The final regional contests threw up all sorts of excitement and intrigue around the country on the weekend.
North East:
In Darlington, it really was a question of Childs play, where the MDs of Black Dyke and Cory came head to head to reprise their interpretations of ‘Salute to Youth’ to see who could take the North East title.
After his recent victory in Swansea with Cory, it was the elder brother who came out on top, as Robert directed an impressive EYMS to their first regional victory since 1998.
In doing so he denied his younger brother the chance to claim his first regional success of the season and stopped Reg Vardy from winning an eighth straight victory at the Dolphin Centre.
The result was a reversal of the past two years and confirmed the North Eastern bragging rights on EYMS following their beating of their rivals at the Royal Albert Hall last year and their impressive early season form at Butlins.
Just missing out this year was NASUWT Riverside directed by Ian Robinson who took the final podium spot ahead of Fishburn in 4th, Felling and Lockwood Brass.
In the First Section it was another band that had shown excellent early season form at Butlins that came away with the title, as GT Group Peterlee conducted by Steve Malcolm took the honours ahead of Barton Town, who just missed out on their fourth successive regional title under the baton of Richard Evans.
There was a hat trick however in the Second Section, as Flookburgh conducted by Alan Lewis, added a third regional banner to their collection since their return to contesting in 2007. They will be joined in Harrogate by Houghton’s Brass who posted their first finals qualification since 2003.
In the Third Section it was South Milford who made it two wins in a row by following up their Fourth Section title success last year under the baton of Richard Wilton. They will be joined in North Yorkshire in September by a delighted North Skelton who posted their qualification in what was their first regional contest appearance since 2006.
Finally, in the Fourth Section it was Kirkby Lonsdale who took the title, improving on last year’s runner up spot under conductor Alan Greenwood. They will be joined at Harrogate by Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes, who posted their first qualification just three years after they first competed at the contest.
London & Southern Counties:
There was no denying Redbridge in Stevenage, as the clear favourite at the London Area played to the form that saw them pick up the Butlins Mineworker’s title earlier this season to post a commanding victory.
Directed by Jeremy Wise it gave the band a hat-trick of regional victories and their seventh win in the last nine years. It also yet another impressive warning to rival bands around the country that they will be an outfit to respect at the majors later in the season.
Joining them in Kensington for the first time however will be Zone One Brass, formed just six years ago, who upset the usually predictable musical apple cart by clearly pushing Aveley &Newham out of the second qualification place.
In the First Section victory went to a rejuvenated Norfolk Brass conducted by David Stowell, who posted their first regional victory since 2002 to claim their place at Harrogate. They will joined by Sandhurst Brass who reversed a 7th place last year to book their place under the direction of Ian McElligott.
Another band reprising their recent Butlins form was East London Brass under Jayne Murrill, who won their first Regional title to give them an impressive ‘double’ of contesting success in 2009. They managed to beat off the challenge of fellow qualifiers Yiewsley & West Drayton in second place, who posted their best result at the contest for over a decade, and Fairlop Brass who last qualified in 1998.
St Sebastian Wokingham took the Third Section honours under the direction of L. Woodward to give the band its first title since promotion to the section in 2001. They will be joined in Harrogate by Hungerford Town, who reversed their fortunes in spectacular style after coming 12th last year.
In the mammoth Fourth Section it was Battle Town who won the bras band battle under J. Penton to book their finals place – their first regional title since competing in 2004. They will head for North Yorkshire joined by Wantage Silver B with Jubilee Brass (Oxford) just missing out — both of whom posted their best ever regional contesting results.
There were plenty of thrills and spills in Scotland where it was Scottish Co-op under Russell Gray who took the title and the 2010 European qualification place for Austria4BR
Scotland
There were plenty of thrills and spills in Scotland where it was Scottish Co-op under Russell Gray who took the title and the 2010 European qualification place for Austria.
In a somewhat desperate battle between three top class bands looking to claim just the two qualification places on offer, their performance gave them their first trip to the Albert Hall since 2006 and their 6th title of the 21st century.
Joining them there will be Kirkintilloch conducted by the Norwegian Selmer Simsonsen, who beat off the challenge of Whitburn to reprise their runner up place of last year, whilst the reigning champion directed by Steven Mead missed out.
On what was a good weekend for the Kirkintilloch organisation, it was Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass that won the First Section under Charles Keenan – their first Scottish Championship title. In a high class competition they will joined by Newtongrange who continued their recent rejuvenation under the baton of Nigel Boddice to book a Harrogate appearance just two years after they failed to make it to the contest to compete.
In the Second Section it was Arbroath conducted by Michael Robertson who took the honours – their first title since 2001 and just a year after being relegated from the First Section. They will make the trip south in September with Annan Town, who continued with their impressive progress up through the sections under David Shanks to once again make it to the finals.
A band in real form, Coalburn Silver took the Third Section honours in some style under Gareth Bowman – a result that send the to Harrogate with a first regional title to their name at this level. They will be joined there by Dunfermline Town, who after three consecutive 5th places at the contest in the last three years finally broke their quintuplet curse to make it to the Finals.
Finally, the small fielding the Fourth Section understandably struggled on the difficult set work, but it was a returning Peebles under the direction of Alan Fernie who grabbed their chance to post their fist regional success and a place at Harrogate in September, where they will be joined by Brass Band Inverclyde, who added a second qualification place to the CV of Gareth Bowman on the weekend.
