There was a fine competitive turn out at the recent Oxfordshire & District Brass Band Association 'Winter Contest' at the Marlborough School in Oxfordshire, where a host of bands tested their early season form ahead of the Regional Championships.
Pageantry win
In the top section it was a 'Pageantry' battle, with East London Brass directed by Jayne Murrill claiming a confidence boosting success ahead of Stevenage — ending two points clear of West of England challengers Verwood Concert Brass with last year's National Finalist Wantage Silver in third.
Kidlington Concert Brass under Duncan Wilson came out top in the First Section of the sextet of performances of 'The Land of the Long White Cloud', claiming a two-point margin of victory over the Midlanders of Oddfellows Brass, with West of England Area challengers AW Parker (Drybrook) in third.
Bucked the trend
The in-form Chinnor Silver rather bucked the trend in the Second Section under David Pegram, as they came won with their performance of 'Lake of the Moon' ahead of a quintet of 'Rhapsody in Brass' renditions, whilst Olney Brass directed by Neil Brownless came out on top in the compare and contrast stakes in the Third Section on 'Darkwood'.
All ten bands in the Fourth Section opted for Alan Fernie's 'St Andrew's Variations' where Shipston Town under Howard Gibbs caught the ear of adjudicator Nicholas Garman, whilst in the Unregistered Section it was Yarnton who came out on top with their rendition of Holt's 'Second Suite in F'.
In the top section it was a 'Pageantry' battle, with East London Brass directed by Jayne Murrill claiming a confidence boosting success ahead of Stevenage4BR
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Alan Duguid
1. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill) — 192
2. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith) — 190
3. Wantage Silver Band (Craig Patteson) — 189
4. Brunel Brass (Paul Collis-Smith) — 187
Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (East London Brass)
First Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley
1. Kidlington Concert Brass (Duncan Wilson) — 191
2. Oddfellows Brass (Robert Boulter) — 189
3. AW Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck) — 188
4. Hyde Band (Jonathan Lush-Camps) — 187
5. Epsom & Ewell Silver (Paul Graham) — 186
Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Kidlington Concert Brass)
Best Percussion: Kidlington Concert Brass
Best Bass Section: Oddfellows Brass
Best Cornet: Soprano (Kidlington Concert Brass)
Second Section:
Adjudicator: Alan Duguid
1. Chinnor Silver (David Pegram) — 188
2. Otterbourne Brass (Melvin White) — 187
3. Milton Keynes Brass Paul Fensom) — 186
4. City of Coventry Brass (Stephen Cooper) — 184
5. Tilbury (Ben Jones) — 183
6. Downton Band (Paul Williams) — 182
Best Instrumentalist: Flugel (Chinnor Silver)
Third Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley
1. Olney Brass (Neil Brownless) — 184
2. Corsham Band Coling Hogg) — 183
3. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) (Cliff Sandler) — 182
4. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) — 181
5. Spinnaker Brass (Ted Howard) — 180
6. Cubbington Silver (Mark Phillips) — 179
7. Towcester Studio Brass (Neil Brownless) — 178
8. Oxford Cherwell Brass (Terry Brotherhood) — 177
Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Olney Brass)
Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Nicholas Garman
1. Shipston Town (Howard Gibbs) — 191
2. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray) — 190
3. Syston Band (Christopher Banks) — 189
4. Gosport Solent Brass (Colin Garner) — 188
5. Corby Silver Cathy Fountain) — 187
6. Pangbourne Silver (Richard Powell) — 184
7. Wantage Academy (Nikki Jones) — 183
8. Witney Town (Rhys Owens) — 182
9. Bletchington Silver (Sheldon Barwick) — 179
10. Abbey Brass (Abingdon) (Rob Tompkins) — 178
Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Corby Silver)
Unregistered Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Norley
1. Yarnton Band (Guy James) — 170
2. Hook Norton (Shaun Humphries) — 168
Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Hook Norton)
Overall Awards:
Best Percussion: Chinnor Silver
Best Bass Section: East London Brass
Best Cornet: Verwood Concert Brass
Band with most players under the age of 19: Yarnton Band
Youngest Playing in the contest: Syston Band
