Category: Contests

The band returned to Blackpool for a 3^rd consecutive year to compete in the Senior Trophy at the British Open Spring Festival on Saturday 11^th May 2024. Inside the sweltering Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens, the band performed the set test piece ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ by Peter Graham.

The band were pleased to be awarded 7^th place in a field of 17 bands, equaling the result from 2022. The adjudicators were Helen Douthwaite-Teasdale and John Doyle. Thanks go to Matthew Jenkins who stepped in to conduct the band with Paul Jenkins being unavailable.

Full results for the section are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	9
2	Newtongrange Silver	Anne Crookston	3
3	Haverhill Silver	Matthew Brown	12
4	Marsden Silver	Andrew Lofthouse	16
5	Tongwynlais Temperance	Owen Farr	4
6	Roberts Bakery	Mike Jones	14
7	Pontardulais	Matthew Jenkins	11
8	Enderby	Gareth Brindle	13
9	Eccles Borough	Mareika Gray	2
10	East London Brass	Jayne Murrill	6
11	Blackburn & Darwen	Daniel Thomas	17
12	Woodfalls	Paul Holland	1
13	Longridge	Mark Peacock	15
14	Parc & Dare	Dewi Griffiths	10
15	Yorkshire Imperial	Garry Hallas	8
16	Unison Kinneil	Raymond Tennant	7
17	Easington Colliery	Michael Fowles	5

Best Instrumentalist: Stephen Sykes – Trombone (Ebbw Valley)

In its second appearance in the Championship Section at the Welsh Regional Championships following promotion to the section ahead of the 2023 contesting season, the band performed the set test piece, ‘Variations on an Enigma’ by Philip Sparke, at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on Sunday 17^th March 2024.

In a section containing two bands that had already pre-qualified for the Finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain to be held at the Royal Albert Hall later in the year, the band was awarded 7^th place in a field of 8 bands.

Full results for the section are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Cory Band	Philip Harper	1
2	Tredegar Town Band	Ian Porthouse	7
3	Tongwynlais Temperance Band	Owen Farr	2
4	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	5
5	Tylorstown Band	Robert Westacott	6
6	Llwydcoed Band	Joshua Ruck	3
7	Pontardulais Town Band	Paul Jenkins	8
8	City of Cardiff (M1) Band	Christopher Bond	4

Best Instrumentalist: Glyn Williams – Euphonium (Cory Band)

Best Cornet: Tom Hutchinson – Cory Band

Best Basses: Cory Band

The band started its 2024 contesting season with an appearance at the Welsh Open Entertainment Contest, held at The Riverfront in Newport on February 17^th 2024.

Fourteen Championship and First Section bands competed, with adjudicator Sheona White tasked with selecting a winner. The band was pleased with its performance, which was narrated by the event’s compère, David Hayward, and were placed 8^th. The band choose to present the following ‘Peter Pan’ themed programme:

• The Flight to Neverland, John Williams arr. Sofie Brems Sørensen
• A Motley Crew, Trad arr. Philip Harper
• Tango, Gavin Higgins
• Beneath the Stars, Jonathan Bates
• Main Theme from Cutthroat Island, John Debney arr. Philip Harper

Full results for the contest are shown below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw	Points
1	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	8	196
2	Wantage Silver Band	Chris King	9	195
3	Parc & Dare Band	Dewi Griffiths	14	194
4	Llwydcoed Band	Joshua Ruck	11	193
5	City of Cardiff (M1) Band	Daniel Hall	3	192
6	Tongwynlais Temperance Band	Owen Farr	13	190
7	Tylorstown Band	Rob Westacott	4	189
8	Pontardulais Town Band	Paul Jenkins	7	188
9	Milton Keynes Brass	Matthew Brown	10	186
10	Filton Concert Brass	Gary Davies	6	185
11	Forest of Dean Brass	Martyn Patterson	2	184
12	B. T. M. Band	Jeff Hutcherson	1	183
13	Lympstone Band	Nigel Seaman	5	182
14	Chapeltown Silver Prize Band	Colum O’Shea	12	181

Highest Placed First Section Band not in Prizes: Milton Keynes Brass

Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: Llwydcoed Band

Best Soloist: Imogen Fewster – baritone (Wantage Silver Band)

Best Cornet Player: Becky Cale (Llwydcoed Band)

Best Soprano Player: Brian Thomas (Wantage Silver Band)

Best Horn Section: Parc & Dare Band

Best Euphonium: Alison Millin (Forest of Dean Brass)

Best Trombone Section: Ebbw Valley Brass

Best Tuba Section: Ebbw Valley Brass

Best Percussion Section: City of Cardiff (M1) Band

Youngest Instrumentalist: Garyn Jones (Parc & Dare Band)

Invitation to compete at the 2024 Spring Festival: Parc & Dare Band

The band once again competed in the Senior Trophy at the British Open Spring Festival on Saturday 13^th May 2023. The contest was held in the Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with the set test piece ‘The Accursed Huntsman’ by Cesar Franck and arranged by Edrich Siebert, selected to challenge the competing bands.

The band were placed 13^th in a field of 21 bands, with Mark Wilkinson and Brett Baker as adjudicators.

A highlight of the day was one of our Academy Band members, Iolo Evans, making his first contest appearance with the senior band, playing bass drum, alongside his dad on Flugel Horn.

Full results for the contest are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Thundersley Brass	Melvin White	16
2	Amersham	Paul Fisher	12
3	Stannington Brass	Sam Fisher	14
4	Tylorstown	Robert Westacott	15
5	Tongwynlais Temperance	Owen Farr	13
6	Blackburn & Darwen	Daniel Thomas	5
7	Unison Kinneil	Raymond Tennant	21
8	Eccles Borough	Jon Davis	6
9	Longridge	Mark Peacock	7
10	Yorkshire Imperial	Garry Hallas	17
11	Easington Colliery	Stephen Malcolm	18
12	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	19
13	Pontardulais	Paul Jenkins	10
14	Enderby	Stephen Phillips	8
15	Parc & Dare	Dewi Griffiths	9
16	Haverhill Silver	Paul Filby	2
17	Filton Concert Brass	Nathan Jenkins	1
18	Vernon Building Society	Adam Delbridge-Smith	3
19	Thoresby Colliery	Simon Oates	20
20	Bo’ness & Carriden	Charlie Farren	4
21	Haftield & Askern Colliery	Stan Lippeat	11

Best Instrumentalist: Keith Schroeter – Horn (Thundersley)

Following its victory in the 1^st Section at the Welsh Regional Championships in 2022, the band was promoted to the Championship Section for the 2023 contest, which was held on Sunday 19^th March 2023 at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea.

Making its first appearance in the top section in Wales since 2013, the band faced the challenege of performing the set test piece, ‘Red Priest’ by Philip Wilby.

The band achieved 6^th place in a very strong field of 7 bands.

Full results for the section are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Tredegar Town Band	Ian Porthouse	1
2	Cory Band	Philip Harper	2
3	Llwydcoed Band	Joshua Ruck	3
4	City of Cardiff (M1) Band	Chris Bond	7
5	Tongwynlais Temperance Band	Owen Farr	4
6	Pontardulais Town Band	Paul Jenkins	5
7	Tylorstown Band	Gary Davies	6

Best Instrumentalist: Robert Westacott – Soprano (Tredegar Town Band)
Best Cornet: Tom Hutchinson – Cory Band
Best Basses: Cory Band

The band kicked off its 2023 contesting season, hoping to defend its title of ‘Welsh Open Champions’, with an appearance at the Welsh Open Entertainment Contest, held at The Riverfront in Newport on February 18^th 2023.

Fourteen Championship and First Section bands competed, with adjudicator Glyn Williams given the task of selecting a winner. Unfortunately, the band was unable to hold onto the CISWO Challenge Trophy, but was pleased with its performance, once again narrated by radio DJ and local Swansea personality, Kev Johns. The band choose to present the following programme:

• A Fantasy of Joy, Fredrick Schjelderup
• O Verona, Craigh Armstrong arr. Philip Harper
• Banana Island, Etienne Crausaz
• Ar Lan y Môr, Welsh Traditional arr. Leigh Baker
• Enchanted Kingdom, Paul Lovatt-Cooper

Full results for the contest ar shown below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw	Points
1	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	12	198
2	Llwydcoed Band	Joshua Ruck	7	197
3	City of Cardiff (M1) Band	Chris Bond	14	196
4	Burry Port Town Band	Andrew Jones	13	194
5	Parc & Dare Band	Dewi Griffiths	2	193
6	Brunel Brass	Daniel Hall	5	192
7	Filton Concert Brass	Nathan Jenkins	3	191
8	Tongwynlais Temperance Band	Owen Farr	9	190
9	Pontardulais Town Band	Paul Jenkins	4	189
10	Jackfield Brass Band	Ryan Richards	10	188
11	Michelmersh Silver Band	Melvin White	11	187
12	Tylorstown Band	Gary Davies	8	186
13	B. T. M. Band	Jeff Hutcherson	6	185
14	Lewis Merthyr Band	Craig Roberts	1	184

Highest Placed First Section Band not in Prizes: B. T. M. Band

Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: Llwydcoed Band

Best Soloist: Philip Howells – Xylophone (Ebbw Valley Brass)

Best Cornet Player: Andrew Smith (Llwydcoed Band)

4BR Best Soprano Player: Tom King (Llwydcoed Band)

Best Horn Section: Brunel Brass

Best Percussion Section: Ebbw Valley Brass

Youngest Instrumentalist: Sioned Evans (Burry Port)

Invitation to compete at the 2023 Spring Festival: Burry Port

The band was placed 9^th in the First Section Final of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse, on September 17^th 2022. The band gained the invitation to represent Wales at the contest through winning the First Section at the Welsh Regional Championships in March.

All 16 competing bands were required to perform the set test piece ‘Trittico’ by James Curnow, with three adjudicators to impress – Roger Webster, Ian Porthouse and Gary Davies.

Full results for the section are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Stannington	Sam Fisher	15
2	Marsden Silver Prize	Andrew Lofthouse	13
3	Staffordshire	Craig Williams	14
4	Sandhurst Silver	David Johnson	16
5	Acceler8	Jef Sparkes	8
6	Ebbw Valley	Gareth Ritter	1
7	Ashton under Lyne	Martyn Evans	6
8	Bo’ness & Carriden	Charlie Farren	9
9	Pontardulais Town	Paul Jenkins	7
10	Hyde	Nigel Seaman	2
11	Dalkeith & Monktonhall	James Chamberlain	3
12	Kirbymoorside Town	Sarah Woodward	11
13	Gresley Colliery	Craig Stevens	10
14	East of England Co-op	Nigel Cooper	4
15	Houghton	Michael Franey	5
16	Bodmin Town	Simon Badge	12

Best Instrumentalist: Rachel Dines – Flugelhorn (Ashton under Lyne)

Having received an invitation to compete at the British Open Spring Festival as a result of its victory in the Welsh Open Championship in February, the band returned to Blackpool for the first time since 2013 to compete in the Senior Trophy.

Held in the Spanish Hall at the Winter Gardens on 7^th May 2022, the band performed the set test piece, ‘Life Divine’, by (Swansea-born composer!) Cyril Jenkins.

The band achieved an excellent 7^th place in a field of 22 bands, its highest ever position in the competition! The adjudicators for the contest were Sandy Smith and Simon Gresswell.

The band were very grateful to receive funding from the Mynydd y Gwair Wind Farm Community Fund to cover the transport costs for the weekend.

Full results for the contest are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Unite the Union	Jonathan Beatty	20
2	Boarshurst Silver	Jamie Prophet	10
3	Fishburn	Duncan Beckley	18
4	East London Brass	Jayne Murrill	19
5	Tylorstown	Gary Davies	1
6	Enderby	Stephen Phillips	13
7	Pontardulais	Paul Jenkins	21
8	Unison Kinneil	Raymond Tennant	2
9	Hatfield & Askern Colliery	Stan Lippeatt	6
10	Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel	Garry Hallas	5
11	Eccles Borough	Mareika Gray	22
12	Easington Colliery	Stephen Malcolm	4
13	Thundersley Brass	Melvin White	11
14	Amersham	Paul Fisher	3
15	Marsden Silver	Andrew Lofthouse	12
16	Sovereign Brass	Stephen Roberts	8
17	Bo’ness & Carriden	Andrew Duncan	14
18	Lydbrook	Stephen Sykes	17
19	Crofton Silver	Dean Jones	15
20	Roberts Bakery	Paul Lovatt-Cooper	9
21	Staffordshire	Craig Williams	7
22	Jackfield	Ryan Richards	16

Best Instrumentalist: Sarah Curtis – Trombone (Unite the Union)

Having recently won the Welsh Open Championships, the band was delighted to follow it up with victory in the 1^st Section at the Welsh Regional Championships!

Returning to the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on 19^th March 2022, having last been held at the Great Hall on Swansea University’s Bay Campus in 2020, this was the first Welsh Regional Championships to take place following the outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

With the victory comes an invitation to represent Wales at the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, to be held at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse on 17^th September 2022.

The set test piece for the contest was ‘Spectrum’ by Gilbert Vinter, with the band competing in a field of 7 bands. As well as claiming the main trophy, the band’s euphonium player, Lyndon Harris, added to his growing collection of individual awards by claiming the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize.

Full results for the section are below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw
1	Pontardulais Town Band	Paul Jenkins	6
2	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	3
3	B. T. M. Band	Jeff Hutcherson	7
4	Lewis Merthyr Band	Craig Roberts	2
5	Parc & Dare Band	Nigel Seaman	5
6	Deiniolen Silver Band	Keith Jones	4
7	Markham & District Band	Jayne Thomas	1

Best instrumentalist: Lyndon Harris – Euphonium (Pontardulais Town Band)

A full report for the contest from 4barsrest.com can be read by following this link.

Positive comments on the band’s performance from 4barsrest.com were as follows:

From 4barsrest.com – We waited a long time to hear two really authentic high quality First Section performances of ‘Spectrum’ and then we got them to close the contest.

The first came from Pontardulais, playing with bold confidence after their recent Welsh Open victory. That was carried forward here — helped by a wonderfully cohesive reading by the MD which was stuck to like Aroldite glue by his players.

This was glossy, high sheen stuff as oily as a palette of Dulux gloss and brushed on with the care and attention of a Vermeer rather than a Jackson Pollack. Little moments of unease, but it didn’t tarnish the canvas on which it was placed. Nicely done in all aspects that — very nicely done indeed.

From 4barsrest.com on Twitter – The most cohesive rendition so far from a bold but refined @pontardulaisband MD gave real definition to each colouring too – aided by fine soloists and balanced ensemble. Nice.

For the first time in its history, the band was delighted to win the Welsh Open Brass Band Championship!

The first contest held in Wales since the beginning of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic was hosted at The Riverfront in Newport on February 20^th and saw the band compete in a field of 13 Championship and First Section bands.

Previously held at the Grand Pavilion in Porthcawl, this Entertainment Contest sees each band perform a programme of music up to 20 minutes in duration and this year was adjudicated by Dr Robert Childs, with David Francis given the task of selecting the winner of the ‘Most Entertaining Stage Presentation’ award.

A late personnel change as a result of COVID-19 Coronavirus restrictions saw regular conductor, Paul Jenkins, swap his baton for a trombone, with Matthew Jenkins taking over conducting duties.

In addition to winning the CISWO Challenge Trophy and the £1,000 prize, the band’s horn section were awarded the prize for the ‘Best Horn Section’.

The result also saw the band gain an invitation to compete in the Senior Trophy contest at the Spring Festival in Blackpool on May 7^th 2022.

The band chose to perform the following programme, complemented by a video presentation and narrated by radio DJ and local Swansea personality, Kev Johns.

• Nordic Polska, Anders Edenroth & Matti Kallio arr. Philip Harper
• Trust in Me, Sherman & Sherman arr. Philip Harper
• Fantasy on London Nursery Rhymes, Dan Price
• An Evening Prayer, Engelbert Humperdinck arr. Robert Childs
• Tale of the Dragon, Paul Lovatt-Cooper

Full results for the contest are shown below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw	Points
1	Pontardulais Town Band	Matthew Jenkins	14	184
2	City of Cardiff (M1) Band	Chris Bond	4	183
3	Tongwynlais Temperance Band	Carl Saunders	13	181
4	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	2	180
5	Brunel Brass	Daniel Hall	10	178
6	B. T. M. Band	Jeff Hutcherson	12	176
7	SW Comms Band	Stephen Sykes	7	175
8	Tylorstown Band	Gary Davies	1	173
9	Lewis Merthyr Band	Craig Roberts	8	172
10	Parc & Dare Band	Dewi Griffiths	11	171
11	A W Parker Drybrook Band	Joshua Ruck	5	170
12	Forest of Dean Brass	Thomas Dunne	3	169
13	Markham & District Band	Jayne Thomas	6	168

Filton Conert Brass, drawn to perform as band number 9, withdrew prior to the contest.

Highest Placed First Section Band not in the Prizes: Ebbw Valley Brass

Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: City of Cardiff (M1) Band

Best Soloist: Megan Newberry – Cornet (SW Comms Band)

Best Cornet Player: Becky Cale (City of Cardiff (M1) Band)

Best Soprano Player: Clint Millter (B. T. M. Band)

Best Horn Section: Pontardulais Town Band

Best Percussion Section: Brunel Brass

Youngest Instrumentalist: Noah Davies (Tylorstown Band)

Invitation to Compete at the 2022 Spring Festival Senior Trophy: Pontardulais Town Band