The talented young players of the Manx Youth Band certainly enjoyed their trip across the Irish Sea to perform at the recent North West Regional Championship.

Fourth Section debut

The band made their debut in the Fourth Section held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool and secured a wonderful third placed finish against a host of highly competitive rivals — taking back home with them the Roy Prescott Memorial Trophy.

Comprising 28 players — 26 of them under the age of 18, they just missed out on a qualification place to the National Finals in Cheltenham, although any disappointment was short lived as MD Ian Clague declared himself to be ‘immensely proud’ of their efforts.

Immensely proud

“This is the accumulation of months of hard work by the whole band,” he said. “I’m immensely proud of them all. It’s great their efforts to make and enjoy quality music making has paid off.”

Assistant principal cornet James Aire added: “Most of the band had never stepped foot in the Empress Ballroom, never mind played there, but they did not let it intimidate them — and they all performed with such confidence.”

there were some extremely proud parents, teachers and supporters after the result was announced, which coincidentally came on the 20th anniversary of Ian Clague leading Manx Concert Brass to third place on their debut in the same venue!4BR

20th anniversary

He added: “There were some extremely proud parents, teachers and supporters after the result was announced, which coincidentally came on the 20th anniversary of Ian Clague leading Manx Concert Brass to third place on their debut in the same venue!”

The senior Manx Concert Brass also played in the Second Section under the baton of Derek Broadbent this year, and were placed seventh, a result which cements their position in the section for another year.