There was an exciting climax to the domestic contest season in south Wales as the various Welsh League titles were decided in Merthyr Tydfil.
Following the own-choice competitions in Merthyr and Fishguard earlier in the year, the final event saw senior bands perform set-works in their bid to be crowned champion. Meanwhile, five cracking youth ensembles also showed that more foundation stones are being put in place to secure the long term future of banding in the region.
Championship Section:
In the Championship Section there was a major surprise to the form book on 'Paganini Variations', as a rejuvenated Tylorstown directed by Gary Davies claimed their first Welsh League contest success since 2013 in pipping Markham & District and Tongwynlais Temperance to the Dewar Challenge Trophy.
It meant that with the fancied duo of Llwydcoed and Goodwick failing to tickle the fancy of adjudicator Derek Broadbent, there was a tie for the overall Welsh League title; with Tylorstown and Llwydcoed now having to share the display of the wonderful Miners Gala Trophy in their bandrooms for half a year each.
Tylorstown's victory was aided by the excellent personal contribution of 'Best Instrumentalist' award winner Angela Westacott with their tuba team taking the Gerald Coleman 'Best Bass Section' honours. Andrew Johnson of Markham claimed the Selwyn James Memorial Trophy as 'Best Trombone'.
First Section:
The final destination of the Ruby Protheroe Memorial Trophy as Welsh League Champion was a little easier to decide in the First Section, as Ebbw Valley under Gareth Ritter claimed victory and the overall honours with a solidly portrayed account of the set-work 'Fantasy for Brass Band'.
There was a further boost to Abergavenny Borough's growing progress as they secured second place to share the runner-up spot in the Welsh League standings with Lewis Merthyr, who came fourth on the day behind BTM. Aled Daniels of Abergavenny was presented with the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.
Second Section:
There was plenty to celebrate for Briton Ferry in the Second Section, as not only did they claim a long overdue Welsh League victory — their first since 2003 — with their rendition of the set-work 'Inclusion' under Jeff Pearce, but it also meant that they snatched the Welsh League title from west Wales rivals Penclawdd.
Their soprano player Dave Edwards also helped secure the historic win with his 'Best Instrumentalist' contribution, as with Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda and Abertillery & District taking the other podium slots Penclawdd's sixth place finish saw the title fall from their grasp.
Third Section:
In the Third Section there was a brass band version of a Hamilton/Rosberg title battle finish, as Usk Brass led by Jeff Jones secured victory on the day, although the overall honours went to second placed Newport Borough and their MD Robin Hackett.
Both bands gave fine accounts of themselves on the set-work 'The Lion & the Rose', with third placed Upper Rhondda not far behind. Usk also won the 'Best Instrumentalist' award, which went to euph player Jamie Jones whilst their horn team won the 'Best Horn Section' prize.
Fourth Section:
Although there were only three bands in the Fourth Section, the pop and crisps celebrations would have gone long into the night for Cwmtawe & District Youth under Wayne Pedrick, as their own-choice of 'Olympus' rather appropriately gave them the top spot on the podium ahead of National champion Phoenix Brass and Oakdale Silver.
The successful reprise of Philip Harper's test piece which the band used in winning the second Welsh League contest in Fishguard earlier in the year also meant that they claimed the overall Welsh League title ahead of their west Wales rivals.
Phoenix's euphonium star Matthew Jenkins won another 'Best Instrumentalist' award, whilst his brother Luke followed in his footsteps by being presented with the annual Eric James Memorial Trophy as Welsh Conductor of the Year.
Youth Section:
Earlier in the day there was plenty of excellent entertainment music to enjoy in the youth event, where Gold Awards went to Melingriffith Youth and Rhondda Fach Youth, with Silver to BTM Beginners and Bronze to Llwydcoed Juniors and Gwaun Cae Gurwen Juniors.
The 4BR 'Best Instrumentalist' Award was won by the splendid cornet and flugel duo of Katie and Iwan Hill of Rhondda Fach Youth, with the Ev-entz 'Best Percussion' award going to Melingriffith Youth.
The memory of the wonderful tuba player Gwyn Press was recalled in the presentation of the award in his name to 13 year old Thomas Evans as the 'Youngest Bass Player', whilst Noah Davies aged 6 of Rhondda Fach Youth made sure his dad Gary of Tylorstown didn't hog all the headlines as he picked up the 'Youngest Player of the Day' prize.
with the fancied duo of Llwydcoed and Goodwick failing to tickle the fancy of adjudicator Derek Broadbent, there was a tie for the overall Welsh League title4BR
Full Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
1. Tylorstown (Gary Davies) — 192
2. Markham & District (Matt Rowe) — 191
3. Tongwynlais Temperance (Christopher Bond) — 190
4. Llywdcoed (Christopher Turner) — 188
5. Goodwick (Matthew Jenkins) — 185
6. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins) — 183
Best Instrumentalist: Angela Westacott (euphonium) — Tylorstown
First Section:
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
1. Ebbw Valley (Gareth Ritter) — 185
2. Abergavenny Borough (Sean O'Neill) — 184
3. BTM (Jeff Hutcherson) — 182
4. Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts) — 180
5. Blaenavon Town (Lynne Turner) — 179
6. Parc & Dare (Adrian Morton) — 178
7. Melingriffith 2 (Christopher Turner) — 177
8. Ammanford (Tom Hutchinson) — 176
Best Instrumentalist: Aled Daniels (euphonium) — Abergavenny Borough
Second Section:
Adjudicator: Nigel Seaman
1. Briton Ferry (Jeff Pearce) — 189
2. Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda (Alan Gibbs) — 188
3. Abertillery & District (Josh Ruck) — 186
4. Crosskeys Silver (Michael Davies) — 185
5. Seindorf Arian Crwbin (Craig Roberts) — 184
6. Penclawdd (Tony Small) — 183
7. Ynyshir (Gary Davies) — 181
8. RAF St Athan (Adrian Morton) — 180
Best Instrumentalist: Dave Edwards (soprano) — Briton Ferry
Third Section:
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
1. Usk Brass (Jeff Jones) — 184
2. Newport Borough (Robin Hackett) — 183
3. Upper Rhondda (Jayne Thoas) — 180
4. Severn Tunnel (Grant Jameson) — 178
Best Instrumentalist: Jamie Jones (euphonium) — Usk Brass
Best Horn Section: Usk Brass
Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Dave Hayward
1. Cwmtawe & District Youth (Wayne Pedrick) — 185
2. Phoenix Brass (Luke Jenkins) — 184
3. Oakdale Silver (Kerry Bowden) — 182
Best Instrumentalist: Matthew Jenkins (euphonium) — Phoenix Brass
Youth Section:
Adjudicator: David Hayward
Gold Awards:
Melingriffith Youth (Carol Flannary Davies)
Rhondda Fach Youth (Angela Westacott)
Silver Award:
BTM Beginners (Jeff Hutcherson)
Bronze Awards:
Llwydcoed Juniors (Richard Davies)
Gwaun Cae Gurwen Juniors (Dafydd Rhys Lewis)
4Barsrest Best Instrumentalist: Katie & Iwan Hill (cornet & flugel) — Rhondda Fach Youth
Event-z Percussion Best Percussion: Melingriffith Youth
Gwyn Press Trophy for Youngest Bass Player: Thomas Evans (aged 13) — Rhondda Fach Youth
Youngest Player: Noah Davis (aged 6) — Rhondda Fach Youth
2016 Welsh League:
Championship Section:
Champions: Llwydcoed and Tylorstown (tie)
Runner-Up: Tongwynlais Temperance
First Section:
Champions: Ebbw Valley
Runner-Up: Abergavenny Borough & Lewis Merthyr
Second Section:
Champions: Briton Ferry
Runner-Up: Penclawdd Brass
Third Section:
Champions: Newport Borough
Runner-Up: Usk Brass
Fourth Section:
Champions: Cwmtawe & District Youth
Runner-Up: Phoenix Brass
