*
banner

Report & Results: 2020 Oxfordshire & District BBA

Confidence boosting success for Kidlington, City of Bristol, Oxford Cherwell Brass, Ocean Brass and Witney Town Bands as they enjoy victories ahead of their Area challenges.

Oxford
  Kidlington Concert Brass retained their grip on the ornate Championship Section Shield

There was an excellent line-up of bands competing at the popular Oxfordshire & District Brass Band Association contest in Woodstock on the weekend.

Adjudicator Paul Norley certainly enjoyed the competitive action led by Kidlington Concert Brass who retained the ornate Championship Section Shield from Midland rivals Langley Band.

The winners also took the individual prizes for cornet, horns, tubas and percussion for their contribution to the winning performance of Philip Sparke's 'A Tale As Yet Untold', which they perform once again at the Regional Championships in Stevenage at the end of March.

The contest gave the bands in each section the opportunity to showcase their preparations ahead of their Area challenges, with confidence boosting victories secured for City of Bristol in the First Section performing Tom Davoren's 'Legacy', Oxford Cherwell Brass in the Second with 'The Golden Sabre', Ocean Brass in the Third playing 'Endurance' and Witney Town in the Fourth performing 'Neverland'.

They were particularly delighted as the band's principal cornet player Ali Howes took the 'Best Instrumentalist' award.

In the Unregistered Section Hook Norton Band took the honours with their super rendition of Malcolm Arnold's 'Little Suite for Brass No1.'

There were also a host of individual and section awards, although there was a special cheer for the youngest player presentation given to 9 year old Alex Ballantyne-Drake of City of Oxford Training Band and to Brunel Brass Academy who took to the stage with no less than 24 players under the age of 19.

Resuts:


Championship Section:


1. Kidlington Concert Brass (Trevor Jones) — 186
2. Langley Band (Cliff Parker) — 185

Best Instrumentalist: Saphran Ali (euphonium) — Langley Band
Best Percussion: Kidlington Concert Brass
Best Bass Section: Kidlington Concert Brass
Best Cornet: Tom James (Kidlington Concert Brass)
Best Tenor Horn: Marilyn Elliott (Kidlington Concert Brass)

First Section:


1. City of Bristol (Ian Holmes) — 186
2. Cawston Band (Leigh Sharpe) — 184
3. Hyde (Andy Wareham) — 182
4. Bedworth Brass (Wayne Ruston) — 181
5. SPAL Sovereign Brass (Neil Samuel) — 180
6. A.W. Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck) — 179
7. Shirley Band (Tom Stoneman) — 178

Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium — City of Bristol
Best Percussion: City of Bristol
Best Bass Section: City of Bristol
Best Cornet: Cawston
Best Tenor Horn: City of Bristol

Second Section:


1. Oxford Cherwell Brass (Terry Brotherhood) — 174
2. Wigston Band (Rob Boulter) — 173
3. Wotton under Edge & District (Ian Dickinson) — 172

Best instrumentalist: Andy Lake (Eb Bass) — Oxford Cherwell Brass

Third Section:


1. Ocean Brass (Martin Humphries) — 176
2. Gosport Solent Brass (Colin Garner) — 174
3. Shipston Town Band (Howard Gibbs) — 171
4. Ratby Mid band (Gary Perrin) — 170
5. City of Bath Brass Band (Martin Perry) — 169
6. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) (Clifford Sadler) — 168
7. Cubbington Silver Band (Mark Phillips) — 167
8. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) — 166

Best Instrumentalist: Grace Coates (cornet) — Shipston Town

Fourth Section:


1. Witney Town Band (Chris Barker) — 171
2. Coventry Festival Band (Allan Wheelhouse) — 169
3. Bletchington Silver Band (Sheldon Barwick) — 168
4. City of Oxford Band (Gareth Coulson) — 167
5. Abbey Brass (Abingdon) Band (Rob Tompkins) — 166
6. Wantage Academy Band (Nikki Jones) — 165
7. Brunel Brass Academy (Ben Halstead) — 164

Best Instrumentalist: Ali Howes (Cornet) Witney Town Band

Unregistered Section:


1. Hook Norton Brass Band (Shaun Humphries) — 156
2. Yarnton Band (Guy James) — 155
3. Watership Brass (Mark Picken) — 154
4. City of Oxford Training Band (Catherine Westbury-Cook) — 153

Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Watership Brass)

Special Awards:
Youngest Player: Alex Ballantyne-Drake (City of Oxford Training Band)
Band with most players under 19: Brunel Brass Academy

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Elgar festival of brass

Top trio attracts audiences to Malvern

June 7 • There are still tickets left if you want to enjoy Cory, Black Dyke and Foden's in performance in Malvern


Perth

Entries now open for Scottish Festival of Brass brace

June 7 • Bands can now enter the popular Band Supplies Scottish Challenge Shield and Scottish Open sponsored by Besson.


Cambrian Brass

New band to be formed in Aberystwyth

June 7 • Cambrian Brass to provide a welcoming, inclusive home for players with the aim of competing at the Welsh Area in 2026.


City of Hull

Brooks and Beatty take dual baton role at City of Hull

June 7 • Daniel Brooks and Jonathan Beatty will spearhead the artistic and contesting focus of City of Hull Band.


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 13 June • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


Hebden Bridge Brass Band - The 13th annual Hebden Bridge March Contest

Sunday 15 June • St George's Square, Hebden Bridge HX7 8ET


The Portsmouth Grammar School - Concert by The Black Dyke Band

Saturday 28 June • St Marys Church, Fratton, Portsmouth PO15PA PO15PA


Petworth Town Band - Fete in the Park with Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Grounds of Petworth Park GU28 9LR


Petworth Town Band - Farnham Brass Band and Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Farnham Carnival


Chinnor Silver

June 7 • Our Community Band is meeting on Monday {9th} and would welcome anyone who fancies an extra friendly rehearsal,with coffee and cake involved.. We rehearse in our bandroom at 11am its free and it open to all abilities.. No commitment required.


Epping Forest Band

June 6 • Epping Forest band have a vacancy for solo horn. We are a friendly 3rd section band with a variety of gigs through out the year. We have our own band hut with close to links with London Underground central line and the M11 motorway.


Chelmsford Silver Bnad

June 6 • Front row cornet, solo horn & trombone players. We are a friendly, active non competition band established 75 years performing regularly in Chelmsford & Essex. Rehearsals averaging 26 players on Wednesday evenings at Broomfield Methodist Church Chelmsford


Kevin Wadsworth


Conductor, adjudicator, teacher (ABBA)


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd