Entertainment that mixed cleverly conceived musical inventiveness with solid top-flight brass band basics saw Wantage Silver claim a first Welsh Open title in impressive fashion.

It also saw the Oxfordshire band deny defending champion Ebbw Valley their bid to make it four wins in a row as they finished a point behind, whilst the final podium place, two points further back went to Goodwick Brass.

Behind them on what was an enjoyable day of evenly matched cross-border battles, former winner Filton Concert Brass was fourth, securing their place back at the British Open Spring Festival, ahead of Parc & Dare and Kidlington Concert Brass.

Commanding ingredients

Wantage MD Chris King used all his considerable experience in balancing what adjudicator Dr Tom Davoren said were the type of 'noble musical intentions' allied to 'command of tuning and intonation, sound and balance and melody and technique' that were the ingredients he was looking for in potential title winning performances.

Wantage's 'States of Mind!' programme certainly combined them all as they left Newport on Sunday evening not only with a first prize package of £1,300 in cash, but also laden with silverware as they secured possession of the Welsh Miners' Challenge Cup to go with the trophy for 'Most Entertaining Stage Presentation' and individual awards for 'Best Cornet' and 'Best Baritone' for the excellent Russell Jackson and Imogen Fewster respectively.

Confidence boost

After celebrating with their trophies at the venue before heading home across the M4 motorway, Chris King told 4BR that victory had given his band a huge boost of confidence ahead of their London & SC Area challenge in Stevenage in a few weeks' time.

"It really has put everyone in the right state of mind,"he said with a wry nod to that winning programme — one that opened with his own 'Brainstorm!' composition, followed by the suave cornet skills of Russell Jackson in Piazzolla's 'Oblivion'.

The imposing sounds of Verdi's 'Dies Irae' were contrasted with the Broadway show anthem of 'You Never Walk Alone', and a segue reprise of 'Brainstorm!' before they rounded things off with pulsating 'Shut up and Dance' arranged by Esme Harper.

"I wanted to provide a different musical challenge for the players, and the pieces that made up the programme certainly did that,"he added. "Everyone is working so hard and it's paid off. It's a huge boost to our collective confidence as we prepare for Stevenage."

Style and character

That ensemble excellence was something that Dr Tom Davoren also spoke of when taking to 4BR after the results. "The Wantage programme was based on an interesting concept, but it worked because of the way in which all the basic elements were in place, allowing the more subtle themes and influences to come through.

There was style and character to the music in its different genres that kept us as judges and I'm sure, the audience, engaged from start to finish."

Tom was also full of praise for the other prize winners as he gave a clear indication of what he had been hoping to hear on the day — especially that balance between musical intention and execution.

What was also noted was that there was not one duplicated item in sets that touched on stories of fantasy, to musical icons, Concorde to the weather and some unusual deviations from the tried and tested — including a 'First World Symphony for Brass Band' and a celebration of the legendary American Route 66.

The entertainment factor was helped greatly by compere David Hayward who added his usual wit and insight much to the enjoyment of the audience, whilst entertainment judge Ryan Watkins also praised the bands for the "excellent standard"of performances that were all "enhanced and not distracted"by use of the extensive use of multi-media presentations and narration.

Early marker

Parc & Dare set the 'Early on a Sunday Morning' marker off the number one draw, with Filton Concert not far behind with their homage to 'Concord at 50' set that saw their 'Best Horn Section' make a notable contribution.

Ebbw Valley then upped the ante, as led by Matt Rowe (and with soprano star Kevin Crockford in the ranks) they produced a polished set entitled 'The Last Airship'. It also featured an outstanding personal contribution from their young RWCM&D euphonium star Oliver Hodgkiss. He deservedly took both the 'Best Euphonium' and 'Best Soloist' awards — the latter for a fine rendition of 'Blind Spot' by Gilles Rocha.

The band also claimed the 'Best Trombone Section' for a third year, but couldn't quite do enough to secure yet another Welsh Open victory. Any disappointment will soon be out to one side as they look towards the Welsh Area Championships in Swansea on March 15th.

Strong performances

Wantage followed to pip them to the post, whilst a strong performance from Goodwick led by Joshua Ruck with their 'Route 66' set (aided by their 'Best Tuba Section') saw them finish third.

Kidlington also gave the judges plenty to think about as the penultimate band with their 'Dinas Emrys: A Welsh Legend' set that saw MD Jonathan Pippen change suits more times than a Welsh Mr Benn to add to the colourful playing.

Elsewhere, Tom King of Brunel Brass took the 'Best Soprano' accolade, as the West of England band also picked up the 'Best Percussion' trophy, with a delighted Tylorstown taking the 'Highest First Section Band not in the Mian Prizes' trophy.

13-year-old Tomos Joseph was presented with the 'Youngest Player' award as a host of prizes were handed out on an excellently run event by Contest Controller Dean Evans and his team of volunteers.

Iwan Fox

Everyone is working so hard and it's paid off. It's a huge boost to our collective confidence as we prepare for StevenageChris King

Results:

Adjudicator: Dr Tom Davoren
Entertainment Award: Ryan Watkins

1. Wantage (Chris King) — 194
2. Ebbw Valley Brass (Matthew Rowe) — 193
3. Goodwick Brass (Joshua Ruck) — 191
4. Filton Concert Brass (Craig Williams) — 190
5. Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths) — 189
6. Kidlington Concert Brass (Jonathan Pippen) — 188
7. City of Cardiff (M1) (Rob Westacott) — 187
8. Tylorstown (Andrew Jones) — 186
9. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall) — 185
10. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins) — 184
11. Lydbrook (Lt Col David Barringer) — 183
12. B.T.M. (Jeff Hutcherson) — 182
13. Forest of Dean Brass (Martyn Patterson) — 181
14. Medway (Alan Gifford) — 180

Awards:

Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: Wantage
Highest Placed First Section Band not in Main Prizes: Tylorstown
Invitation to the 2026 British Open Spring Festival: Filton Concert Brass

Best Soloist: Oliver Hodgkiss (euphonium) — Ebbw Valley
Best Soprano: Tom King (Brunel Brass)
Best Cornet: Russell Jackson (Wantage)
Best Horn Section: Filton Concert Brass
Best Baritone: Imogen Fewster (Wantage)
Best Euphonium: Oliver Hodgkiss (Ebbw Valley)
Best Trombone Section: Ebbw Valley
Best Tuba Section: Goodwick
Best Percussion: Brunel Brass
Youngest Player: Tomos Joseph (BTM)

British Open Spring Festival Senior Trophy invitation: Filton Concert