2009 is starting to turn into a year to remember for Rothwell Temperance Band, after they added the Grand Shield to their burgeoning collection of silverware at the Winter Gardens on Saturday.

Thrilling

Conducted by David Roberts, they gained qualification back to the British Open at the first attempt by producing a performance of Wilfred Heaton’s ‘Contest Music’ that one of the adjudicator’s Nigel Boddice told 4BR, was ‘thrilling’.

The pre contest favourites lived up to their billing from the number 13 draw to give MD David Roberts something of a headache for the rest of the season.

We are delighted at the result. This was the real objective for the seasonMD, David Roberts

Delighted

"We are delighted at the result. This was the real objective for the season," he told 4BR. "But it does mean we have to look at our schedule for the rest of the year. We want to compete at every major contest, but it is going to be expensive for the band."

The band will now have the defence of its Master title, the English Nationals, the British Open and the National finals to consider in the next few months – contests that they will now be short priced contenders to add further honours to their ever growing CV of success.

Welcome headache

It is a welcome headache though for a band that controversially lost its place at the British Open last year, following the demise of the Sellers International Band. After their victory at the Yorkshire Regionals in Bradford, Rothwell confirmed their position as one of the form bands in the UK with a victory in a keenly fought over contest.

Return

Joining them back at the British Open for the first time since 2003 will be Virtuosi GUS conducted by John Berryman.

After a series of near misses at returning to Symphony Hall in the past few years, their early marker off the number 5 draw was enough to repel the challenge of a rejuvenated Mount Charles in third and the fancied Tredegar in fourth, who with principal cornet Dewi Griffiths winning the day’s solo award, were many people’s tip for a possible victory themselves.

Drop

At the other end of the table, and with the withdrawal of Yorkshire Imps, 4BR understands that the three bands, plus Imps to drop into the Senior Cup will be 2006 Grand Shield champions Aveley & Newham, Kibworth and North of England Regionals champions, EYMS.

Cup victory

In the Senior Cup there was delight for Glyn Williams and Marsden Silver after they delivered a scorching performance off the early number 4 draw on ‘Pageantry’ to claim the top prize and move a step closer to the British Open.

Deserved

MD Glyn Williams told 4BR: "I’m delighted for the band. They have worked so hard for this. It’s such a great piece to play and I thought we deserved it today."

It was Marsden’s second successive promotion at the Spring Festival following their 3rd place in the Senior Cup last year.

Jousts

The victory also saw the band’s principal cornet player Jason Evans pick up the individual soloists award for his excellent contribution which included a rousing opening to the famous ‘Jousts’ finale.

Joining Marsden at the Grand shield will be the in form Skelmanthorpe, who confirmed their rise to championship status with a comfortable runners –up placing, whilst there was delight for the travelling Scottish contingent as Kingdon Brass took third place with a rousing performance as last band of the day.

The final qualification place went to another Celtic band with Burry Port making a rapid return to the Grand Shield after their relegation last year.

Clearest victory

In the Senior Trophy the clearest victory of the Spring Festival came with United Norwest Co-op Milnrow conducted by John Ward.

4BR understands that their emphatic victory was ‘quite a few points clear’ according to the judges, on Gilbert Vinter’s ‘Spectrum’.

Strong

After a strong performance at the North West Regional Cham[pionships earlier in the year, Norwest stamped their class on the rest of the field to move a step closer to the British Open. The band's euphonium player Adam Snape also picked up the individual solo award for his excellent contribution to the win.

They will be joined in the Senior Cup next year by NASUWT Riverside who gained promotion on their fourth attempt at the contest, a delighted debutant in Derwent Brass, and the Irish travellers of Laganvale.

Awaiting fates

At the other end of the table, the sextet of Mossley, Besses, Point of Ayr, Easington Colliery, Newbridge Celynen and Felling will have to wait to see if they will drop out of the contest structure for 2010.

The Grand Shield:

The Opera House
Test Piece: Contest Music — Wilfred Heaton
Adjudicators: William Relton & Nigel Boddice

Results

1. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts), 13
2. Virtuosi GUS (John Berryman), 5
3. Mount Charles (Andrew Duncan), 8
4. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse), 18
5. Flowers (Garry Cutt), 11
6. Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley), 3
7. Bactiguard Wire Brass (Paul Andrews), 7
8. Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones), 4
9. Reg Vardy (Russell Gray), 10
10. Redbridge (Jeremy Wise), 15
11. Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligott), 9
12. Pemberton Old Wigan JJB (Mark Bentham), 14
13. Freckleton (Gareth Pritchard), 19
14. Wingates (John Hinckley), 16
15. Jaguar (Coventry) (Dave Lea), 1
16. Tongwynlais Temperance (Philip Harper), 12
17. East Yorkshire Motor Services (Frans Violet), 6
18. Kibworth (John Hudson), 2
19. Aveley & Newham (Nigel Taken), 17

Withdrew: Yorkshire Imperial Urquart Travel (Richard Evans)

Soloist Prize: Solo Cornet — Tredegar: Dewi Griffiths

The Senior Cup

The Pavilion Theatre
Test Piece: Pageantry — Herbert Howells
Adjudicators: Frank Renton & Dr. Roger Webster

Results

1. Marsden Silver Prize (Glyn Williams), 4
2. Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts), 7
3. Kingdom Brass (Craig Anderson), 20
4. Burry Port (Craig Roberts), 19
5. Fishburn (Alan Morrison), 5
6. SWT Woodfalls (Dr Nicholas Childs), 16
7. Powerfuel Hatfield Colliery (Graham O'Connor), 18
8. Staffordshire (Huw Thomas), 15
9. Bo'ness & Carriden (Steve Sykes), 8
10. Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles), 14
11. Ashton-under-Lyne (Martyn Evans), 10
12. Dalmellington (Archie Hutchison), 17
13. Cwmaman Institute Silver (David Evans), 3
14. Stocksbridge (Miles Davison) 11
15. United Co-op Crewe (Jef Sparkes), 2
16. Unison Kinneal (Paul Drury), 9
17. Aldbourne (Melvin White), 12
18. Bournemouth Concert Brass (Jonathan Camps), 13
19. Knottingley Silver (Dr Owen Wedgwood, 6
20. Lindley (Nick Payne), 1

Soloist Prize: Solo Cornet — Marsden Silver Prize: Jason Evans

The Senior Trophy

The Spanish Hall
Test Piece: Spectrum — Gilbert Vinter
Adjudicators: Malcolm Brownbill & David Read

Results

1. United Norwest Co-op Milnrow (John Ward), 12
2. NASUWT Riverside (Ian Robinson), 4
3. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard), 8
4. Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Ernest Ruddock), 16
5. Beaumaris (Gwyn Evans), 15
6. Glossop Old (Phil Pavey), 6
7. Camborne Town (Kevin Mckenzie), 14
8. Wantage Silver A BAND (Phillip Bailey), 13
9. Blackburn and Darwen (Nick Sheppard), 20
10. Yorkshire Co-op (Simon Kerwin), 3
11. Johnstone Silver (Raymond Tennant), 11
12. Northop (Thomas Wyss), 1
13. Friary Guildford Brass (Chris King), 5
14. Wrexham Brass (Wayne Ruston), 10
15. Felling (Graeme Tindall), 19
16. Newbridge Celynen (Rhodri Griffiths), 9
17. Easington Colliery Brass (Ray Farr), 18
18. Point of Ayr (Dr Roy Newsome), 7
19. Besses O`th Barn (Carl Whiteoak), 2
20. Mossley (Duncan Byers), 17

Soloist Prize: Solo Euph — United Norwest Co-op Milnrow: Adam Snape