The first domestic title of the 2015 Welsh contesting season was decided in Porthcawl on the weekend, as Burry Port claimed the Welsh Open title for the first time, with success under the baton of Tom Davoren.

And on a day when the variable Welsh weather brought everything from sunshine to hailstones in its coastal breeze, their 20 minute programme based on the elements of nature certainly found favour with adjudicator Simone Rebello, who described their winning performance as ‘having an extra touch of class’ to capture the CISWO Challenge Cup and £1000 top prize.

Impressive marker

With the Welsh Regional contest just a few weeks away in Swansea, Burry Port laid down an impressive marker to rivals who will be looking to claim the two extra qualifications places on offer for the National Finals at the Albert Hall.

One of those will be Tongwynlais Temperance, as the defending champion ended runner-up under the direction of Christopher Bond, whilst there was delight for newly promoted Championship contenders Llwydcoed who came third under Chris Turner.

Fellow Swansea challengers Tylorstown was fourth, with the remaining top six places going to welcome visitors Staines Brass and First Section, City of Cardiff (Melingriffith).

Clear winner

Burry Port certainly laid down an imposing early marker off the number 3 draw, with their ‘elemental’ approach starting with the upbeat funk of ‘In the Stone’ by Earth, Wind and Fire, followed by Peter Graham’s fiery ‘Phoenix’.

One of Welsh banding’s rising young talents, euphonium soloist, Chris Smith produced a calming sea inspired account of ‘Ar Lan Yr Mor’, before contrast was provided by the sun baked earth of ‘Kongolela’ (complete with vocals) and the thumping ‘Glorifico Aeternum’ by Dean Jones to close.

“It was a clear winner,” Simone Rebello later told 4BR, highlighting the two point winning margin. “It was balanced, cohesive, neatly presented and so well directed. It had an extra touch of class.”

Delighted

A delighted Burry Port Treasurer Jayne Thomas added as she clutched the imposing trophy: “It’s given us a huge boost ahead of Swansea. To finally win this contest is a fantastic achievement for the band and shows that we have continued to build on the superb work of the likes of Nigel Seaman and Mike Thorne with Tom.

He really opened our eyes with his approach to this contest over the last few weeks, and now we want to build on it by claiming our place at the Albert Hall for a second successive year.”

Special victory

For Tom Davoren it was also a special victory as he claimed his second Welsh Open title. “It’s a great contest for Welsh banding and one I love competing at as you get such a great audience response.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the band I grew up with — so to help them win the title for the first time makes it something of a special victory.

I’m sure they can go one and claim further success at the Welsh Area and I’m looking forward to working with them again later this year on two exciting projects celebrating local culture and history.”

Variety

There was a great deal of musical and entertainment variety — both in terms of quality and inspiration — to enjoy throughout the day for an appreciative audience, with at least two world premieres, high quality soloists and some innovative programme themes — although it was also noticeable that a number of bands still had to rely on top flight ‘deps’ to enable them to compete.

Heroes

Despite taking to the stage as the penultimate contender, defending champion Tongwynlais Temperance couldn’t quite do enough to retain their title under Christopher Bond.

Their confident ‘Heroes’ themed approach contained the bold PLC opener, followed by ‘The Incredibles’ and a wonderful lyrical flugel solo from David James with the premiere of ‘Of Wind and Weeping’. The evocative ‘Lest We Forget’, also by their young MD, seemed to have put them in pole position, but their programme climax rather fell away with a tired rendition of Widor’s ‘Toccata’ to close.

Celebrate

In contrast there was plenty to celebrate for a delighted Llwydcoed as former Cory bumper-up Chris Turner led them to their first ever podium finish at the event, with a intelligently chosen programme.

The swagger march ‘The Wizard’ was followed by the horn solo ‘Salm O Dewi Sant’ and Cai Isfryn’s celtic inspired ‘Vengeance’, before closing with the sounds of heavy industry linked to their proud heritage in ‘Legends of Cyfarthfa’ (complete with period banding uniforms).

The band not only picked up the £300 for their podium finish, but their horn section of Sian Drew, Ross Dunne, Bethan Wilkes and Lynne Turner became the first recipients of the Jean Gardner Trophy as the ‘Best Horn Section’ of the day.

Fluff Freeman

Meanwhile, Tylorstown certainly left Porthcawl with a skip in their step after their innovative ‘Rock & Pop’ set, that included everything from ‘Hey Jude’ and ‘Paint it Black’ to a cracking Michael Buble wannabe in singer Dean Sharpe on ‘Cry Me A River’ ended fourth under Gary ‘Fluff Freeman’ Davies, whilst Staines Brass also made an appealing impression directed by Jonathan Pippen.

The highlights of their engaging set were the premiere of the moving ‘Flanders Elegy’, complete with narrated poem, and the ‘Best Cornet’ award playing of Rhydian Griffiths, with his high paced whizz through Monti’s famous ‘Czardas’.

Entertaining

City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) certainly pulled out all the stops under Gareth Ritter to claim the ‘Most Entertaining Stage Presentation’ trophy and bag £300 (which included a sparkling version of ‘Mr Sandman’), although they may feel a little disappointed they didn’t quite capture the enthusiasm from the adjudicator for their playing.

A wonderful virtuoso performance of ‘Brillante’ by Andrew Porter of Sandhurst Silver won the ‘Best Soloist’ Award, whilst Abergavenny’s encouraging seventh place finish gave them the Eifion Rogers Trophy and £300 as the ‘Highest Placed First Section Band not in the prizes’.

With one of the banding world’s most celebrated percussionists stating she had also enjoyed the standard of non-brass playing on show throughout the contest, Simone eventually gave the ‘Best Percussion’ prize to the team from Parc & Dare.

Tragic death

On a day, expertly presented by Dave Hayward and superbly run by the organising team following the news of the tragic death of contest controller Rob Gowing’s mother on the morning of the event, there were also two richly deserved awards presented to Emily Evans of Tongwynlais as the recipient of the Graham Rees Bursary for 2015, and to 9 year old Zac Roynon Griffiths as the youngest player of the day.

He really opened our eyes with his approach to this contest over the last few weeks, and now we want to build on it by claiming our place at the Albert Hall for a second successive yearBurry Port Band

Results:
Adjudicator: Simone Rebello

1. Burry Port (Tom Davoren) — 197
2. Tongwynlais Temperance (Christopher Bond) — 195
3. Llwydcoed (Christopher Turner) — 193
4. Tylorstown (Gary Davies) — 192
5. Staines Brass (Jonathan Pippen) — 191
6. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Gareth Ritter) — 190
7. Abergavenny Borough (Alun F Williams) — 189
8. Sandhurst Silver (Ian McElligott) — 188
9. Goodwick (Matthew Jenkins) — 187
10. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins) — 186
11= AW Parker (Drybrook) (Josh Ruck) — 185
11= Parc & Dare (Andrew Jones) — 185

Highest Placed First Section Band not in main prizes: Abergavenny Borough
Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: City of Cardiff (Melingriffith)

Best Soloist: Andrew Porter (euphonium) — Sandhurst Silver
Best Cornet Player: Rhydian Griffiths (Staines Brass)
Best Horn Section: Llwydcoed
Best Percussion: Parc & Dare

Graham Rees Memorial Bursary: Emily Evans (Tongwynlais Temperanace)
Youngest Player: Zac Roynon Griffiths (Abergavenny Borough) (aged 9)