Derwent Brass rounded off their 2016 contest season standing head and shoulders above rivals after claiming a clear cut victory in taking the Championship Section honours at the Leicestershire Open BBA contest in Loughborough.

After coming runner-up last year, the Derbyshire band's 3-point margin came from a substantive rendition of Peter Graham's 'Standing on the Shoulders of Giants', with flugel player Richard Bates taking the 'Best Soloist' honours for his outstanding contribution, especially in the jazz infused middle movement.

Lively acoustic

Although there were only five own-choice competitors for adjudicator Mark Wilkinson to compare, a lively acoustic certainly caught out those opting for forceful dynamics — something the Foden's principal cornet stated in his pre-results remarks that the winner's intelligently didn't fall foul of.

Ratby Co-operative ended runner-up with their rendition of the former British Open work, whilst East of England Co-operative (formerly Ipswich & Norwich Co-operative) was third with 'Dances & Arias'. Leicestershire Co-op came fourth with their prize-winning trombones a feature in 'Fantasy for Brass Band'.

Nice round off

"It's a nice way to round off what's been a busy year,"Band spokesperson Chris Leonard told 4BR.

"It's been a great test-piece to work on and we really enjoyed it. We were also delighted to hear that Mark Wilkinson appreciated our control of dynamics in what was a tricky acoustic. Our MD wanted to push us with his test-piece choice and it worked. Roll on 2017!"

Kidlington's success

Last year's Open Section champion Kidlington had to compete in the First Section this time, but a solidly portrayed 'Metropolis 1927' led by Duncan Wilson secured a clear two-point margin of victory.

15 well matched rivals certainly gave adjudicator David Roberts plenty to compare and contrast, with a brace of purposeful renditions of 'Dances & Arias' and 'James Cook — Circumnavigator' by Skelmanthorpe and Jackfield Elcock Reisen taking deserved podium finishes.

Welcome Norwegian visitors Tertnes Amatorkorps made many new friends as they eventually ended fourth thanks to their performance of 'Essence of Time', whilst Kidlington's euph star Ben Abbott took the 'Best Soloist' award.

Strange win

"It's a little bit of a strange win,"Kidlington MD Duncan Wilson confessed to 4BR. "We really wanted to defend our Championship title having won it last year, but the organisers told us we had to play in the First Section.

We certainly enjoyed the challenge of our own-choice of 'Metropolis 1927' though, but we are an ambitious band that wants to push onwards. That said, David Roberts stated in his remarks that he felt we enjoyed playing the piece, so that made us all chuffed to bits as we now look forward to Butlins early next year."

Rushden retain title

There was a successful title in the Second Section however, as Rushden Town under Adele Hudson once again came out on top.

With the 2017 Butlins First Section contest not too far on the horizon they delivered a fine performance of 'Fantasy for Brass Band' to secure victory and gain a fourth podium finish in their last five contest outings.

In what was an engaging contest between 11 rivals, it was a brace of 'Inclusions' (the Butlins Second Section test-piece) from City of Coventry and Hucknall & Linby that eventually secured places on the podium from adjudicator Alan Duguid, with Hucknall's euph player Jon Clare taking the 'Best Soloist' honours.

Top spot return for Rolls Royce

Earlier in the day Rolls Royce (Derby) returned to the top step of the podium at the event for the first time since 2011, as they beat off the strong challenge of a well-matched field in the Third Section.

Building on their recent third place finish at the Bolsover contest, their solid account of 'Music for a Festival' under Graham Cardwell, aided by taking the solo prize along the way, saw them claim a narrow victory over Amington and Trentham Brass who played 'Oceans' and 'A Royal Mile Suite' respectively.

There was also a heart-warming story to report with Matlock in fourth. Their MD Geoff Hawley was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening, but a late night phone call saw Duncan Beckley make the trip down from his Yorkshire home to conduct the band in a 7.15am rehearsal before taking them on stage.

University repels challenge

There was also a long overdue victory to enjoy for the students of University of Warwick, as under Simon Hogg they repelled nine other rivals thanks to a cracking performance of Philip Sparke's 'Kaleidoscope'.

It was the band's first contest success since 2005 as they managed to pip Moulton 77 and Croft Silver playing 'Music for Kantara' and 'A Cambrian Suite', whilst hat-trick seeking Ratby Co-operative Mid could only end seventh.

Excellent facilities

With the excellent facilities provided by the new venue at Loughborough Endowed School, the organisers were delighted that the event attracted a fine field of 51 bands, with a special thanks going to their Norwegian visitors.

There was also good news for the future too, as a brace of un-registered bands in also took part, with Enderby Concert & Youth led by Stuart Osgood taking the honours ahead of Coleshill Youth Brass conducted by Stephen Fagg.

We were also delighted to hear that Mark Wilkinson appreciated our control of dynamics in what was a tricky acoustic. Our MD wanted to push us with his test-piece choice and it worked.Roll on 2017! Derwent Brass

Results:

Championship Section:

Adjudicator: Mark Wilkinson

1. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard) — 193
2. Ratby Co-operative (Dave Purkiss) — 190
3. East of England Co-operative (Nigel Cooper) — 188
4. Leicestershire Co-operative (Graham Jacklin) — 186
5. Newstead Brass (John Davis) — 185

Best Soloist: Richard Bates (flugel) — Derwent Brass
Best Section: Trombones (Leicestershire Co-operative)

First Section:

Adjudicator: David Roberts

1. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson) — 189
2. Skelmanthorpe (Jim Davies) — 187
3. Jackfield Elcock Reisen (Ian Porthouse) — 186
4. Tertnes Amatorkorps (Bengt Florvaag) — 185
5. Bedford Town (Steve Phillips) — 181
6. Blidworth Welfare (David Hirst) — 180
7. Hathern (David Newman) — 179
8. Kibworth (David Holling) — 178
9. Carlton Brass (Gary Wyatt) — 177
10. Hitchin (Graham Chambers) — 176
11. Oddfellows Brass (Rob Boulter) — 175
12. Langley (Cliff Parker) — 174
13. Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt) — 173
14. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Richard Windle) — 172
15. Harborough (Brad Turnbull) — 170

Best Soloist: Ben Abbott (euph) — Kidlington Concert Brass

Second Section:

Adjudicator: Alan Duguid

1. Rushden Town (Adele Hudson) — 188
2. City of Coventry (Stephen Cooper) — 186
3. Hucknall & Linby MC Brass (Paul Whyley) — 185
4. Foss Dyke (Colum O'Shea) — 184
5. Littlethorpe Brass (Nicholas Garman) — 183
6. Soham Comrades (Jayne Murril) — 182
7. Amersham (Paul Fisher) — 181
8. Tilbury (Ben Jones) — 180
9. Epping Forest (Keith Schroeter) — 179
10. Dinnington Colliery (Lindon Bolt) — 178
11. Ibstock Brick Brass (Simon Willis) — 176

Best Soloist: Jon Clare (euph) — Hucknall & Linby MC Brass

Third Section:

Adjudicator: Alan Duguid

1. Rolls Royce (Derby) (Graham Cardwell) — 183
2. Amington (Malcolm Read) — 182
3. Trentham Brass (Michael Caveney) — 181
4. Matlock (Duncan Beckley) — 180
5. Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes (Brian Harper) — 179
6. Hemel Hempstead (David Edmonds) — 178
7. Melton (Graham Sutton) — 177
8. Newhall (Kevin Holdgate) — 176

Best Soloist: Rolls Royce (Derby)

Fourth Section:

Adjudicator: David Ashworth

1. University of Warwick (Simon Hogg) — 180
2. Moulton 77 (Nicholas Garman) — 179
3. Croft Silver (Ian Needham) — 178
4. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech) — 177
5. Cubbington Silver (Mark Phillips) — 176
6. Syston (Chris Banks) — 175
7. Ratby Co-operative 'Mid' (Colin Jones) — 174
8. Corby Silver (Cathy Fountain) — 173
9. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton) — 172
10. Coventry Festival (Alan Gifford) — 171

Unregistered Section:

Adjudicator: David Ashworth

1. Enderby Concert & Youth (Stuart Osgood) — 175
2. Coleshill Youth Brass (Stephen Fagg) — 174