The 53rd IABCB National Band Championships took place over the weekend at the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan in the Republic of Ireland.
Victory in the First Section went to 1st Old Boys conducted by Stephen Cairns, who produced a brace of fine performances of the set-work, 'Lake of the Moon' by Kevin Houben and their own-choice selection of 'Sinfonietta No. 3' by Etienne Crausaz to take the honours by a substantive seven point margin over rivals Drogheda Brass, with Lourdes Brass in third.
Impressed
They certainly impressed adjudicator Howard Evans as they also made it a clean sweep with the individual awards, with solo euphonium Alan Howarth adding the 'Best Instrumentalist' prize to the trophies for the 'Best Own-Choice' and 'Overall' accolades.
It proved to be a great day for the organisation, with Jacklin Bingham leading 1st Old Boys Youth to the Second Section title playing 'The Journal of Phileas Fogg' by Peter Graham and 'Anglian Dances' by Alan Fernie. The Third Section honours went to Stedfast Band, with well deserved IABCB Honorary Life Membership awards presented to Jack Regan and Gillian Shiels.
Victory in the First Section went to 1st Old Boys, who produced a brace of fine performances of the set-work, 'Lake of the Moon' by Kevin Houben and their own-choice selection of 'Sinfonietta No. 3' by Etienne Crausaz4BR
Results:
Section 1:
Adjudicator: Howard Evans
Own Choice/Set Piece = Total (max 150)
1. 1st Old Boys Silver Band (Stephen Cairns): 45/92 = 137
2. Drogheda Brass (Michael Maher): 41/89 = 130
3. Lourdes Brass (Prof. Michael Alcorn): 40/85 = 125
4. The Stedfast Band (Brian Daly): 33/73 = 106
5. Navan Silver (Stephen Murray): 32/70 = 102
Best Instrumentalist: Alan Howarth (euphonium) — 1st Old Boys Silver
Best Own Choice: 1st Old Boys Silver Band
Overall Best Section 1 Band: 1st Old Boys Silver
Overall Championship Best Band: 1st Old Boys Silver
Section 2:
Own Choice/Set Piece = Total (max 150)
1. 1st Old Boys Youth (Jacklin Bingham): 43/90 = 133
2. Ennis Brass Band (Mark Nutley): 35/77 = 112
Best Own Choice: 1st Old Boys Youth
Overall Best Section 2 Band: 1st Old Boys Youth
Section 3:
Own Choice/Set Piece = Total (max 150)
1. Stedfast Shoes Brass (Shane Smith): 121
