Photo credit: 4barsrest.com
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 20th 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 7th 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
