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Report & Results: 2015 scaba Autumn Contest

A reduced field of competitors but still plenty of fine music making on show in Crawley.

Wantage
 

scaba (Southern Counties Amateur Band Association) held their annual Autumn Contest at the Hawth in Crawley on the weekend, where adjudicator Nick Garman enjoyed performances of march, hymn tune and 'own choice' test pieces from 16 bands.

Year of the Dragon

In the Championship Section there was a fine performance of 'The Year of the Dragon' by Wantage Silver directed by debutant Craig Patterson to enjoy, although it was a pity that the band was the only entrant.

However, Craig made it a personal 'double' as he led Milton Keynes to success in the First Section, with welcome French visitors, Brass Band Atout Vent directed by William Houssoy taking the Second Section honours and Crystal Palace the Third Section title.

Entries

scaba Secretary Alex Stevens told 4BR: "Unfortunately the availability of the venue meant the contest was a couple of weeks earlier this year, which may have affected the level of entries with some bands, particularly the youth bands, not having enough time to prepare after their Summer break.

We are pleased to confirm that the 2016 contest will on the later date of 25th September.

Unfortunately the availability of the venue meant the contest was a couple of weeks earlier this year, which may have affected the level of entries with some bandsscaba Secretary Alex Stevens

Results:

Championship Section:

1. Wantage Silver (Craig Patterson)

Best March: Wantage Silver
Best Hymn Tune: Wantage Silver
Best Percussion Section: Wantage Silver
Best Bass Section: Wantage Silver
Conductor Prize: Wantage Silver
Best Instrumentalist: Mike Wallbridge
Best Euphonium: Sam Wyne

First Section:

1. Milton Keynes Brass (Craig Patterson)
2. Epsom & Ewell (Paul Graham)
3. BAE Systems (Jonathan Crowhurst)
4. Horsham Borough (Jack Smith)

Best Hymn: Horsham Borough
Best March: Epsom & Ewell
Best Instrumentalist: Rachel Scott (Milton Keynes)
Best Euphonium: Kevin Kavanagh (Milton Keynes)
Best Bass Section: Milton Keynes
Conductor Prize: Epsom & Ewell

Second Section:

1. Brass Band Atout Vent (William Houssoy)
2. Regent Community Brass (Chris Bearman)
3. LGB Brass (Ian Stewart)
4. Epping Forest (Keith Schroeter)
5. Cold Ash Brass (Jemma Evans)
6. Chichester City (Tim Cooper)
7. Shanklin Town (Malcolm Lewis)

Best Hymn: Brass Band Atout Vent
Best March: Brass Band Atout Vent
Best instrumentalist: Amaud Peru (Atout Vent)
Best Solo Horn: Peter Maartens (Atout Vent)
Best Horn Section: Best Percussion (Atout Vent)
Conductor Prize: Chris Bearman (Regent Community Brass)

Third Section:

1. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
2. Cobham (Glenn Hayter)
3. Snowdown Colliery (Keith Twyman)
4. Mole Valley (Andrew Wilson)

Best Hymn: Crystal Palace
Best March: Crystal Palace
Best instrumentalist: James Simpson (Cobham)
Best Back Row Cornets: Crystal Palace
Best Percussion: Crystal Palace
Best Bass Section: Cobham
Conductor Prize: Crystal Palace

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