With the Regional Championships looming on the horizon, there was an encouraging day of competitive action to enjoy at the Brass in the Wire and British Open Youth in the Wire contests in Warrington.

The event continues to enjoy generous support from R. Banks & Son (Funerals Ltd) under proprietor Brian Halliwell, with the various winning bands taking home a bespoke trophy and £400 with additional podium and individual prizes as the contest returned to the Parr Hall & Pyramid venue for the first time since the 1980's.

Impressive Crofton

The headline winners were Crofton Silver conducted by Dean Jones, a band that has matched its heady ambition with an increasingly impressive list of competitive achievements under his baton.

In 2015 they took to the stage at the Yorkshire Regional Championships in the Third Section, but now stand ready to pit their wits against some of the very best Championship Section bands in the UK in Huddersfield in a few weeks time — a task they will approach with confidence following their impressive win on the Area set-work, 'A Tale As Yet Untold'.

Not only did they secure the £400 first prize and Stanley Winter Trophy, their classy euphonium star Matthew Reasbeck and a delighted tuba team took individual honours, with the band also securing a qualification spot at the British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool in May.

Ready for the challenge

"You could tell how much all that meant to us,"a smiling MD said when speaking to 4BR after the celebrations at the back of the hall with his players eventually died down.

"We've been determined to make sure we are ready for the challenge of the top section and of this piece in particular. We started work on it in December and now it's really come together."

Dean added: "We are not finished yet with it by any means, but I think the performance showed we can play it and play it well. There's more hard work to come, but the players are so determined and committed. This has given us such a great boost of confidence."

The combined Championship/First Section saw adjudicators Sandy Smith and Paul Andrews having to compare renditions of both the Sparke work and Tom Davoren's 'Legacy' to pick an overall winner, although separate prizes were given for both categories.

Two other Yorkshire contenders in Hepworth and City of Bradford eventually filled the top section podium spots as the judges made excellent stage remarks that emphasised both what they had heard and what the band's should look at working on ahead of their Area assaults.

"There were some very good performances today,"Sandy said, "ones that showed that the bands were on top of their preparation."Paul added: "The work is now down to the individuals to get right and to bring vitality to the music and accommodate tempos."

All the bands left for home knowing just what was needed if they were to go on and claim trips to Cheltenham and London.

Longridge Legacy

Those included pointers on the deceptive challenges faced by the First Section bands on 'Legacy', as Sandy felt that at times there was, "a lack of expressive playing on show"and Paul emphasised the need to look at the both the vertical and horizontal lines of the musical score. "A couple really did that today,"he added.

Mark Peacock used his experience to lead Longridge to the victory (coming fourth overall in the process), ahead of fellow North West challengers Roberts Bakery and with welcome North of England visitors York Railway Institute in third.

BD1 sweep to victory

Although there was disappointment that the Second, Third and Fourth Sections didn't attract greater competitive numbers on the day, it was more perhaps a reflection of the respective challenges faced by their Area test-pieces.

However, BD1 Brass certainly showed that they will be well prepared on Kit Turnball's 'The Golden Sabre' come their Yorkshire Area Second Section challenge in Huddersfield in March.

Their descriptive account took the prize winning honours, as well as a clean sweep of individual awards for 'Best Soloist', 'Best Horn' and 'Best Basses'. Two well directed accounts from Old Hall Brass and Slaithwaite took the podium positions.

Commanding Cleveleys

There was another commanding victor in the Third Section, as Thornton Cleveleys secured an impressive success under David Houghton.

It really was all-round 'Endurance' performance too — with principal cornet Nichola Gates taking the 'Best Soloist' award alongside 'Best Trombone' winner Howard Midgley, 'Best Percussion' and 'Best Basses'.

Pilling Jubilee and City of Chester filled the remaining podium slots.

Golborne success

There was a first contest victory to celebrate in six years for Golborne Band in the Fourth Section, as they travelled successfully to 'Neverland' under MD Joshua Hughes to take the titles honours ahead of a strong challenge from Dobcross Silver and Brindle.

With all three bands on this type of form the forthcoming Regional contest in Blackpool should be a cracker.

Youth Brass 2000 win again

There was also a cracking British Open Youth in the Wire competition in the Parr Hall to kick-start the day, with Butlins Mineworkers Champion Youth Brass 2000 reprising their Skegness programme to secure a highly impressive victory under the baton of Chris Jeans.

The band's outstanding young baritone star Ed Culpin added yet another accolade to his collection as he took the 'Best Soloist' award.

There were also excellent performances from Yorkshire rivals Elland Silver Youth, as once again two of the very best youth bands in UK showcased their quality. Not far behind them came a super show from Oldham Music Centre in third. There were also excellent performances to enjoy from Pemberton Old Wigan DW Youth and St Helen's Youth.

Thanks

The move to the new venue certainly posed some logistical problems for the hard working organisers Lancashire Contests, although with the cooperation of the staff and the patience and understanding of the bands, these were overcome.

With sponsorship becoming increasingly difficult to find, Lancashire Contests expressed their continued thanks to Brian Halliwell and R. Banks & Son (Funerals Ltd) for their continued support of the event, as well as that of percussion provider Ray Payne and the volunteers who continue to give of their time and dedication.

We've been determined to make sure we are ready for the challenge of the top section and of this piece in particular. We started work on it in December and now it's really come togetherDean Jones

Results:

Championship Section:

Test Piece choices: A Tale As Yet Untold (Philip Sparke) or Legacy for Brass Band (Tom Davoren)
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews and Sandy Smith

1. Crofton Silver (Dean Jones)**
2. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)*
3. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)*
4. Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)*
5. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
6. Roberts Bakery (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
7. Harrogate (Leigh Baker)*
8. York Railway Institute (David Lancaster)
9. Flixton (Matthew Ryan)
10. Freckleton (Matt Shaw)
11. Lindley (Mike Golding)
12. Yorkshire Imperial David Urquhart Travel (Garry Hallas)
13. Mossley (Duncan Byers)
14. Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Jim Henson)

** Championship Section and qualification for 2020 Spring Festival
* Championship Section

First Section award winners:
1. Longridge
2. Roberts Bakery
3. York Railway Institute

Best Soloist: Tim Pannell (cornet) — Haverhill Silver
Best Basses: Crofton Silver
Best Trombone: City of Bradford
Best Euphonium: Matthew Reasbeck (Crofton Silver)

Second Section:

Test Pieces: The Golden Sabre — Tales of the Hussar-Poet, Denis Davydov (Kit Turnbull)
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill and Sara Groarke-Booth

1. BD1 Brass (Lee Skipsey)
2. Old Hall Brass (John North)
3. Slaithwaite (Matt Hindle)
4. Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
5. Crewe Brass (Matt Pithers)
6. Farnworth & Walkden (Dan Price)

Best Soloist: (soprano) — BD1 Brass
Best Basses: BD1 Brass
Best Tenor Horn: BD1 Brass

Third Section:

Test Piece: Endurance (Andrew Baker)
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill and Mareika Gray

1. Thornton Cleveleys (Dave Houghton)
2. Pilling Jubilee Silver (Steve Hartly)
3. City of Chester (Matthew Birkett)
4. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)

Best Soloist: Nichola Gates (cornet) — Thornton Cleveleys
Best Percussion: Thornton Cleveleys
Best Horn: Kate Marney (Pilling Jubilee Silver)
Best Trombone: Thornton Cleveleys
Best Basses: Thornton Cleveleys
Best Percussion: Thornton Cleveleys

Fourth Section:

Test Pieces: Neverland (Christopher Bond) and A Bournemouth Suite (Benjamin Tubb)
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill and Mareika Gray

1. Golborne (Joshua Hughes)
2. Dobcross Silver (Jason M Smith)
3. Brindle (Matthew Balson)
4. Stacksteads (Fred Bowker)
5. Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton)
6. Skelmersdale Prize (Ben Coulson)

Best Soloist: (cornet) — Golborne
Best Euphonium: Dobcross Silver
Best Basses: Golborne

The British Open Youth in the Wire Festival:

Own Choice 20 minute programme
Adjudicators: John Doyle and Sara Groarke- Booth

1. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
2. Elland Silver Youth (Samantha Harrison)
3. Oldham Music Centre Youth (Jonathan Leedale)
4. Pemberton Old Wigan DW Youth (John Don-Duncan)
5. St Helens Youth (James Hall)

Best Soloist: Ed Culpin (baritone) — Youth Brass 2000
Youngest Player: Lewis Kerry (Pemberton Old Wigan DW Youth)