The Whitburn Band organisation has claimed a domestic Band of the Year 'Double' after its Championship and Fourth Section ensembles were recently awarded the titles by the Scottish Brass Band Association.

Remarkable year

It crowned a remarkable 2015 for both the Whitburn and the Whitburn Heartlands outfits — with the senior outfit remaining unbeaten at all Scottish contests — winning the Scottish Championship, West Lothian Festival of Brass, Land O' Burns and Scottish Open along the way.

Meanwhile the long term investment in youth and community banding saw the Heartlands Band, which was only formed in 2013, win the Scottish Fourth Section title for the first time and go on to claim a top six finish at the National Final at Cheltenham.

Great news

Band Secretary John Fraser told 4BR: "This is great news for the whole of the Whitburn organisation. Our long term commitment to producing a band structure that starts at the grass roots and ends at the elite level is starting to bear fruit, and I'm very proud that both bands have won these hard fought domestic awards."

Newtongrange lead section awards

The First Section 'Band of the Year' was presented to Newtongrange Silver, after they won the Scottish title, gained promotion to the Senior Cup and claimed a podium finish at the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge contest, whilst Jedforest took the Second Section and Renfrew Burgh the Third Section awards.

Jedforest won the Scottish title and went onto produce solid performances at the National Final and at the Borders contest, whilst Renfrew won the Scottish title and produced two top six finishes at the National Final and Borders Entertainment contests.

Our long term commitment to producing a band structure that starts at the grass roots and ends at the elite level is starting to bear fruitJohn Fraser, Whitburn Band

SBBA Band of the Year:

Championship Section: Whitburn
First Section: Newtongrange Silver
Second Section: Jedforest Silver
Third Section: Renfrew Burgh
Fourth Section: Whitburn Heartlands