There was an excellent weekend of music making to enjoy at the NWABBA Rochdale Festival of Brass, as 43 competitors took to the stage at Rochdale Town Hall to provide high-class competition for both the audience and adjudicators to enjoy.

There was also a wide selection of own choice test pieces on show — from old classics to new works and even some future major test pieces given an early workout.

Championship Section

In a keenly fought Championship Section event packed with ambitious top flight contenders, Blackburn & Darwen directed by Huw Thomas gave themselves a huge boost of confidence ahead of their appearance at the forthcoming Scottish Open with a fine winning performance of Howard Snell's 'Gallery', which will be used as the set work in Perth.

It proved good enough to repel the strong challenge of runner-up Pemberton Old Wigan DW, under new MD Kevin Gibbs.

Their bold rendition of 'Year of the Dragon', was enhanced by the excellent 'Best Instrumentalist' playing of trombonist Danny Brooks, who certainly caught the ear of adjudicator and former Halle Orchestra star Andrew Berryman.

VBS Poynton was third, thanks to a solid rendition of 'Of Distant Memories' which also gained the NWABBA award.

First Section:

There was no doubting the ambition shown by Hade Edge in the First Section as they took the honours under Jonathan Beatty with their well constructed rendition of Edward Gregson's former National Final set work, 'Of Distant Memories'.

Their euphonium player David Smith took the 'Best Instrumentalist' prize for his fine personal contribution, as they pipped a determined 'Tallis Variations' challenge from runner-up Haslingden & Helmshore, with Wakefield Metropolitan in third with 'Trittico'.

Second Section

Besses Boys continued on their recent run of good form as they claimed the Second Section title with a solid delivery of 'Prisms' under the baton of James Holt, aided by principal cornet Claire Holt taking the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.

Welcome Welsh visitors Royal Buckley were runner-up, thanks to their bold rendition of 'The Saga of Haakon the Good' with City of Chester's 'Purcell Variations' in third.

Third Section

A resurgent Besses o' th' Barn continued their fine 2015 form with an excellent Third Section victory under MD Simon Cowen on the classic test piece 'Labour & Love', which proved good enough to repel the challenge of rivals Golborne, with 'Music for a Festival' and Blackpool Brass with 'Dimensions'.

Matthew Bradley of Crofton Silver took the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.

Fourth Section

MD David Ashworth once again used all his years of experience to draw a fine Fourth Section winning performance from Stalybridge Old on 'Labour & Love' as they took the honours ahead of Skelmersdale Prize ('Visions') and Sale Brass ('Seafarers')

The band's euphonium player Barry Vinden took the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.

Youth

The busy Elland Silver Youth Band was on fine form all weekend (also coming runner-up at the Pogson Bray entertainment contest) as they took the Youth title under the baton of MD Samantha Harrison.

Their young star trombonist Charlotte Horsfield also enjoyed herself by claiming what proved to be the first of two 'Best Instrumentalist' awards with her performance of 'Bayrische Polka' wowing adjudicator Mike Kilroy.

Second place in what was a cracking contest went to Rochdale Borough Youth, with Pemberton Old Wigan DW Youth in third.

The youngest player prize went to 9 year old Lucy Hanson of Whitworth Vale & Healey, with the band's young sop star Matthew Hall taking the 'Best Soprano' prize.

Blackburn & Darwen directed by Huw Thomas gave themselves a huge boost of confidence ahead of their appearance at the forthcoming Scottish Open with a fine winning performance of Howard Snell's 'Gallery'4BR

Results:

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Andrew Berryman

1. Blackburn & Darwen (Huw Thomas)
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Kevin Gibbs)
3. VBS Poynton (Neil Samuel)
4. Milnrow (Mark Bentham)
5. Rainford (Gareth Brindle)

Highest placed NWABBA Member Band: VBS Poynton
Best Instrumentalist: Danny Brooks (trombone) — Pemberton Old Wigan DW

First Section:
Adjudicator: Andrew Berryman

1. Hade Edge (Jonathan Beatty)
2. Haslingden & Helmshore (David Holland)
3. Wakefield Metropolitan (Duncan Beckley)
4. Whitworth Vale & Healey (John Binns)
5. Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)

Highest placed NWABBA Member Band: Haslingden & Helmshore
Best Instrumentalist: David Smith (euphonium) — Hade Edge

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Andrew Berryman

1. Besses Boys (James Holt)
2. Royal Buckley Town (Scott Lloyd)
3. City of Chester (Joshua Hughes)
4. Delph (Jonathan Davies)
5. Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt)
6. Flixton (Jason M. Smith)
7. Uppermill Brass (Alan Widdop)
8. Middleton (Martyn Evans)
9. Dobcross Silver (Tim Sidwell)
10. Farnworth & Walkden (Mathew Shaw)

Highest placed NWABBA Member Band: Besses Boys
Best Instrumentalist: Claire Holt (cornet) — Besses Boys

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Sheona White

1. Besses o' th' Barn (Simon Cowan)
2. Golborne (Trevor Halliwell)
3. Blackpool Brass (John Pearson)
4. Trinity Girls (Ryan Watkins)
5. Littleborough Brass (Adrian Woodhead)
6. Piling Jubilee Silver (Ian Charnock)
7. Crofton Silver (Dean Jones)
8. Greenalls (Simon Cowen)
9. Greenfield (Tom Haslem)
10. Hawk Green Brass (Neil Hewson)
11. Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles W. Kitchen)

Highest placed NWABBA Member Band: Besses o' th' Barn
Best Instrumentalist: Matthew Bradley (fugel) — Crofton Silver

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Sheona White

1. Stalybridge Old (David W. Ashworth)
2. Skelmersdale Prize (Karl Stott)
3. Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
4. Blackley (John Atkinson)
5. Denton Brass (Matthew Bailey)

Highest placed NWABBA Member Band: Stalybridge Old
Best Instrumentalist: Barry Vinden (euphonium) — Stalybridge Old

Youth Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Elland Silver Youth (Samantha Harrison)
2. Rochdale Borough Youth (Ben Dixon)
3. Pemberton Old Wigan DW Youth (John Don-Duncan)
4. Stockport Schools Senior (Iain McKnight)
5. Macclesfield Youth (Louise Renshaw)
6. Oldham Music Centre (Jonathan Leedale)
7. Whitworth Vale & Healey Youth (Aaron Wolfe)

Highest placed NWABBA Member Band: Whitworth Vale & Healey Youth
Best Instrumentalist: Charlotte Horsfield (trombone) — Elland Silver Youth

Youngest Player: Lucy Hanson (Whitworth Vale & Healey) — 9 years old
Ron Chalker Trophy for Best Soprano: Matthew Hall (Whitworth Vale & Healey)