The Co-operative Funeralcare Band enjoyed their trip to the seaside ahead of their forthcoming British Open challenge as they re-claimed the Land o' Burns 'Brass in Concert' title in Troon.
It was the band's first victory at the splendid Walker Halls venue since 2013, as under MD Allan Ramsay they re-imposed their domestic bragging rights over rivals by comfortably bagging a prize package worth £2,500, as well as taking home the awards for 'Most Entertaining Band', 'Best Instrumentalist', 'Best Soprano' and 'Best Flugel' with them.
Delight and disappointment
A delighted Kirkintilloch Kelvin equalled their best ever result at the event in coming runner-up, whilst there was disappointment for Whitburn, as the hat-trick seeking defending champion ended third.
Unison Kinneil and cross border challengers Fishburn produced solid accounts to end fourth and fifth with the final top six place going to a very happy Second Section Dunaskin Doon.
"It's one of our most satisfying victories of recent times,"Allan Ramsay told 4BR after enjoying an equally successful Sunday morning round of golf. "I wanted to push the band with a new programme as soon as we started back after our summer break, and the way everyone has responded has been superb.
There was so much focus and energy about the way they played that we took the audience along with us from the very first note."
Fairly easy job
That was certainly borne out with adjudicator Les Neish's remarks for a 20 minute set that opened with 'Los Hermanos de Bop' cleverly segueing into their John Williams item of 'Prologue' from the film 'Hook' — as he later said from the stage that '...the winners made the job fairly easy for me'.
A brace of 'Blue' inspired pieces from Mnozil Brass and the pen of John Doyle featuring double award winning flugel star Alex Ramsay set up an eclectic finishing brace of 'Climb every Mountain' — with the fine vocal talents of Luke Scott in the role of a baritone Mother Superior, and 'Upon the Celtic Cross' by Jonathan Bates.
Good to hear
"That was good to hear,"Allan added in recalling the judge's remarks. "We have aimed to build on the success of winning the Scottish Championship this year and I think this shows we are heading in the right direction.
Our thanks go to Dewi Griffith from Tredegar who depped for Jimmy Hayes who is still on holiday, and a special mention goes to our great soloists. Overall though, this was a fantastic team victory."
And as for the challenge of the British Open in a couple of weeks time? "The foundation work has already been put in for Symphony Hall on 'The Triumph of Time',"Allan said. "We will now head to Birmingham confident of doing well."
Best at Troon
There was almost as much delight to be heard at the results from the players of Kirkintilloch Kelvin, as they registered their best result at Troon since 2008 in coming runner-up under Charles Keenan.
A neatly delivered set of stylish contrasts opened with 'Also sprach Zarathustra' leading into the 'Star Wars' theme, before classy flugel player Amy McMillan was featured in 'Libertango'.
Malcolm Arnold's lovely 'Allegretto' from his 'Four Scottish Dances' paved the way for a delightful 'Foxtrot between Friends', as solo cornet Michael Munroe and 'Best Euphonium' Philip Henderson showcased their musical footwork, before the band rounded things off with Borodin's 'Polovtsian Dances'.
Their spokesperson Anneli Demberg told 4BR: "It's a wonderful result for us and we were very happy about the way we performed. It's also the first time we have beaten Whitburn at a major domestic contest. Now we can look forward to a great concert in the Kelvin Grove Arts Gallery in Glasgow and then the Scottish Open later this year."
No Space triumph for Whitburn
In contrast however, there was no disguising the disappointment of defending champion Whitburn, as they never quite played to form on a reprise of their 'Space' themed set that earlier in the year had won them the West Lothian Challenge: Prizes for 'Best Principal Cornet', 'Best Trombone' and 'Best Basses' were not enough to see them grab the hat-trick of Troon wins they were seeking on the day.
With plenty of fine brass band entertainment of show from the ten competitors in a well supported event, £250 section awards went to Johnstone, Dunaskin Doon (who also won the 'Highest Placed Ayrshire Band' and 'Best Horn') Buckhaven & Methil Miners and Newmains & District, whilst the 'Best Percussion' honours went to Unison Kinneil.
I wanted to push the band with a new programme as soon as we started back after our summer break, and the way everyone has responded has been superbMD, Allan Ramsay
Result:
Adjudicator: Les Neish
1. Co-operative Funeralcare (Allan Ramsay) — 96
2. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Charles Keenan) — 94
3. Whitburn (Craig Anderson) — 92
4. Unison Kinneil (Bede Williams) — 91
5. Fishburn (David Hirst) — 90
6. Dunaskin Doon (Chris Bradley) — 88
7. Johnstone (Martyn Ramsay) — 87
8. Newmilns & Galston (Alan Cameron) — 85
9. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (David Neil) — 84
10. Newmains & District (Peter Holmes) — 83
Best First Section Band: Johnstone
Best Second Section Band: Dunaskin Doon
Best Third Section Band: Buckhaven & Methil Miners
Best Fourth Section Band: Newmains & District
Most Entertaining Band: Co-operative Funeralcare
Highest Placed Ayrshire Band: Dunaskin Doon
Best Instrumentalist: Alex Ramsay (Co-operative Funeralcare)
Best Principal Cornet: Chris Bradley (Whitburn)
Best Soprano: Gordon Kyle (Co-operative Funeralcare)
Best Flugel: Alex Ramsay (Co-operative Funeralcare)
Best Horn: Emma McTaggart (Dunaskin Doon)
Best Trombone: Charlie Farren (bass trombone, Whitburn)
Best Euphonium: Philip Henderson (Kirkintilloch Kelvin)
Best Bass Section: Whitburn
Best Percussion Section: Unison Kinneil
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