A fine turn-out of 35 bands made their way to Marlborough School in Woodstock for the annual ODBBA (Oxford) Contest, with adjudicator Phillip Littlemore and a supportive audience enjoying a weekend of excellent competitive music making.

Saturday saw bands compete in the First, Third and Unregistered Sections, with the Fourth, Second and Championship rounding off the Sunday.

As anticipated, the majority of competitors took the opportunity to showcase their Area test-piece preparations ahead of the battles to come in Bedford, Torquay and Stevenage, with many showing that they are in pretty good shape in their bids to get to Cheltenham and London.

Close contest

However, in a close run Third Section on Saturday morning it was the Olney Brass from near Milton Keynes who claimed the honours. Led by Kevin Nicholls, their cracking rendition of 'Fire in the Blood' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper finished just ahead of Gosport Brass and Ocean Brass who both performed the Area set-work, 'First Suite in Eb' by Gustav Holst.

The winners were aided by their prize winning percussion and 'Best Instrumentalist', principal cornet Matt Atkinson.

After a quick break for lunch, attention turned to the two bands in the Unregistered Section. In the end it was another closely fought battle, with Reading Spring Gardens led by the experienced David Ruel coming out on top with a well worked rendition of 'St Andrew's Variations' to finish just ahead of the youthful endeavour of Yarnton's 'The Lonely Mill' by David Lancaster — a piece not heard at a contest before.

Symphony of Marches

Saturday was rounded off with an enjoyable First Section battle, with all seven contenders performing Gilbert Vinter's 'Symphony of Marches'.

In what could well be a repeat battle for the Cheltenham qualification places in Torquay, Brunel Brass led by Daniel Hall (above) headed the honours ahead of Michelmersh Silver and City of Bristol.

City of Bristol were conducted on the day by Bryn James in the absence of Ian Holmes who suffered a cardiac arrest during the week at a rehearsal of Filton Brass. Thanks to the quick intervention of some of their players, Ian is now making a recovery at home after being admitted to hospital.

Sunday action

Sunday morning saw Shipston Town claim the Fourth Section title in a great battle between nine well-matched bands.

They certainly set out their 'Stantonbury Festival' stall (every band played the Area piece) off the number 1 draw under Howard Gibbs. Aided by the contribution of their 'Best Instrumentalist' award winning flugel Darran Wheeler, it enabled them to finish ahead of solid accounts from podium finishers Nailsworth and Ratby Mid.

The post lunch entertainment came in the Second Section with six of the seven bands playing 'Rise of the Phoenix'.

Wotton-under-Edge & District's fine account of Darrol Barry's Area set-work led by Ian Dickinson proved to be a worthy winner in a contest that featured a number of excellent performances. Horsham Borough was second with City of Coventry in third. Wotton's principal cornet Bruce Davies won the 'Best Instrumentalist' prize.

Greatly appreciated

Although there was only one band in the Championship Section, Kildington Concert certainly didn't relax, giving a fine rendition of 'Seascapes' under Duncan Wilson that was greatly appreciated by the bands waiting for the results of the Second Section.

Reflecting on a fine weekend, a contest spokesperson told 4BR: "It really was a great success and our congratulations go to all the competing bands. Thanks to their co-operation we ran to time at a great venue that also enjoyed fine support from helpers and traders such as Mr Tuba and Pennine Music."

Thanks to Rob Tompkins

In what could well be a repeat battle for the Cheltenham qualification places in Torquay, Brunel Brass led by Daniel Hall (above) headed the honours ahead of Michelmersh Silver and City of Bristol4BR

Results:

Championship Section:

1. Kidlington Concert (Duncan Wilson)

First Section:

1. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
2. Michelmersh Silver (Melvin White)
3. City of Bristol (Bryn Williams)
4. Cawston Band (Leigh Sharpe)
5. Shirley Band (David Hirst)
6. Oddfellows Brass (Dave Holling)
7. Bedworth Brass (Wayne Ruston)

Best Instrumentalist: Paul Griffiths (euphonium) — Michelmersh Silver

Second Section:

1. Wotton-under-Edge & District (Ian Dickinson)
2. Horsham Borough (Mark McLaughlin)
3. City of Coventry (Stephen Cooper)
4. Wigston Band (Chris Small)
5. Chinnor Silver (David Pegram)
6. Yiewsley & West Drayton (Christopher Cole)
7. Weston Brass (Carl Whiteoak)

Best Instrumentalist: Bruce Davies (Wotton under Edge & District) — cornet

Third Section:

1. Olney Brass (Kevin Nicholls)
2. Gosport Solent Brass (Colin Garner)
3. Ocean Brass (Martin Humphries)
4. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech)
5. Arrow Valley Brass (Andy Culshaw)
6. Towcester Studio Brass (Neil Brownless)
7. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) (Clifford Sadler)
8. Welwyn Garden City (Duncan Wilson)
9. Syston (Gary Smallwood)

Best Instrumentalist: Matt Atkinson (cornet) — Olney Brass

Fourth Section:

1. Shipston Town (Howard Gibbs)
2. Nailsworth Silver (Steve Ruck)
3. Ratby Mid Band (Gary Perrin)
4. City of Oxford Silver (Gareth Coulson)
5. Great Western Youth Band (Ben Halstead)
6. Abbey Brass (Abingdon) (Rob Tompkins)
7. Malvern Hills District Brass (Chris Licence)
8. Coventry Festival (Allan Wheelhouse)
9. Witney Town (Steve Sizeland)

Best Instrumentalist: Darran Wheeler (flugel) — Shipston Town

Unregistered Section:

1. Reading Spring Gardens (David Ruel)
2. Yarnton Band (Guy James)

Best Instrumentalist: (Euphonium) — Reading Spring Gardens

Special Awards:

(Saturday)
Best Bass Section of the Day: Brunel Brass
Best Percussion of the Day: Olney Brass
Best Cornet of the Day: Olney Brass
Best Tenor Horn of the Day: Michelmersh Silver Band

(Sunday)
Best Percussion of the Day: City of Coventry
Best Cornet of the Day: Wotton under Edge & District
Best Bass Section of the Day: Kidlington Concert Brass
Best Tenor Horn of the Day: Wotton under Edge & District

Overall Prizes:

Band with the most player aged under 19: Great Western Youth Band
Youngest Player of the Weekend: Lyla Ellis (Yarnton Band)