Report & Results: 2016 Hardraw Scar Entertainment

It was a perfect day for lying back in the sun and enjoying a pint to go with great brass band entertainment at the famous Hardraw Scar contest on the weekend.

There can be few better ways to spend a Sunday than sitting in the middle of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in dappled sunshine listening to brass bands.

Return

And when it was combined with excellent music making from the contenders from across the North of England it was no wonder that the large and knowledgeable audience left the 2016 Hardraw Scar Brass Band Festival smiling and promising to return next year.

The 11 competitors in the two sections each played a 20 minute programme including a march and hymn tune for adjudicator David Lancaster who was making his Hardraw Scar adjudicating debut.

Before the results were announced David expressed how much he had enjoyed the day and that many individual items had caught his ear.

Tingley triumph

In Section B (4th Section and Ungraded Bands) the 'Best Hymn Tune' prize went to Shepherd Group Concert Brass, while overall winners and defending champion Tingley directed by MD John Belton, also took the 'Best March' and 'Best Solo' awards, with Nena Bradford shining for them on flugel.

Hardraw debutants Thurlstone (who took the 'Best Basses' award) were runner-up with Shepherd Group in third.

The special entertainment prize was judged across all sections this year by Andrew Straiton and Will Stanford Abbiss from the organising committee of the 2017 UniBrass competition. Old Hall Brass took the honours with their imaginative set under MD John North.

Elland victorious

In Section A, a fine overall performance by Elland Silver under Danny Brooks saw them take the honours by a clear three-point margin from Tintwistle and Shirland Welfare. Skelmanthorpe Prospect took the 'Best Solo' award.

Leyburn Band, who was followed by a film crew for the day, won the prize for 'Best Hymn' and 'Best March' by an ungraded band. The local band cherish coming to the contest each year, yet this was the first time they had led the traditional massed bands feature which characterises the end of the event.

Thanks

The contest is organised by the YHBBA in conjunction with Mark Thompson who provides the magnificent setting at the foot of the Hardraw Force waterfall, local landowners and with the generous support of the Theakston's Brewery whose products also kept the audience and players hydrated on a sunny day at the famous Green Dragon pub.

Before the results were announced David expressed how much he had enjoyed the day and that many individual items had caught his ear4BR

Results:

Class A:
Adjudicator: David Lancaster

1. Elland Silver (Danny Brooks) — 189
2. Tintwistle (Sarah Groarke-Booth) — 186
3. Shirland Welfare (Lynden Cooper) — 182
4. Old Hall Brass (John North) — 180
5. Skelmanthorpe Prospect (Phil Garlick) — 179
6. Leyburn (Rebecca Lundberg) — 178

Best March: Elland Silver
Best Hymn: Leyburn
Best Soloist: Skelmanthorpe Prospect

Entertainment:

1. Old Hall
2. Tintwistle
3. Elland Silver
4. Shirland Welfare
5. Leyburn
6. Skelmanthorpe Prospect

Class B:
Adjudicator: David Lancaster

1. Tingley (John Belton) — 172
2. Thurlstone (John Hopkinson) — 170
3. Shepherd Group Concert Brass (Mike Pratt) — 169
4. Friendly Band (Sowerby Bridge) (Neil Robinson) — 168
5. Belle Vue Brass (Keith Reeves) — 165

Best Soloist: Nena Bradford (flugel), Tingley.
Best March: Tingley
Best Bass Section: Thurlstone.
Hymn prize: Shepherd Group