Two very different aspects of Fourth Section competition were on show in Torquay on Sunday morning, where the joy of newly crowned champion Gosport Solent Brass and qualifiers Pendeen Silver contrasted with the harsher realities faced by those at the bottom end of the results table.

All though deserve the heartiest of congratulations for their efforts; the successful bands in representing the region with pride at Cheltenham come September, and the likes of Torbay and Chalford Academy in meeting the more immediate challenges ahead in recruiting and developing new players.

First time

The emotion on show as Gosport Solent Brass claimed their first ever National Final appearance was wonderful.

Formed in 2011 when two failing community bands merged, they have battled solidly in the Fourth Section making incremental improvement year on year. After a victory at the Oxfordshire Contest a few weeks ago playing the Area test-piece 'World Tour' they gave it a fine, confident reprise under Colin Garner to secure a richly deserved victory.

Meanwhile, there was also delight for Pendeen Silver as led by the experienced Leonard Adams (guest Swiss conductor Pascal Eicher had to withdraw before the contest due to ill health) they secured their first National Finals appearance since 1969 — much to the delight of the one player still in the ranks who played that day at Hammersmith Town Hall.

Stark contrast

However, stark contrast came with the show of determination by Torbay Brass, as under young MD Gareth Davies they took to the stage with just 19 brass and 3 percussion players of varying standards and ages. With just the one trombonist and two solo cornets they battled through to gain warm applause from a sympathetic audience.

There was no praise high enough for bravely deciding not to throw in the towel and not compete — especially in a contest that only managed to attract 15 bands — the lowest number for many a year. Hopefully this will be the spring board for future success.

The same also applied to Chalford Academy, as due to an oversight with registration rules they took to the stage knowing and agreeing to their disqualification.

With just one player over the age of 18 though, it still seemed a rather needlessly draconian exercise in contest bureaucracy (to be fair, the organisers were left with no wriggle room) at a time when grassroots banding is in danger of withering away through youthful disinterest in a system that seems stuck in a time warp suffocating under the guise of heritage.

Sensed the struggle

Both adjudicators certainly sensed that bands were struggling for a variety of reasons on the day; Brett Baker and John Winterflood giving notable encouragement with their remarks as well as insight into the challenges of simply competing at this level where each competitor gave of their very best.

However, despite their clear indications of what basics were in need of improvement, being blind in the name of tradition to what everyone else could see was the most obvious problem seemed to render their well meaning remarks somewhat redundant: You cannot make music from empty chairs.

What hope

When a region such as the West of England has trouble encouraging players to play in well established community bands what hope is there?

'World Tour' isn't a troublesome test piece to play, yet its 'Pacific Paradise' that Brett said, "covered a multitude of sins"from nerves to missing parts, caused a tsunami storm of trouble.

For Gosport Solent and Pendeen the lure of Cheltenham will hopefully provide two emerging bands with a stepping stone to gain further success, whilst the same goes for the hard working efforts of Test Valley Brass, Okehampton Excelsior Silver, Bideford Town and Nailsworth Silver who filled the remaining top-six places.

The others though face a variety of challenges that may need more than just warm words of encouragement from judges to overcome to maintain long term survival.

Banding nationally, let alone regionally in the West of England cannot afford to lose more competitors for the sake of outdated tradition.

Both adjudicators certainly sensed that bands were struggling for a variety of reasons on the day; Brett and John giving notable encouragement with their remarks as well as insight into the challenges of simply competing at this level4BR

Result:

Fourth Section:

Test Piece: World Tour (Rodney Newton)
Adjudicators: Brett Baker & John Winterflood

1. Gosport Solent Brass (Colin Garner)*
2. Pendeen Silver (Leonard Adams)*
3. Test Valley Brass (John Heritage)
4. Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Robert Julian)
5. Bideford Town Band (Mark Durham)
6. Nailsworth Silver (Steve Ruck)
7. Verwood Town (Emma Button)
8. Redruth Town (Keith Anderson)
9. Shanklin Town (IoW) (Malcolm Lewis)
10. Wincanton Silver (Steve Sykes)
11. Exeter Railway (Graham Eaton)
12. Tiverton Town (John Fitton)
13. Shaftesbury Town Silver (Martin Hill)
14. Torbay Brass (Gareth Davies)
15. Chalford Academy (Steve Tubb)**

*Qualify for National Final

**Disqualified due to registration infringement. Played at contest with agreement with contest organisers