There was plenty of excellent local brass band talent on show last weekend when bands took to the stage for the Shirebrook Entertainment Contest.

The musical aperitif was a major one, with Foden's on splendid concert form at the local leisure centre the night before the first band took to the stage in an event organised by Shirebrook Town Council and funded by Arts Council England's 'Grant for the Arts' funded through the Arts Council's National Lottery programme.

In form winners

In the end it was the in-form Leicestershire based Enderby Band under the direction of Simon Gresswell who claimed the honours and £750 top prize from adjudicator Thomas Wyss. Their diverse programme included no less than three original compositions, as they successfully defended their title in fine style.

Just behind them came fellow First Section rivals Blidworth Welfare led by Martin Heartfield and Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) conducted by Richard Windle. The 'Most Entertaining Third Section Band' went to Worsborough Brass directed by John Hopkinson.

Diverse programme

The winner's programme opened with Peter Graham's 'Prelude on Tallis' before moving to Mark Freeh's 'Malaguena'. Their featured trombone soloist Ryan Richards took the 'Best Soloist' prize with his classy rendition Martin Winter's 'The Ballet of the Starfish' — complete with an accompaniment of players blowing bubbles in bottles, ocean drums and even a bubble machine.

Peter Graham's 'With Fire and Sword' evoked images of lantern-jawed heroes chasing baddies through the sweaty souks of the Middle East, before contrast was shown with the rarely heard 'The Old Chalet', by Howard Snell — with off stage 'alphorn' played by solo euphonium, Chris Small.

More contrasting sounds were heard in 'Big Band Tribute' — an arrangement of 'American Patrol' and 'In the Mood', before the mood was changed with a timely tribute to those lost in the Battle of the Somme one hundred years ago, in Karl Jenkins' setting of 'Abide with Me'. The programme closed with 'Le Coq D'Or', Alan Catherall's skilful arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov's operatic march.

I'm delighted with the consistency the band is showing. Over the last year we have developed a mature sound, which is showing in the resultsMD, Simon Gresswell

Praise

In his remarks, Thomas Wyss praised the band's sound, and for maintaining a very high standard throughout the whole 30-minute programme.

After lifting the trophy for the second year, a beaming Simon Gresswell told 4BR: "I'm delighted with the consistency the band is showing. Over the last year we have developed a mature sound, which is showing in the results."

After a busy few weeks the band can now enjoy the summer and prepare for another appearance at the prestigious concert at the Curve Theatre and for the Bolsover and Wychavon contests in the Autumn.

I'm delighted with the consistency the band is showing. Over the last year we have developed a mature sound, which is showing in the resultsMD, Simon Gresswell

Results:

1. Enderby (Simon Gresswell)
2. Blidworth Miner's Welfare (Martin Heartfield)
3. Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) (Richard Windle)

Most Entertaining Third Section Band: Worsborough Brass (John Hopkinson)
Best Soloist: Ryan Richards (trombone) — Enderby