The band has been crowned Second Section Champions at the Welsh Regional Championship 2018, held at the Brangwyn Hall on March 17th 2018. In addition, the band has been invited to represent Wales at the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, to be held at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse, on September 15th 2018.
In a strong field of 9 bands, performing the set test piece ‘Ex Terra Lucem’ by Jonathan Bates, the band’s percussion section also claimed the ‘Yorweth & Megan Gowing Memorial Trophy’ for the ‘Best Percussion Section’.
A special mention too for the band’s youngest member on the day, 2nd Cornet player Aled Tumelty, who has progressed through the Junior Band and has now made his debut contest appearance with the senior band – what a memorable debut appearance it was!
Full results for the section are below.
| Position | Band | Conductor | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pontardulais Town Band | Paul Jenkins | 2 |
| 2 | Ifton Colliery Band | Scott Lloyd | 6 |
| 3 | Newport Borough Band | Robin Hackett | 7 |
| 4 | Ammanford Town Silver Band | Glyn Davies | 3 |
| 5 | Royal Buckley Town Band | Keith Jones | 5 |
| 6 | Abertillery Town Band | Joshua Ruck | 4 |
| 7 | Penclawdd Band | Tony Small | 8 |
| 8 | Crwbin Silver Band | Craig Roberts | 1 |
| 9 | Blaenavon Town Band | David Langley | 9 |
Best instrumentalist: Seamus Gallaher – Cornet (Newport Borough)
Best percussion section: Pontardulais Town Band
A full report on the second section contest from 4barsrest.com can be read by following this link.
Some positive comments on the performance from brass band media on the day were as follows:
From 4barsrest.com – The bar is raised by Pontardulais to follow — with a richly courted and textured account under Paul Jenkins. A super soprano player was such a tasteful focal point, whilst the drummer went all heavy metal in the finale to bring things to a rousing close.
From 4barsrest.com on Twitter – A powerful blaze of kaleidoscopic light from Pontardulais. Cozy Powell on drums gave it the welly to close a fine show.
From the BritishBandsman.com – A bright opening, light on its feet, with soaring euphonium dominating the texture. The martial music has a touch of brilliance about it, with lovely euphonium flourishes and tightly balanced close harmony. Subtle melodic details and shapes are coming across – nicely nuanced to contrast with medieval pastiche moments and the dissonant finish – excellent work and also control in the diminuendo to the end from muted cornets.
The soprano cornet soloist excels again in shaping the principal melody, supported by a resonant accompaniment. The flugel horn and solo cornet match the soprano – nice touch. This is being carefully and respectfully delivered. The controlled pianissimo ending is so quiet we can here the conversations from the bar next door – well done band! The ending is really beautiful – measured and controlled – out of which the glitzy finale emerges naturally and also expressively from the lower band.
Paul Jenkins then gradually winds things up, but the jazz fusion music is never over done – all in style and never so loud that we can’t hear the detail. When he lets the percussion off the leash, band responds with drive and power. Percussion went ott on the last chord but lots to admire in the playing here
