Tredegar continued its excellent 2008 form at Wychavon on the weekend by taking the entertainment honours by a clear three point winning margin to secure the £1,500 top prize and give themselves a timely boost ahead of the National Finals in October.

Conducted by Ian Porthouse the band opened with 'Marta's Dance', followed by the cornet solo 'The Paragon' played by principal cornet Dewi Griffiths. The percussion feature 'Duel'in Xylos' won the individual percussion prize, before they rounded off their programme with the 'Fugue' from 'Graduation Day'.

It was more than enough to repel the challenge of Mark Bentham and Pemberton Old Wigan JJB who picked up a well deserved runners up spot ahead of Staines Brass4BR

Repel

It was more than enough to repel the challenge of Mark Bentham and Pemberton Old Wigan JJB who picked up a well deserved runners up spot ahead of Staines Brass. Principal cornet Joanne Johnson of Pemberton took the 'Best Soloist' prize.

These three bands certainly made a mark on adjudicator Kenneth Dennison with fourth placed Tongwynlais ending up a further four points behind, with the former MD at Fairey telling the audience that he felt a number of bands fell foul of overblowing.

First Section:

In a closely contested First Section victory went to the fancied Friary Guildford Band conducted by Chris King with a programme that started with 'Gavorkna Fanfare' and was followed by 'Pantomime' featuring euphonium Andrew Porter, 'Liszteria' by Sandy Smith and finished with Chris King's recent composition 'Diversions on a Welsh Theme'.

Andrew deservedly took the solo honours, whilst Foresters Brass 2000 took the percussion award.

Pushing Friary the closest was Vernon Building Society Poynton conducted by Kevin Gibbs, whilst third place was taken by Otterbourne Brass just a week before their Harrogate Finals appearance.

Second Section:

Strata Brass confirmed that they are a band to look out for on the entertainment stage with a commanding four point winning margin in the Second Section. Conducted by David Hirst they took the £750 top prize ahead of Porthwyaen Silver with East London Brass a point further back in third.

Carol Stokes of Porthwyaen took the solo honours with Strata's percussion taking the percussion trophy.

Third Section:

The Third Section title headed to Yorkshire with Emley Brass conducted by Gary Hallas just pipping Ynyshir Band and Hungerford to the £600 top prize.

Emley started their programme with 'Battle Hymn of the Republic', and folowed it with 'Birdland', 'Nellie the Elephant' (complete with vocals), 'The Teddy Bear's Picnic' and finishing with 'Conquest of Paradise'.

Fourth Section:

Finally, the Fourth Section saw Bratton Silver take the honours and the £500 top prize in fine style ahead of Newport Borough and Royston Town.

Results:
Championship Section:

1. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)- 198
2. Pemberton Old Wigan JJB (Mark Bentham) — 195
3. Staines Brass (Melvin White) — 194
4. Tongwynlais Temperance (Philip Harper) — 190
5. Lydbrook (Ian Holmes) — 187
6. Kidlington Concert (Dave Barringer) — 186
7. Cwmaman Institute (Nigel Seaman) — 185
8. Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss) — 181
9. Hyde (Ivan Hutchinson) — 180
10. United Co-op Milnrow (John Ward) — 179

Solo Award: Joanne Johnson, cornet. (Pemberton Old)
Percussion Award: Tredegar
Adjudicator: Kenneth Dennison

First Section:

1. Friary Guildford (Chris King) — 192
2. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Kevin Gibbs) — 191
3. Otterbourne Brass (Lt.Col. Chris Davis) — 190
4. Sandhurst Silver (Ian McElligott) — 189
5. Shirley Band (Dave Lea) — 188
6. Foresters Brass 2000 (Peter Collins) — 187
7. Bedworth Brass (Stephen Tighe) — 186
8. Pontardulais (Paul Jenkins) — 185
9. Markham & District (Adrian Morton) — 184
10. Ocean Brass (Russell Young) — 182
11. Brackley & District (David Richards) — 182
12. Ibstock Brick Brass (Ken Ferguson) — 180

Best Soloist: Andrew Porter, euphonium. (Friary Guildford)
Best Percussion: Foresters Brass 2000
Adjudicator: Roy Sparkes

Second Section:

1. Strata Brass (David Hirst) — 190
2. Porthwyaen Silver (Mark Parry) — 186
3. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill) — 185
4. The Band Of West Mercia Constabulary (Steve Pritchard-Jones) — 183
5. City Of Coventry (Stephen Cooper) — 182
6. Stourport On Severn (Mike West) — 181
7. Lewis Methyr (Gareth Pritchard) — 180
8. Oddfellows Brass (Robert Boulter) — 179

Best Soloist: Carol Stokes, cornet. (Porthwyaen Silver)
Best Percussion: Strata Brass
Adjudicator: Ken Dennison

Third Section:

1. Emley Brass (G. Hallas) — 183
2. Ynyshir Band (Clarity Solutions) (Dean A Evans) — 182
3. Hungerford Town (Tim Crouter) — 181
4= Wem Jubilee (Roger Thorne) — 180
4= Cubbington Silver (Paul Johnson) — 180
6. Avonbank (Evesham)(Nick Smith) — 179
7. A.W.Parker (Drybrook)(Kevin White) — 178

Best Soloist: Derek Andrews, euphonium. (Ynyshir)
Best Percussion: Emley Brass
Adjudicator: Roy Sparkes

Fourth Section:

1. Bratton Silver (Maria Fricker) — 183
2. Newport Borough (Alun Hathaway) — 182
3. Royston Town (Steve Earley) — 181
4. Coleshill Town (Stephen Fagg) — 180
5. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Ian Knapton) — 179
6. Malvern Hills & District (John Swindells) — 178
7. Ratby Co-Operative 'Mid' Band (Geoff Newman) — 178
8. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech) — 176
9. Bletchington Silver (Nigel Hall) — 175
10. Denton Brass (Jonathon P Davies) — 175
11 Cheltenham Silver (Matthew Earl) — 174

Best Soloist: Hazel Duncan, flugel. (Malvern Hills & District)
Best Percussion: Newport Borough
Adjudicator: Brian Buckley