BTM Band warmed up for their assault on the All England Masters International title in Cambridge next week, by winning the first leg of the 2009 Welsh League Championship on Saturday at Ebbw Vale.

Slightly undercooked

Playing Bruce Broughton’s test piece for the Corn Exchange, ‘Masters of Space and Time’, they produced an understandably slightly undercooked performance to take the RTB Trophy and £200 first prize from Burry Port, with Abergavenny Borough in third.

Tribute

Adjudicator Malcolm Brownbill paid tribute not just to the winners, which he described as ‘having a touch of extra quality and class’, but also to the South East Wales BBA organisers, who despite being thin on numbers on the day, made sure the contest ran smoothly.

Eight bands performed own choice works in the Championship Section, with a number of reprised performances from the Spring Festival on show.

Adjudicator Malcolm Brownbill paid tribute not just to the winners, which he described as ‘having a touch of extra quality and class’, but also to the South East Wales BBA organisers4BR

Confidence boost

Despite Burry Port’s robust account of ‘Pageantry’, which the previous week saw them claim their place back at the Grand Shield (and saw euphonium player Ceri John pick up the Best Instrumentalist Award), it wasn’t enough to stop BTM heading for Cambridge with a timely boost to their confidence under the baton of Tom Davoran.

A delighted Abergavenny took the final podium place with an enjoyable performance of ‘Chivalry’, featuring a fine contribution from Debbie Bull, who claimed the HH Cook Memorial Trophy as ‘Best Horn’ on the day.

Mixed

Elsewhere the contest produced a varied mix of performances, with some tired reprises from Blackpool and the odd poorly chosen work battling it out with some spirited performances from other contenders such as Pontardulais and Markham.

BTM though sound a band capable of mixing it with the top Masters contenders next weekend at the Corn Exchange.

Enjoyable First Section

The enjoyable, if rather short, First Section saw a comprehensive English victory, as welcome visitors Lympstone South West Telecoms produced a bravura account of ‘Epic Symphony’ that took the Mark Constance Trophy by a clear cut 3 point margin.

Javelin

Aided by prize winning contributions from solo cornet Sarah Gray and soprano Paul Luford, Charlie Fleming’s energetic direction (at one point he very nearly impaled the second horn in the head as his baton flew out of hand and almost 20 foot into the air before landing like a javelin) saw them claim the first part of what they hoped would be a weekend double, as they headed to the Weston contest on Sunday.

No whistle

With Brian Buckley taking over the adjudication duties at short notice (so short he had no whistle and had to shout out his readiness from the box!) due to Gareth Pritchard having to leave due to family circumstances, it was Rogerstone who claimed the local bragging rights, beating RAF St Athan to claim the runner up spot.

Their late spring performance of ‘Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden’ brought some well directed colour to what was an overcast and steely grey Ebbw Vale sky, although St Athan’s performance of ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’ was appropriately prefaced by an almighty thunderclap just before they played their first note – much to the amusement of the audience.

Fine performance in Second Section

Earlier in the day, Gareth Pritchard had directed a somewhat rejuvenated Lewis Merthyr to take the Second Section title, with a fine performance of ‘Verona Light’ by Bruce Fraser. The band’s percussion section that took the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize aided the three point winning margin.

Second place went to the fast improving City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) directed by Gareth Ritter, whilst third place in a six band field was claimed by Gwaun Cae Gurwen conducted by Glyn Davies.

Keenly contested Third Section

The keenly contested Third Section saw the first victory of the day to the English, when Pillowell Sliver conducted by Steve Ruck took the Myers & Harrison Trophy after delivering a fine performance of ‘Episodes for Brass’ by Gareth Churcher, which featured the excellent contribution of ‘Best Instrumentalist’, Kate Smith on solo cornet..

A delighted MD told 4BR that the opportunity to play against the Welsh bands was one he had wanted to do for some time, and that he felt it gave an extra competitive edge to his band’s winning performance.

Plenty to enjoy

Adjudicator Malcolm Brownbill had plenty to enjoy in a varied selection of own choice works from the 10 bands, finding much to commend in the overall standard, especially from the winners and podium finishers, Llwydcoed and Pontypool Brass.

Fine playing in Fourth

Although there was a disappointing turn out in the Fourth Section, the three competitors produced some fine playing for Gareth Pritchard to enjoy.

Goodwick Brass conducted by Colin Hogg, showed a great deal of promise with their excellent performance of ‘Anglian Dances’ by Alan Fernie to take the Toby Trophy by a commanding five point margin from Ystradgynlais and Oakdale, and give solo cornet Luke Jenkins the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize.

Encouraging

Encouragingly, the day opened with the Junior Section, where three bands from Blaenavon, Cwmtawe and Tongwynlais showed plenty of endeavour and no little talent in claiming appropriate Silver and Bronze Awards.

Special Awards

The SEWBBA also took the opportunity to award Life Memberships to some of the South Wales banding communities most dedicated members, and there were deserved awards to Billy Taylor of Tylorstown and Ruth Gray of Crosskeys, as well as a special award to SWEBBA Treasurer Joy Russell – all three tremendous servants to the banding movement in Wales.

Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Malcolm Brownbill

1. BTM (Tom Davoren) – 190
2. Burry Port (Craig Roberts) – 189
3. Abergavenny Borough (Gareth Ritter) – 187
4. Newbridge (Celynen) (Rhodri Griffiths) – 186
5. Pontardulais Town (Pet Nutrition) (Paul Jenkins) – 185
6. Markham & District (Adrian Morton) – 183
7. Cwmaman Institute (David Evans) – 181
8. Tylorstown (Gary Davies) – 179

Best Instrumentalist: Ceri John (euphonium) – Burry Port
Best Horn: Debbie Bull — Abergavenny

First Section:
Adjudicator: C. Brian Buckley

1. Lympstone South West Telecoms (Charlie Fleming) – 186
2. Rogerstone (Jamie Jones) – 183
3. RAF St Athan (Alan Bourne) – 181
4. Blaenavon Town (Lyndon Price) – 180

Best Instrumentalist: Sarah Gray (solo cornet) – Lympstone
Best Soprano: Paul Luford – Lympstone

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Malcolm Brownbill

1. Lewis Merthyr (Gareth Pritchard) – 188
2. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Gareth Ritter) – 185
3. Gwaun Cae Gurwen (Glyn Davies) – 183
4. Crosskeys (Kerry Bowden) – 182
5. Ogmore Valley (Ivor Barnett) – 178
6. Ynyshir (Dean Evans) – 176

Best Instrumentalist: Percussion Section – Lewis Merthyr

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Malcolm Brownbill

1. Pillowell (Steve Ruck) – 182
2. Llwydcoed (Carl Saunders) – 180
3. Pontypool Brass (Patrick O’Leary) – 178
4. Newport Borough (Alun Hathaway) – 177
5. Corus (Port Talbot) – (Colin Hogg) – 176
6. Severn Tunnel (Andrea Ayres) – 173
7. Ebbw Vale (Ceri Thomas) – 172
8. Upper Rhondda (Darren Hawkin) – 171
9. Cwmtawe District Youth (Wayne Pedrick) – 170
10. Crwbin (Julian Jones) – 169

Best Instrumentalist: Kate Smith (solo cornet) – Pillowell

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Gareth Pritchard

1. Goodwick Brass (Colin Hogg) – 88
2. Ystradgynlais Public (Philip Williams) – 84
3. Oakdale (Ron Probyn) – 83

Best Instrumentalist: Luke Jenkins (solo cornet) – Goodwick

Junior Section:
Adjudicator: Gareth Pritchard

Silver Awards: Cwmtawe Training (Rhodri Morris) & Tongwynlais Youth (Robin Hackett)
Bronze Award: Blaenavon Town Juniors (Evan Smith)