There was a full day of high quality competitive music making on show at the Yorkshire & Humberside Brass Band Association's annual contest in Holmfirth on the weekend.

19 competitors in two sections made the trip to the heart of the famous 'Last of the Summer Wine' country for the popular competition which was marred only by some heavy showers of rain that thankfully did little to dampen their enthusiasm to impress the judges Alan Morrison (Group A) and Leigh Baker (Group B) with their hymn tune and own-choice test-piece selections.

Winning Spheres

Hade Edge led by Jonathan Beatty eventually came out on top to win the William Birch Cup and the services of a Geneva Instruments artist after they delivered well-structured renditions of the hymn tune 'St Clement' and Philip Sparke's 'Music of the Spheres'.

Their delighted MD Jonathan Beatty also took home the Fred Bradbury Cup as the winning conductor.

Just a point behind them came Drighlington, who topped the test-piece element with their performance of Gregson's 'Connotations' to win the 'Best First Section Band' trophy and £200, whilst the final podium slot went to Elland Silver who took the 'Best Hymn' accolade thanks to their rendition of 'Diadem'.

The 'Best Second Section Band' trophy was claimed by Stannington, who gave a brace of well constructed renditions of 'St Clement' and 'Images for Brass' to end fourth overall. The final top-six places went to Westoe Brass with a tie between Horbury Victoria and Skelmanthorpe Prospect for sixth overall.

Student victory

In the Group B event for Third, Fourth and Unregistered bands, it was the students of University of Nottingham directed by Kieran Williams that eventually came out on top with their hymn tune 'Belmont' and the ambitious own-choice of Tom Davoren's 'Facets of the Heart' which was the set-work in the top section of the Butlins Mineworkers Championship earlier in the year.

The band's solo cornet player George Newbould won the 'Best Instrumentalist' award as the students certainly looked forward to a night of celebration in the Students Union bar with trophies to fill as 'Overall Winner', 'Winning Conductor', 'Best Instrumentalist' and 'Best Unregistered Band', which came with handy cheque to meet the bar bills of £200!

North Skelton from the North of England region picked up the 'Best Third Section Band' and 'Best Hymn Tune' awards thanks to their solid performances of 'Aberystwyth' and 'Willow Pattern', with Deepcar taking the Fourth Section honours with 'Rockingham' and 'Suite Gothique'.

Thanks

Peggy Tomlinson, YHBBA President told 4BR: "We warmly thank the 19 bands for their participation and support of the contest and Geneva Instruments for sponsoring the overall winner in each section by providing a Geneva artiste to play as guest soloist for the band at a forthcoming concert.

The support has greatly encouraged the Association to continue in their efforts to get this event established in the banding calendar."

Hade Edge eventually came out on top to win the William Birch Cup and the services of a Geneva Instruments artist after they delivered well-structured renditions of the hymn tune 'St Clement' and 'Music of the Spheres'4BR

Results:

Group A:

Adjudicator: Alan Morrison
Test Piece + Hymn Tune = Total

1. Hade Edge (Jonathan Beatty): 190 + 47 = 237
2. Drighlington: 191 + 45 = 236
3. Elland Silver: 187 + 48 = 235
4. Stannington: 188 + 46 = 234
5. Westoe Brass: 183 + 44 = 227
6= Horbury Victoria: 186 + 38 = 224
6= Skelmanthorpe Prospect: 184 + 40 = 224
8. Llanrug: 179 + 43 = 222
9. Lindley: 180 + 41 = 221
10. Knottingley Silver: 181 + 39 = 220
11= Eccleston: 182 + 37 = 219
11= Dunston Silver: 177 + 42 = 219

Overall Winner: Hade Edge
Best First Section Band (Test Piece): Drighlington
Runner-up First Section (Test Piece): Hade Edge

Best Second Section Band (Test Piece): Stannington
Runner-up Second Section (Test Piece): Horbury Victoria

Best Hymn: Elland Silver
Best Instrumentalist: (cornet) — Lindley Band

Group B:

Adjudicator: Leigh Baker
Test Piece + Hymn Tune = Total

1. University of Nottingham (Kieran Williams): 189 + 45 = 234
2. North Skelton: 187 + 46 = 233
3. Ferryhill Town: 186 + 43 = 229
4. Hade Edge B: 178 + 40 = 218
5. Deepcar: 176 + 38 = 214
6. Markham Main: 174 + 37 = 211

Overall Winner: University of Nottingham

Best Third Section Band: North Skelton
Best Fourth Section Band: Deepcar
Best Unregistered Band: University of Nottingham

Best Hymn: North Skelton
Best Instrumentalist: George Newbould (cornet) — University of Nottingham