There was a good turn out of bands at Treorchy on the weekend where the Welsh League titles were up for grabs.

In the Championship Section it was BTM who took the contest honours with a reprise performance of 'Rococo Variations' from their recent British Open appearance.

Conducted by Tom Davoran it gave the band a clear two point winning margin over second placed Burry Port Town, with Tongwynlais Temperance in third.

That final podium spot though was just enough to give Tongwynlais the Welsh League title ahead of Newbridge (Celynen), who came fourth on the day4BR

Title winners

That final podium spot though was just enough to give Tongwynlais the Welsh League title ahead of Newbridge (Celynen), who came fourth on the day.

Results:
Championship Section:

1. BTM (Tom Davoran) — 193pts
2. Burry Port Town (Craig Roberts) — 191pts
3. Tongwynlais Temperance (Philip Harper) — 188pts
4. Newbridge (Celynen) (Paul Holland) — 187pts
5. Abergavenny Borough (Gareth Ritter) — 186pts
6. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins) — 185pts
7. Tylorstown (Gary Davies)- 184pts

Best Instrumentalist: Ceri John (Euphonium) Burry Port Town
Best Trombone: Jonathan Pippen (BTM)
Best Bass Section: BTM

2008 Welsh League Champions: Tongwynlais Temperance
Runners Up: Newbridge (Celynen)

First Section:

In the First Section, the days top prize went to Markham & District conducted by Adrian Morton for their performance of ‘Hostile Skies’ by Peter Graham. The victory also confirmed their Welsh League title success too, ahead of RAF St Athan, who could only manage third place on the day.

Runners up at the contest was Penclawdd Brass conducted by Tony Small with their performance of ‘English Heritage’.

1. Markham & District (Adrian Morton) – 190pts
2. Penclawdd Brass (Tony Small) – 189pts
3. RAF St Athan Vol (Alan Bourne) — 187pts
4. Rogerstone ( Jamie Jones) – 186pts
5. Briton Ferry (Christian Jenkins) — 185
6. Ammanford Town (Ceri John) — 184

Best Instrumentalist: Solo Cornet (Penclawdd Brass)

2008 Welsh League Champions: Markham & District
Runners up: RAF St. Athan Vol

Second Section:

The Second Section Welsh League title was won on fine style by Blaenavon Town, as they confirmed their position at the head of the field with a clear cut win on the day.

Their performance of ‘Dimension’ by Peter Graham gave them the title ahead of season long rivals Ynyshir who took the runners up honours. Third place went to Crosskeys.

1. Blaenavon Town (Lyndon Price) – 186pts
2. Ynyshir (Dean Evans) – 184pts
3. Crosskeys (Kerry Bowden) — 182 pts
4. Gwaun Cae Gurwen (Glyn R. Davie) – 181pts
5. Ogmore Valley (Ivor Barnett) – 180pts
6. Llwydcoed (Rhodri Griffiths) – 179pts
7. Lewis Merthyr (Fred Nicholas) – 178pts

Best instrumentalist: Evan Smith — euphonium (Blaenavon Town)

2008 Welsh League Champions: Blaenavon Town
Runners Up: Ynyshir

Third Section:

There was a commanding victory on the day and in the race for the Welsh League title by City of Cradiff (Melingriffith) in the Third Section.

Their performance of the recent Nationals test piece ‘Suite for Brass’ gave the band a clear cut victory by three points to give them the overall title with something to spare too.

Runners up were the fast emerging Upper Rhondda, conducted by Eugene Monteith, with a fine rendition of ‘A Malvern Suite’, to claim the runners up spot on the day and throughout the year. Third place at the contest went to a resurgent Crwbin playing ‘Roman Triptych’.

1. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Gareth Ritter) – 184pts
2. Upper Rhondda (Eugene Monteith) – 181pts
3. Crwbin (Rhys Davies) – 179pts
4. Pontypool (Patrick O' Leary) – 178pts
5. Newport Borough (Alun Hathaway) – 177pts
6. Ebbw Vale Town (Ceri Thomas) – 176pts

Best Instrumentalist: Alexander Rees — soprano (City of Cardiff (Melingriffith))

2008 Welsh League Champions: City of Cardiff (Melingriffith)
Runners Up: Upper Rhondda

Fourth Section:

Finally in the Fourth Section, Corus (Port Talbot) took the honours on the contest day with a fine performance of ‘Songs and Dances’ by Allan Street, but it was second placed Cwmtawe Youth who took the overall honours and the Welsh League title, after their performance of ‘Chorale and Variations’ was enough to pip rivals Ystradgynalis into third place.

1. Corus (Port Talbot) (Colin Hogg) – 180pts
2. Cwmtawe District Youth (Wayne Pedrick) – 177pts
3. Ystradgynlais (Phillip Williams) – 175pts

Best Instrumentalist: Elaine Williams — flugel (Corus (Port Talbot))

2008 Welsh League Champion: Cwmtawe District Youth
Runners Up: Ystradgynlais

Junior Section:

The continuing long term development of banding in Wales saw two enthusiastic and encouraging performances from the competitors in the Junior Section, where Cwmtawe Youth made it a Golden double with Tongwynlais Youth also picking up a well deserved Gold Award too.

Cwmtawe Traning (Wayne Pedrick) — Gold Award
Tongwynlais Youth (Robin Hackett) — Gold Award

Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt and Peter Roberts