"It’s a particularly challenging piece of music, and it still needs some work to iron out a few creases," she later said.

"We’ll be working hard over the next couple of weeks to bring us to peak performance in time for the Finals. However, we were delighted with the result which gives us a good measure of confidence that we’re on the right track."

Vinter classic

In the First Section, MD Melvin White delved into the contest cupboards to pick put a classic piece of Gilbert Vinter as they retained their title with a sparkling rendition of ‘Variations on a Ninth’ to end ahead of rivals Horsham Borough and BAE Systems.

The band’s principal cornet, Barbara King took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award, with the quartet of hard working tuba players taking the ‘Best Basses’ prize.

Close fight

In a closely fought Second Section, Cold Brass took the honours ahead of Regent Community Brass and 2013 Third Section National Champion, LGB Brass, whilst Cobham the sole entrant in the Third Section.

Shanklin Town Youth claimed the Youth Section title and in the process was also awarded the 2014 scaba ‘Band of the Year’ title.

Once again there was an encouraging turn out of competing bands for the contest (which included welcome visitors Brass Band Gent for Belgium), which was run in excellent manner by contest manager Jane Stewart and the scaba team

We’ll be working hard over the next couple of weeks to bring us to peak performance in time for the FinalsFriary Guildford Contest Secretary, Alex Stevens

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Friary Guildford (Chris King)
2. Wantage Silver ‘A’ (Philip Bailey)
3. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
4. Aveley & Newham (Melvin White)
5. Becontree (Nigel Taken)
6. Brass Band Gent (Lieven Dobbelaere)

Best Instrumentalist: Matt Schroeter (flugel) — Becontree
Best Percussion Section: Friary Guildford
Best Euphonium: Sam Wyne (Wantage)
Best Bass Section: Wantage
Conductor Prize: Chris King (Friary Guildford)

First Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley

1. Northfleet (Melvin White)
2. Horsham Borough (Andrew Kershaw)
3. BAE Systems (Jonathon Crowhurst)
4. Tilbury (Andrew Austin)
5. Epsom & Ewell (Jack Smith)
6. Fairlop, Kevin Jordan
7. Otterbourne (Gareth Pritchard)

Best Instrumentalist: Barbara King (cornet) — Northfleet
Best Euphonium: Martin Smith (Horsham)
Best Bass Section: Northfleet
Conductor Prize: Jack Smith (Epsom & Ewel)

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Cold Ash Brass (Jemma Evans)
2. Regent Community Brass (Chris Bearman)
3. LGB Brass (Ian Stewart)
4. Chichester City (Tim Cooper)
5. Shanklin Town (Malcolm Lewis)

Best Instrumentalist: Derfel Williams (baritone) — Cold Ash
Best Horn Section: Regent Community Brass
Best Solo Horn: Bryan Long — Regent Community Brass
Best Percussion Section: Cold Ash
Conductor Prize: Jemma Evans (Cold Ash)

Third Section:
Adjudicator Paul Norley

1. Cobham Band (Glen Hayter)

Best Instrumentalist: Matthew Seggons (euphonium) -Cobham

Youth Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley

1. Shanklin Town Youth (Malcolm Lewis)
2. Shepway Brass Academy (Christer Aberg)

Best Instrumentalist: Alex Warner (cornet) — Shanklin Youth
Conductor Prize: Christer Aberg (Shepway Brass Academy)

scaba Band of the Year 2014: Shanklin Town Youth

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Hannah Peel

Radio: Brass Banding with Hannah Peel

April 25 • The first episode of the much anticipated new Radio 3 brass band series starts on Sunday with a musical trip to Norway...


Music

Own choice works revealed for Stavanger

April 25 • A wide ranging selection of major test-piece works will be performed in Stavanger.


NYBBGB

National Youth Band sells out in Halifax

April 25 • The National Youth Band of Great Britain will be joined by the British Army Brass Band for a sell out concert in Halifax this weekend.


bRADOFRD

Bradford boost for Black Dyke Band

April 25 • The Yorkshire champion's involvement in Bradford's celebration as the UK City of Culture on Radio 2 has gained widespread plaudits.


Regent Hall Concerts - The Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 25 April • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London. . W1C2DJ


Newstead Brass - Under Gaia

Saturday 26 April • Mansfield Palace Theatre. Leeming Street . Mansfield. Nottinghamshire NG18 1NG


Newstead Brass - St George's Day Celebration

Sunday 27 April • St Wilfrid's Church, Church Street, Kirkby In Ashfield NG17 8LA


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 4 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


Contest: European Brass Band Championshiips

Friday 9 May • Konzerthaus, SandvigÃ¥ 1, 4007 Stavanger, Norway


Dobcross Silver Band

April 24 • Great opportunity for a PERCUSSIONIST to join this already talented section in what is already a band with a full brass section. We are looking to enhance our percussion section as we prepare for Nationals in September . Enjoyable playing and social band!


Hathersage Band

April 24 • SECOND TROMBONE. Hathersage Brass Band is a thriving non-contesting community band. We enjoy making music and have a comprehensive gig schedule. Are you the right person to join our happy band?


Chinnor Silver

April 22 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are recommencing rehearsals on 28th Monday at 11am in our bandroom and we would love you to join us.. We welcome players of all abilities who just fancy a friendly fun blow with cake and coffee thrown in.. Its all free so join us.


Alwyn Green

LRAM, LTCL
Conductor, composer, arranger, adjudicator, teacher and soloist


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd