How can we sum up the band’s achievements at the Nationals this year?
Royal Albert Hall (*)
Well first of all we have to look at an entire year of ups and downs on the contest front for the band.
Off to a good start…
We of course started the year in splendid form at the Yorkshire Area competition, with Russell Gray leading the band in an emotionally charged performance of “Festival Music” by Eric Ball, coming an impressive 3rd place behind the then current National Champions (Grimethorpe) and Black Dyke.
You could say that we set out our stall quite early in the year, and the new signings in principal places (Horn & Trombone) certainly paid dividends.
Disappointing…
This progress was however knocked a little by the 18th place result at the All England International Masters, where even though we put in a good performance the result did not show that – much to the amazement of many members of the audience!
Preston also did not boost our confidence! Coming soon after the “Masters”, the English Nationals Contest saw the band lack a little of the confidence seen of late.
Back on the right track…
However this was soon remedied by the result at the British Open, coming home in a creditable 7th place.
While the band was still in an upbeat mood the National Finals were upon us in what seemed like a very short space of time!
Preparations went well for both contests, although the demands of extra rehearsals, concerts! And actually getting a couple of hours off, meant great demands of all the players!
Anyway, around lunchtime on Friday 10th October saw the band embark on their journey from South Elmsall to Kensington (bit of a difference!) in preparation for the evening’s rehearsal at the Welsh Guards Barracks. All went well and we had finished by about 11:00! Just enough time for a kebab and a drink before bedtime.
Rehearsals didn’t stop there though as we had to get up at some ridiculous time in the morning to once again head over to the barracks.
This would see us doing a very different type of warm up, as it was Russell’s birthday (answers on a postcard for his age!) we decided to sing happy birthday in our own inimitable way!
The contest draw took place at 8:30 and left some wondering what was going on. Obviously Kenny had a bit of trouble with the mobile phone as we found out the draw from Desford!
For us, hearing that Grimethorpe had draw 1, Fodens 6, Dyke 11 and Cory at 14 meant that all the so called ‘top’ bands were spread out, leaving it up to us playing number 20 to see which apple carts we could upset.
Some would say that Grimethorpe gave it their best shot, but even if they had played later in the day, some said that this performance wasn’t good enough to take the title.
Fairey gave a solid performance under Philip Chalk’s, but it was safe and secure.
Fodens came to London looking for the ‘Double’, and couldn’t have done anything more in their pursuit of that particularly elusive prize.
Leyland lead by Jason Katsikaris had a detailed and driven start with rich textures in the middle movement however the high tempo of the third section saw a loss of focus at times
Unfortunately for us (but good for Yorkshire) Dyke were at their best. Very few thought it could be beaten – and on this occasion the decision of the three men in the box was in total unity with the audience.
European Champions Cory were seen by some as the last realistic title contenders. However, a wobbly close took the edge off and despite a powerhouse finale full of detail and drive; it just couldn’t raise itself to the level of Dyke and Fodens.
A rousing finish to the day’s performances…
4th Place Performance (*)
Of course we were confident about the piece (well with a front row like that, the opening was no problem! The sense of style was evident throughout the first movement, whilst the middle section saw Russell Gray pull at the heart strings, creating a sentimental rather than darkly melancholic feeling, but it was a sublime mix.
For once, a thumping finale set the seal on a performance of purpose and spirit and one that certainly made a major impression with the three men in the box.
4th place was an excellent result for the band (although many of us were thinking – if only…) and means that we had secured our place back at the finals in twelve months time, and give Yorkshire the bonus of sending four bands to London once again next year.
Full Results:
Test piece: Concertino for Brass Band, Kenneth Downie
Adjudicators: David Read, Jim Gourlay, David King
Results:
1. Black Dyke, Dr. Nicholas Childs, 11, 198*
2. Fodens, Garry Cutt, 6, 197*
3. Cory, Dr. Robert Childs, 14, 196*
4. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, Russell Gray, 20, 195*
5. Fairey, Philip Chalk, 5, 194
6. Rothwell Temperance, David Roberts, 16, 193
7. Grimethorpe Colliery, Allan Withington, 1, 192
8. Leyland, Jason Katsikaris, 10, 191
9. East Yorkshire Motor Services, Frans Violet, 9, 190
10. Virtuosi GUS, John Berryman, 18, 189
11. Reg Vardy, Allan Ramsay, 17, 188
12. Whitburn, Steven Mead, 2, 187
13. Kirkintilloch, Selmer Simonsen, 13, 186
14. Aveley and Newham, Nigel Taken, 15, 185
15. Tredegar, Ian Porthouse, 3, 183
16. SWT Woodfalls, Melvin White, 7, 181
17. Redbridge Brass, Jeremy Wise, 12, 180
18. BTM Band, Philip Harper, 4, 179
19. Desford Colliery, Nigel Seaman, 19, 178
20. Mount Charles, Andrew Duncan, 8, 177
* = Automatic Qualification for 2009
Morning Rehearsal
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