There surely could not have been a better place to be in the banding world than at the 90th West of England Bandsman’s Festival in Bugle on the weekend.
Blue sky
With the sun beating down from the clear blue sky, the picturesque Cornish village was packed with players, supporters and visitors for a full day of wonderful outdoor music making.
Molinnis Park was a hub of excitement as 30 bands thrilled the appreciative audience, whilst the traditional march to and from the village once again brought a touch of Whit Friday flavour to the event.
As well as the regular Cornish competitors, there were bands from Oxford, Somerset, Hampshire and Gloucestershire, with the young stars of tomorrow in the excellent Youth and Training bands making a significant impact with their undiluted enthusiasm.
Royal winners
The top Championship honours went to Camborne Town, directed by Kevin Mackenzie, who claimed the famous Royal Trophy for a record 37th time thanks to a well constructed performance of Edward Gregson’s ‘Connotations’.
The band’s sop player Les Kneebone, solo horn Joanna Scott and the bass quartet of Matthew Julian, Lee Trewhela, James Sturgess and Garry Giles took individual awards for their fine contributions to the victory, with Lee Wilde of St Dennis claiming the ‘Best Solo Cornet’ trophy.
The keenly fought march prize went to St Dennis’s spirited delivery of ‘The Contestor’, ahead of St Austell and Camborne.
Impressed
Adjudicator Ian Porthouse was impressed by the playing on show, with the eventual winners pushed all the way by rivals St Dennis and defending champion St Austell.
"There was some good playing in all sections," the Tredegar MD told 4BR. "There was a wonderful atmosphere about the whole day and the bands showed great commitment and quality on some tricky test piece choices.
You could certainly hear why the West of England area is producing such fine bands and players."
Colourful Roche
Roche Brass certainly enjoyed themselves under the baton of Garry Cutt, as they took the First Section title (as well as the hymn tune prize) by a clear three point margin thanks to an appropriately colourful performance of Gilbert Vinter’s ‘Spectrum’, aided by the ‘Best Euphonium’ playing of Robert Jose.
Yeovil Town delivered a solid account to come second, with Pendennis Brass a point further back in third.
Evocative Bodmin
John Maines used all his experience as he led Bodmin Town to the Second Section title with a fine rendition of Simon Dobson’s evocative ‘Penlee’, as they claimed a clear three point margin of victory over Forest of Dean Brass and Bugle Silver.
Jubilee & Camborne
Meanwhile, welcome visitors Jubilee Brass (Oxford) took the Third Section honours in equally commanding fashion with a fine performance of ‘St Austell Suite’ under the baton of Clifford Sadler, whilst Cheltenham bound Camborne Junior Contesting won the Fourth Section under the direction of Alan Pope with a cracking performance of ‘Little Suite for Brass’.
The next generation or two of talented Cornish players was certainly on display on the day, as adjudicator David Marshall enjoyed some cracking performances in the Youth and Training Sections.
Youth stars
Both the ensemble and individual playing was of the highest quality as Mount Charles Youth conducted by Jane Whitehead claimed the Youth title ahead of St Austell Youth and St Dennis Youth, whilst St Stythians took the Training honours ahead of Soundhouse and St Newlyn East.
Young trombone star Daniel Sloggett of Mount Charles, cornet player Jacob Griffiths of St Austell, percussionist Tobias Evans and cornet player Oscar Wells of St Stythians, certainly wowed the audience with their prize winning playing skills, whilst the excellent duo of Megan Thomas of Bugle and Thomas Howard of St Austell were presented with A R Trudgian Youth Awards.
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Porthouse
Test Piece: Connotations (Edward Gregson)
1. Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie) - 193
2. St Dennis (Darren Hawken) - 192
3. St Austell Town (Melvin White) - 191
March:
The Contestor (T J Powell)
1. St Dennis (Darren Hawken) - 193
2. St Austell Town (Melvin White) - 192
3. Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie)—191
Best Player Award: Lee Wilde (cornet) - St Dennis
First Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Porthouse
Test Piece: Spectrum (Gilbert Vinter)
1. Roche Brass (Gary Cutt) - 194
2. Yeovil Town (David Hayward) - 191
3. Pendennis Brass (Steve Thomas) - 190
Hymn:
Colne (Thomas Rive)
1. Roche Brass (Gary Cutt) - 193
2. Yeovil Town (David Hayward) - 190
3. Pendennis Brass (Steve Thomas) - 189
Best Player Award: Kevin Robbins (cornet) - Yeovil Town
Second Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Porthouse
Test Piece: Penlee (Simon Dobson)
1. Bodmin Town (John Maines) - 192
2. Forest of Dean Brass (Chris Howley) - 189
3. Bugle Silver (Jeremy Willcock) - 188
Hymn:
Alleluya-Sing to Jesus (arr. Philip Wilby)
1. Forest of Dean Brass (Chris Howle) - 188
2. Bodmin Town (John Maines) - 187
3. Bugle Silver (Jeremy Willcock) - 186
Best Player Award: Craig Wintle (cornet) - Forest of Dean Brass.
Third Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Porthouse
Test Piece: St Austell Suite (Kenneth Downie)
1. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) (Clifford Sadler) - 190
2. Heyl Town (Shaun Marsden) - 187
3. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) - 186
Best Player Award: Laura Matthews (flugel) - Heyl
Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Porthouse
Test Piece: Little Suite for Brass Band No.1 (Malcolm Arnold)
1. Camborne Junior Contesting (Alan Pope) - 188
2. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman) -186
3. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) (Clifford Sadler) - 184
Best Player Award: Abbey Roberts (cornet) - Camborne Junior Contesting
Youth Section:
Adjudicator: David Marshall
Own Choice
1. Mount Charles Youth (Jane Whitehead) - 180
2. St Austell Youth (Mark Arnold) - 178
3. St Dennis Youth (Rachael Sargent) - 170
Best Players Awards:
Daniel Sloggett (trombone) - Mount Charles Youth
Jacob Griffiths (cornet) - St Austell
E J Williams Memorial Trophy to the Winning Conductor: Jane Whitehead
Training Section:
10 minutes Own Choice
1. St Stythians (Lisa Burns) - 175
2. Soundhouse (Gary Thompson) -170
3. St Newlyn East (Barry Skinner) -165
Best Player Awards:
Tobias Evans (percussion) - St Stythians
Oscar Wells (cornet) - St Stythians
Special Awards: (open to all section)
Best Soprano: Les Kneebone (Camborne Town)
Best Solo Cornet: Lee Wilde (St Dennis)
Best Euphonium: Robert Jose (Roche Brass)
Best Solo Horn: Joanna Scott (Camborne Town)
Best Set of Basses: Matthew Julian, Lee Trewhela, James Sturgess, Gary Giles (Camborne Town)A R Trudgian Youth Awards:
Megan Thomas (Bugle) & Thomas Howard (St Austell)Deportment Class:
Judge: Gareth Roberts MBE
1. Okehampton Excelsior Silver
2. Bugle Silver
Megan Thomas (Bugle) & Thomas Howard (St Austell)