8th March 2009 - Yorkshire Area (Championship)
Adjudicators: Steven Sykes, Nigel Boddice
Test Piece: Salute To Youth, Gilbert Vinter
Venue: St George’s Hall, Bradford
2009 saw another old test piece used for the area contests, this time Salute To Youth by Gilbert Vinter, composed in the 1960s. The piece was a tricky one, requiring some quality playing from the band to pull it off. The percussion parts didn’t require much equipment, but were tricky to play with the band.
Paul Argyle, our regular Soprano Cornet, had to step down for this contest. His wife was due to give birth to their second child round about the date of the contest. His first child was born whilst Paul was on stage with the band at their 2006 win in the International Masters contest, so he missed the birth. That wasn’t going to be allowed to happen again! Thankfully, we managed to secure the services of Michelle Ibbotson to cover his part.
Other players helping out at this contest included Andy White on second trombone, Ed Leach on Eb bass, and Dai Hale couldn’t stay away and added his presence to the front row. The run up to the contest was quiet, with just a few extra rehearsals on weekends for our borrowed players.
Come contest day the band met up and had an 'interesting’ draw! With Black Dyke and Carlton Main pre-qualified, we were looking to come in the top two with the exception of these bands. That meant we had to look to beat the likes of Grimethorpe, Brighouse and Hepworth. Our draw had us placed right between Brighouse and Grimethorpe, and we were unsure as to whether this was a good thing or not. It certainly made for a direct comparison!
Our performance on stage went well, and we were very happy with it. It was very clean, and musical, with the soloists doing an excellent job.
Come results time, the instrumentalist prize was given to the Euphonium from Hepworth. Next, the soloist prize was announced which went to our very own James McCabe. This seemed to indicate that we were in for a good result, but we didn’t expect quite how good it would be.
With all the placings but first out of the bag, and many of the top bands lower down the results, we were left scratching our head and asking, “Have we won this? Who else is left?”. When the band’s name was read out in first place, the band grouped together on the balcony erupted.
The full results of the contest were:
1. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts), 7
2. Hepworth (Cookson Homes) (Ian Porthouse), 3
3. Grimethorpe Colliery (Allan Withington), 8
4. Black Dyke (Dr. Nicholas J. Childs), 1
5. Brighouse and Rastrick (Garry Cutt), 6
6. Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts), 5
7. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Russell Gray), 4
8. Marsden Silver Prize (Ossett Brewery) (Glyn Williams), 9
9. Powerfuel Hatfield Colliery (Graham O’Connor), 2
10. Stannington (Derek Renshaw), 12
11. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths), 10
12. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Richard Evans), 11
This was a stupendous result for the band, off an excellent performance on stage, and sets us up for a good contesting year with hopefully a return back to the British Open on the cards. Four bands will go to London from the Yorkshire Area: Black Dyke and Carlton Main who pre-qualified, plus Hepworth and us. Congratulations must go to Hepworth on another excellent result.
The band would like to thank:
- Ed Leach for stepping in on Eb Bass (nice coat).
- Andy White on 2nd trombone (see you at the Grand Shield).
- Dai Hale on the front row.
- Michelle Ibbotson on soprano, who did a sterling job.
Congratulations to:
- David Roberts, conductor of the best band in Yorkshire.
- James McCabe on beating everyone else at the contest to the soloist prize.
Next up is the Grand Shield. The band will be on a high and hoping to move back into the
British Open once more.
Tim Sawyer
Percussion
9th March 2009
“Who did we beat?”
“Everyone!”
Photos
 Percussion Team |
 Nick Walker |
 Richard Glascodine |
 Bass Team |
 David talking to Iwan Fox |
 Band Celebrating |
 Band Celebrating |
 Band Celebrating |
