New Forest Brass

We had a great time competing in the Third Section final of the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain. Our weekend was very enjoyable, involving much cake, curry, nail painting and general merriment. Most of the band stayed over from Friday until Monday at a group of holiday cottages near the venue at Cheltenham racecourse. Thanks to Ian and Ali for organising the accommodation and food!

We worked hard over the summer to prepare the test piece, Ewald's 'Symphony for Brass', and played reasonably well despite a slow start. While it was a shame we didn't finish higher than 15th, we were very pleased to be taking part in the final at all! We are discovering that the adjudicators are becoming less forgiving as we rise through the sections, so some things to work on as we prepare for the second section next year. Guy's moustache made a more favourable impression though!

Third Section
Date: Sunday 21st September 2014
Venue: The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse
Test Piece: 'Symphony for Brass' - Victor Ewald, arr. Michael Hopkinson
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy and John Winterflood

Result: (Band, Conductor, Region, Draw):

1. Ebbw Valley Brass, Gareth Ritter, Wales, 10
2. Dunaskin Doon, Gary Williams, Scotland, 6
3. Norfolk Wherry, Andrew Craze, London & Southern Counties, 13
4. Darwen Brass, Steve Hartley, North West, 3
5. Rushden Town, John Hudson, Midlands, 15
6. Grimsdyke, Sharon Broughall, London & Southern Counties, 5
7. Foss Dyke, Gareth Westwood, Midlands, 12
8. East Riding of Yorkshire, Ian Scott, North of England, 7
9. City of Chester, Philip Mottershead, North West, 11
10. Old Hall Brass, John North, North West, 14
11. Ammanford Town, Glyn Davies, Wales, 4
12. Tullis Russell Mills Intermediate, Steven Craig, Scotland, 16
13. Dinnington Colliery, Jonathan Beatty, Yorkshire, 2
14. Wetherby and District Silver, Keiron Anderson, Yorkshire, 18
15. New Forest Brass, Ian Luxford, West of England, 8
16. Bratton Silver, Simon Carr, West of England, 1
17. Newhall, Kevin Holdgate, Midlands, 9
18. Ellington Colliery, Jonathan Fenwick, North of England, 17

Best Instrumentalist: Soprano - Ebbw Valley Brass

4barsrest report

Adjudicators' remarks