Bon Accord Silver retained the Fife Charities title on the weekend as they beat off the strong challenge of 16 First to Fourth Section rivals at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy.

Under the baton of Rothwell Temperance MD David Roberts, the Aberdeen based band produced a fine performance of Philip Sparke's 'A Tale As Yet Untold' to not only claim a narrow one point victory over Kingdom Brass at the 72nd running of the event, but to also secure the automatic invitation to the 2018 British Open Spring Festival. Unison Kinneil was third.

Well clear

Adjudicator Alan Duguid remarked that the podium finishing bands were well clear of the rest of the field, and just the smallest of margins separated the top two on the day.

That meant that 2015 champion Kingdom Brass led by Paul Drury had to be content with second place after giving a confident rendition of Edward Gregson's 'Of Men and Mountains', with Unison Kinneil, conducted by Chris Shanks just behind with their polished account of 'Dances & Alleluias'.

Fine form

Bathgate continued their fine form following their excellent runner-up finish at the National Finals in Cheltenham, as a reprise of 'Tournament for Brass' under Anne Crookston saw them end fourth and take the 'Best First Section Band' accolade.

The other sectional awards went to Campbeltown, with their performance of 'Resurgam', Irvine & Dreghorn playing 'Hinemoa' and Kilmarnock delivering 'A Malvern Suite'.

High standard

Adjudicating the individual prizes, Robert Fraser said the standard of playing had been extremely high and that his job of picking the best instrumentalists was extremely difficult.

In the end, Eoin Tonner of Kingdom Brass took the 'Best Cornet' prize with the band's tuba team taking the 'Best Basses' trophy. Jane Clark, flugel with Johnstone, won the 'Best Horn' award, whilst Richard Kidd and Mark Boyd of Bon Accord were judged 'Best Euphonium' and 'Best Trombone' respectively. Bon Accord also won the prize for 'Best Percussion'.

Kingdom Brass won the separate awards for the 'Best March', for their performance of 'O.R.B' and 'Best Hymn' for 'The Day Thou Gavest'.

The special Fife Charities Association awards went to Kingdom Brass (Best 'A' Band) and Dunfermline Town (Best 'B' Band).

Adjudicator Alan Duguid remarked that the podium finishing bands were well clear of the rest of the field, and just the smallest of margins separated the top two on the day4BR

Results:

Adjudicator: Alan Duguid

1. Bon Accord Silver (D. Roberts) — 195
2. Kingdom Brass (P. Drury) — 194
3. Unison Kinneil (C. Shanks) — 193
4. Bathgate (A. Crookston) — 190
5. Easington Colliery (I. Robinson) — 189
6. Granite City (B. Wallace) — 188
7. Newmilns & Galston (A. Cameron) — 187
8. Johnstone (M. Ramsay) — 186
9. Campbeltown Brass (P. Kiernan) — 185
10. Lochgelly (P. McKelvie OBE) — 184
11. Irvine & Dreghorn (H. Douthwaite-Teasdale) — 183
12. Bo'ness & Carriden (C. Farren) — 182
13. Broxburn & Livingston (J. Boax) — 181
14. Kilmarnock Concert (S. Walker) — 180
15. MacTaggart Scott Loanhead (K. Letham) — 179
16. Bon Accord Silver 'B' (J. Cook) — 178
17. Dunfermline Town (A. Shaw) — 177

Winning Conductor: David Roberts
Spring Festival Qualification: Bon Accord

Best Fife 'A' Band: Kingdom Brass
Best Fife 'B' Band: Dunfermline

Best First Section Band: Bathgate
Best Second Section Band: Campbeltown Brass
Best Third Section Band: Irvine & Dreghorn
Best Fourth Section Band: Kilmarnock Concert

Best Cornet: Eoin Tonner (Kingdom Brass)
Best Horn Jane Clarke (Johnstone)
Best Euphonium/Baritone: Richard Kidd (Bon Accord)
Best Trombone: Mark Boyd (Bon Accord)
Best Basses: Kingdom Brass
Best Percussion: Bon Accord