Cory delivered one of the truly great contest performances of recent memory to claim their seventh National Championship of Great Britain title at the Royal Albert Hall.

Inspired by both a wonderful set work and a conductor in Philip Harper who knew perfectly how to bring out every aspect of its engrossing musicality, they were imperious.

It was also a victory that brought Wales its fourth 2015 National title success after the hat-trick achieved in Cheltenham. If the Welsh rugby team had won at Twickenham on the same afternoon nobody in the Principality would have been fit enough to go to work on Monday morning.

Cory's success was recognised, appreciated and acclaimed by judges, rivals and listeners alike — almost from the moment the sound of the last note of their startling rendition of 'Spiriti' was submerged in a tidal wave of exultation from every corner of the cavernous hall.

Mercurial Brighouse

Only a mercurially brilliant Brighouse & Rastrick came within touching distance — almost but not quite doing enough under Prof David King to take the title back to West Riding for the first time since 2011.

Behind them came bands that had also given their all — but who still found that even outstanding performances were not enough; a resurgent Fairey leading home the high class rivals of top six finishers Flowers, Tredegar and Camborne.

Almost speechless

Little wonder Philip Harper was almost speechless after he had raced from the Kensington Gore pavement to join his players on stage to lift the famous trophy on high for the second time in three years.

The exertion may have left him panting, but it was the manner in which his band had won that had really taken the breath away.

"It's hard to put into words,"he eventually said beaming with joy, before being presented with the trophy by one of his happy players. "One of the band raced out of the hall screaming at the top his voice — so it was either a murder being committed or we had won!"

It had to be the victory then?

"Thankfully!"he laughed before recalling the winning performance. "We had been playing the piece so well in rehearsal, but this was something else — and I do mean something else. It was a complete account — huge in character, confidence and detail.

These brilliant players gave me a brilliant performance."

Breathless in the box

It was later revealed that the three judges, Stephen Roberts, Rob Wiffen and Howard Snell were also left somewhat breathless in the box.

Rob Wiffen summed his written adjudication feelings up with typical military precision — 'Love it — so good!', whilst Howard Snell wrote that he felt it was a performance that 'was on track certainly' — before leading to his conclusion that 'the whole thing brought off really well'.

However, it was Stephen Roberts who was perhaps left gasping most in admiration — describing it with his colourful analogy as being; 'A monster performance with some monstrous soprano playing in an interpretation that really delivered in brontosauran bucketloads!!'

T-Rex Cory

Thos lucky enough to hear it knew what he meant, despite his rather wayward appreciation of Jurassic paleontology.

This was Cory as Tyrannosaurus Rex — not huge, docile and cumbersome; but lean, mean and truly, awesomely magnificent. The victory underlined their reputation as the undisputed Kings of the modern day Kensington contesting era.

Cory was crowned champion of a National final which inspired nearly every band to give of their very best — thanks in no small part to an equally inspired choice of test piece.

Happy Zone

There could have been no happier band for instance than Zone One Brass, who deservedly caught the ear of the judges (and a great many in the hall) with their excellent account to come seventh ahead of boldly portrayed renditions by Reg Vardy and Co-operative Funeralcare.

In contrast, fans of Grimethorpe, Black Dyke and Foden's left Kensington disappointed as their favourites eventually finished tenth, eleventh and thirteenth respectively.

However, on a day when Stephen Roberts stated the judges were persuaded more by those able to create 'a lasting impression' in terms of dynamic and musical contrast amid the colossal acoustic, their more compact, less vividly inspired accounts didn't tickle their carnivorous appetite for more visceral interpretations.

Uber Flowers

That was borne out from the start, with Flowers producing an outstanding early marker from the number 2 draw; highlighted by uber-confident ensemble work and a stunning 'Best Instrumentalist' contribution from their fabulous soprano player Paul Richards.

On a day when all the high-wire artists responded superbly to being put under the spotlight, his was playing of the rarest beauty: His sweetly burnished tone and artistic phrasing illuminating yet another commanding performance from the West of England champion.

Soon after Fairey managed to just step above them as Garry Cutt brought out the inner detail and balance in a reading of structural clarity, resonating persuasively in the box to give the North West champion their fifth top six finish in six years.

No denying

There was to be no denying Cory just two bands later, as they leaped ahead with a 'Spiriti' that had just about everything. It was a performance that made a huge impression in any which way you cared to appreciate it.

The contrasts were immense — powerful and delicate, vibrant and subtle, ferocious and calm: Thumping with funky swagger yet chillingly reflective in retrospection, it was kaleidoscopic in breadth, microscopic in detail.

It was also a performance as good as anything heard by a brass band at this hall in the last 30 years or more. It not only deserved to win the title, but also to be commemorated on the Albert Hall walls alongside the likes of Frank Sinatra and Led Zeppelin.

Close Brighouse

Even they would have been hard pressed to beat it — although a brilliantly coruscating effort from Brighouse & Rastrick did come pretty close.

David King once again produced an interpretation of the Thomas Doss score that was full of captivating drama and purpose — from the funereal wailing trombones in the opening to the organ-like power of the finale.

It was totally absorbing (complete with standing cornets and troms) — the only other band that touched the near impossible heights achieved by their Welsh rival.

When they lock horns again at the European in Lille and Ostend in the next two years, listeners can only hope it will be equally brilliant.

Failed to seep

Earlier, Black Dyke never quite sounded as if they were at total ease with themselves or the score as they rather anonymously ended in the midfield places, whilst Allan Withington's darkly hued, subtly shaded approach with Foden's failed to seep persuasively from the stage into the box as was perhaps hoped for.

The spotlight never quite shone with Grimethorpe either — although they certainly made an impression under Dr Robert Childs. Perhaps a few too many noticeable errors scuppered their chances of a historic 'Double'.

Final Celtic flourish

It meant that the final Celtic flourish came from Camborne, who produced a solid, well thought out vibrant account under Kevin Mackenzie to come sixth, whilst Tredegar once again showed their impressive Albert Hall credentials with a richly endowed performance to end fifth.

Elsewhere Whitburn, Carlton Main, Virtuosi GUS and Northop all had their moments but didn't quite have the heavyweight contrasts that the judge's were looking for, whilst Tongwynlais, NASUWT Riverside, Desford and Friary Guidlford were left to fight another day, despite producing well structured readings under their MDs.

Twickenham

For Cory it was a victory every bit as good as any of their previous six — and perhaps the best of them all.

"If only it had been the same at Twickenham", one smiling rugby loving Cory player told 4BR, as he reflected on a victory that on this occasion had overcome an Australian foe.

"I still think this is better than a World Cup win though!"

Warren Gatland may now be calling Philip Harper up to give his team a pep talk before they take on South Africa next weekend.

If this win was anything to go by, it may be an inspired phone call.

A monster performance with some monstrous soprano playing in an interpretation that really delivered in brontosauran bucketloads!!Cory written adjduciation by Stephen Roberts

Results

Saturday 10th October
Test Piece: 'Spiriti' — Thomas Doss

Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts, Howard Snell, Rob Wiffen

1. Cory (Philip Harper)*
2. Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King)**
3. Fairey (Prof. Garry Cutt)*
4. Flowers (Paul Holland)*
5. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
6. Camborne (Kevin Mackenzie)
7. Zone One Brass (Richard Ward)
8. Reg Vardy (Russell Gray)
9. Co-operative Funeralcare (Allan Ramsay)
10. Grimethorpe Colliery (Dr Robert Childs)
11. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)
12. Whitburn (Michael Fowles)
13. Foden's (Allan Withington)
14. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Phillip McCann)
15. Virtuosi GUS (Adam Cooke)
16. Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss)
17. Tongwynlais Temperance (John Berryman)
18. NASUWT Riverside (Stephen Malcolm)
19. Desford Colliery (LCIWTF) (Tom Davoren)
20. Friary Guildford (Chris King)

Best Instrumentalist: Paul Richards (soprano) — Flowers

* Top 4 pre-qualified for 2016 National Final

** Denotes Qualification for 2017 European Brass Band Championships as highest placed English representative