The Harry and Margaret Mortimer Championship

Sunday 26 October
Test-piece: Cloudcatcher Fells, John McCabe

Start: 10.00am
Venue: The Ballroom
Adjudicators: David Read and Derek Broadbent

Sovereign rules on Cloudcatcher

Echoes of one of the great brass band contest winning performances were just about heard at Prestatyn on Sunday evening, when Major Peter Parkes led Sovereign Brass to the Harry & Margaret Mortimer Championship.

Memories of the Major’s reading of ‘Cloudcatcher Fells’ with Black Dyke to win the National Championships in 1985 came flooding back, as he rolled back the years to lead Sovereign to their second Pontins top section title. Amazingly, it also gave the Major his first ever Pontins win of his illustrious career.

Although Sovereign’s performance in the Fun Factory Ballroom may not have quite hit the great heights of Dyke’s classic win, it was still a very high class rendition of a test piece that caused no end of trouble for the competing bands on the day.

Sovereign’s euphonium player Mark Hadlington picked up the Arthur Bedwell ‘Best Instrumentalist Trophy’ for his excellent contribution to the winning rendition.

Overall it was also a band performance that was more than good enough in the eyes of the judges David Read and Derek Broadbent to give the Midlanders the £2,500 top prize, ahead of a strong challenge from the in form Bactiguard Wire Brass and reigning champion, Powerfuel Hatfield.

The remaining top six places went to Staffordshire, Tongwynlais Temperance and Northop Silver.

Memories of the Major’s reading of ‘Cloudcatcher Fells’ with Black Dyke to win the National Championships in 1985 came flooding back, as he rolled back the years to lead Sovereign to their second Pontins top section title4BR

Results:

1. Sovereign Brass, Major P. Parkes, 8
2. Bactiguard Wire Brass, P. Andrews, 21
3. Powerfuel Hatfield, G. O’Connor, 9
4. Staffordshire, H. Thomas, 5
5. Tongwynlais Temperance, P. Harper, 15
6. Northop Silver, T. Wyss, 1
7. Fishburn, P. Rosier, 12
8. Marsden Silver (Ossett Brewery), G. Williams, 11
9. Felling, G. Tindall, 3
10. Wantage Silver ‘A’, P. Bailey, 13
11. Stocksbridge, D. Nesbitt, 4
12. Enderby, J. Mott, 7
13. Derwent Brass, K. Leonard, 18
14. Wrexham Brass, W. Ruston, 19
15. Milton Keynes Brass, P. Fensom, 10
16. Cwmaman Institute Silver, N. Seaman, 16
17. Lindley, N. Jowett, 17

Arthur Bedwell Memorial Trophy winner: Mark Hadlington, Euphonium Sovereign
Youngest Player: Daniel Willis, Wantage

Burry Port Town, 14, w
Easington Colliery, 2, S. Gray, w
Stockport Brass, 6, M. Fowles, w
Zone One Brass, 20, P. Archibald, w

First Section:

Saturday 25 October
Test-piece: Sinfonietta for Brass Band – ‘The Wayfarer’, Eric Ball

Start: 10.00am
Venue: The Ballroom
Adjudicators: Malcolm Brownbill and Colin Hardy

Risk taking pays off for Ashton

Almost a decade after they last tasted victory at Pontins, Ashton under Lyne, conducted by Martyn Evans has won the First Section title for a second time here in Prestatyn.

With a powerfully coloured rendition of ‘Sinfonietta – The Wayfarer’, described by the adjudicators Colin Hardy and Malcolm Brownbill as, ‘…taking risks, but delivering a very musical performance’, the North West outfit picked up the £1,800 top prize ahead of a delighted duo of St Dennis in second and Chalford in third.

Ashton last won the First Section title back in 1999 and have been rebuilding of late. On a day when the test piece found all the bands out, both technically and musically, their penultimate performance in an 18 band field, although not error free, found favour with the men in the box.

That was the story with all the bands throughout the day in a very uneven quality contest. Pre contest favourites Skelmanthorpe could only manage fourth place, with VBS Poynton producing a strong performance as the final band on the day to come fifth. The final top six place was taken by Hebden Bridge who kicked off the contest at 10.00am off the number 1 draw.

Results:

1. Ashton-under-Lyne, M. Evans, 19
2. St. Dennis, B. Minear, 5
3. Chalford Band, S. Tubb, 8
4. Skelmanthorpe, J. Roberts, 6
5. Vernon Building Society Poynton, K. Gibbs, 20
6. Hebden Bridge, D. Hadfield, 1
7. Blackburn & Darwen, N. Sheppard, 10
8. Friary Guildford Brass, C. King, 12
9. Jackfield, Elcock Reisen, J. Maines, 14
10. Lochgelly Band, P. Drury, 8
11. Drighlington, K. Belcher, 15
12. Wakefield Metropolitan, N. Law, 2
13. Brackley & District, D. Richards, 9
14. Langley, C. Parker, 3
15. Tyldesley Band, R. Taylor, 4
16. Ibstock Brick Brass, K. Ferguson, 17
17. Barnsley Building Society, R. Gray, 13
18. Bedworth Brass, S. Tighe, 16

Glossop Old, J. Davies, 11, w
Mid-Rhondda Band, C. Hogg, 7, w

Youngest player award — Jordon Grant Chalford Band (12yrs)

Second Section:

Sunday 26 October
Test-piece: A Royal Mile Suite, Alan Fernie

Start: 9.00am
Venue: Lunar’s Hall
Adjudicators: Malcolm Brownbill and Colin Hardy

Double celebration for Haslingden

It was a double celebration in the Second Section as Haslingden & Helmshore added the Pontins title to the Butlins Mineworkers crown they won in Skegness earlier in the year.

Their committed performance of Alan Fernie’s ‘A Royal Mile Suite’ gave them victory and the £1,800 top prize over local rivals Rainford and the fancied Point of Ayr in third.

Adjudicator’s Malcolm Brownbill and Colin Hardy spoke of the need to enhance the basics of good brass playing with an eye to tempi – something not too many bands did on the day as the final march section of the piece, reminiscent of ‘Pines of Rome,’ saw many bands trudge wearily to the final few bars of the piece.

Not so the winners whose brisk march to the title was enhanced by solid ensemble playing and secure soloists.

The final top six placings went to Tylorstown, Tullis Russell Mills and Oddfellow Brass.

Results:

1. Haslingden & Helmshore, D. Holland, 7
2. Rainford, N. Samuel, 13
3. Point of Ayr Colliery, G. Evans, 11
4. Tylorstown, G. Davies, 8
5. Tullis Russell Mills, J. Hinckley, 4
6. Oddfellows Brass, R. Boulter, 1
7. United Co-op 2000 Brass, J. Meredith, 6
8. Llwydcoed, R. Griffiths, 12
9. Kippax, R. Gray, 9
10. Thundersley, R. Morris, 5
11. Stalybridge Old, J. Lewis, 3
12. Clifton & Lightcliffe, J. Clay, 10
13. Dearham, G. J. Williams, 2

Youngest Player: Joe Selson, Clifton and Lightcliffe

Third Section:

Saturday 25 October
Test-piece: Sinfonietta, Joseph Horovitz

Start: c.2.00pm
Venue: Lunar’s Hall
Adjudicators: Philip Harper and Roy Sparkes

Return to victory for Oldham

Meanwhile, after the disappointment of missing out at the National Finals at Harrogate, this time there was plenty to celebrate for Oldham (Lees) after they took the Third Section title and the £1,800 top prize.

Adjudicators Roy Sparkes and Philip Harper commented that the top two bands on the day were ‘outstanding’ and managed to produce performances of Joseph Horovitv’s ‘Sinfonietta’ that had the essential basics, plus the added ingredients of balance, detail and control.

The other band to master the work was second placed Bream Silver, whilst third place went to Skelmersdale. The final top six placings went to Pemberton Old JJB Wigan B, Crofton Silver and Greenalls.

A special mention was made to Oldham MD, John Collins’ ‘forensic approach’ to bringing the detail out of the score, which was instrumental in the judges minds in securing the band their third Pontins title in the last four years.

Results:

1. Oldham, Lees Band, J. Collins, 3
2. Bream Silver, H. Cole, 9
3. Skelmersdale Prize Band, J. Ludden, 11
4. Pemberton Old Wigan JJB “B”, P. Ashley, 10
5. Crofton Silver, T. Sidwell, 8
6. Greenalls, C. Stott, 6
7. Ogmore Valley Silver, I. Barnett, 7
8. Hawk Green, Marple, A. Wilson, 12
9. Flixton, C. Whiteoak, 1
10. Dronfield CMW, A. Needham, 2
11. Rhyl Silver, P. A. Copeman, 5

Wellington, Telford, S. Curtis, 4, w

Youngest player award — David Crowe Bream Silver (10yrs)

Fourth Section:

Saturday 25 October
Test-piece: An Elgar Portrait, Dan Price

Start: 9.00am
Venue: Lunar’s Hall
Adjudicators: David Read and Derek Broadbent

Uppermill draw first blood

Earlier in the day there was a well deserved victory for Uppermill in the Fourth Section, with a strong performance off the number 1 draw that couldn’t be matched by the rest of the 14 band field.

It gave the North West band revenge over reigning National Champions Lostock Hall Memorial, who on this occasion had to be content coming runner-up, as well as ensuring they retained their Pontins title and pocketed the top prize of £1,800.

An ecstatic MD Alan Widdop told 4BR: “It’s a great result for the band. We have worked so hard in the past few months and it makes up for Harrogate.”

Third place on the day want to Hazel Grove from Stockport, whilst the remaining top six places went to Farnworth & Walkden, Denton Brass and Greenfield.

The strength of North West banding was shown by the fact that the first nine bands in the field came from the region.

Results:

1. Uppermill, A. Widdop, 1
2. Lostock Hall Memorial, J. Wood, 7
3. Hazel Grove, N. Beasley, 10
4. Farnworth & Walkden, P. Ashley, 4
5. Denton Brass, J. P. Davies, 3
6. Greenfield, S. Black, 9
7. Besses Boys, J. Holt, 2
8. Cheshire Constabulary, D. Woollam, 13
9. Eccles Borough, L. Webb, 11
10. Newhall, K. Holdgate, 5
11. Blackley, A. Smith, 14
12. Coppull & Standish, A. Baker, 12
13. Newport Borough Brass, A. Hathaway, 8
14. Ebbw Vale Town, C. Thomas, 15

Spinnaker Brass, D. Jones, 6, w

Youngest player award — George Mitchell Besses Boys (7yrs)