Black Dyke top in Yorkshire

Adjudicators Nigel Boddice MBE and Garry Cutt certainly had their work cut out deciding between the high quality performances offered by the Championship section bands in Yorkshire. It was pre-qualified Black Dyke, under the Musical Direction of Professor Nicholas Childs that topped the results, following a wonderful performance of Philip Sparke’s ‘A Tale as yet Untold’ from a number ten draw. The band delivered a very classy account with superb contributions from the soloists, particularly Richard Marshall who was awarded the Best Principal Cornet prize. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery with Allan Withington at the helm secured qualification, ending the day as runners-up, along with third placed Hepworth and conductor Ryan Watkins. Brighouse & Rastrick could only manage fourth place, much to the obvious disappointment of the audience, but with a pre-qualified place at the Nationals, they will certainly be looking to challenge this result at the Royal Albert Hall.
 
Congratulations also to the qualifiers for the September finals at Cheltenham, particularly the winners of their respective sections: Unite the Union, BD1 Brass, Kippax and Linthwaite. A full review of the contest will appear in the next edition of the magazine.
 
Result:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice MBE and Garry Cutt
1. Black Dyke (Prof Nicholas Childs)*
2. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Withington)**
3. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)**
4. Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof David King)*
5. Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
6. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
7. Hatfield & Askern Colliery (Stanley Lippeatt)
8. Skelmanthorpe (Martin Heartfield)
9. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
10. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
11. Grimethorpe Colliery (Dr. David Thornton)
12. Strata (Jonathan Bates)
13. Crofton Silver (Dean Jones)
14. Drighlington (Neil Robinson)
Withdrawn: Old Silkstone
*Black Dyke and Brighouse & Rastrick pre-qualified for the National Final
**Qualify for the National Final
Best Principal Cornet: Richard Marshall (Black Dyke)
Best Soloist: Toni Howden (Euphonium - Carlton Main Frickley)
Best Instrumentalist: Scott Bennett (Horn - Hatfield & Askern Colliery)
Youngest Player: Rhys Stokes (Strata Brass) aged 11
 
First Section:
1. Unite the Union (John Davis)*
2. Knottingley Silver (Kevin Belcher)*
3. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker)
4. Stannington Brass (Derek Renshaw)
5. Horbury Victoria (Duncan Beckley)
6. Yorkshire Imperial Band (Garry Hallas)
7. Marsden Silver (Andrew Lofthouse)
8. Wakefield Metropolitan (Martin Hall)
9. Lindley (Mike Golding)
10. Chapeltown Silver (Sam Fisher)
*Qualify for National Final
Best Soprano: Claire Jenkins (South Yorkshire Police)
Best Euphonium: Elizabeth Wood (Knottingley Silver)
Best Solo Cornet: Greg Timmins (Unite the Union)
 
Second Section:
1. BD1 Brass (Lee Skipsey)*
2. Hebden Bridge (David Hamilton)*
3. Hade Edge (Jamie Smith)
4. Dronfield Genquip (Damian Wileman)
5. Rockingham (Adam Whittle)
6. Barnsley Brass (William Rushworth)
7. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Tom Haslam)
8. Slaithwaite (Matthew Hindle)
9. Wetherby & District Silver (Derek Warley)
*Qualify for National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Matt Douglas (trombone) — BD1
Youngest Player: Solomon Woodcock (Hade Egde ) — aged 11
 
Third Section:
1. Kippax (Stephen Tighe)*
2. Lofthouse 2000 (Andrew Whitaker)*
3. Emley Brass (Garry Hallas)
4. Maltby Miners Welfare (Terry Clifford)
5. Dinnington Colliery (Jonathan Beatty)
6. Gawthorpe Brass '85 (John Edward)
7. Clifton & Lightcliffe (John Clay)
8. Huddersfield & Ripponden (Adam Bell)
9. Oughtibridge (Gavin Somerset)
10. Deepcar Brass (Cathryn O'Shea)
11. Armthorpe Elmfield (Raymond Kilcoyne)
*Qualify for National Final 
Best Instrumentalist: Nigel Darbyshire (cornet) — Kippax
Best Percussion: Maltby Miners
Youngest Player: Rhiannon Catley aged 11 of Maltby Miners
 
Fourth Section:
1. Linthwaite (Matthew Pilcher)*
2. Barnsley Metropolitan (Alex Francis)*
3. Garforth Brass (John Thompson)
4. Dodworth Colliery MW (Eliot J Darwin)
5. Friendly Band (Sowerby Bridge) (James Beecham)
6. Loxley Silver (Richard Windle)
7. Clifton & Lightcliffe B (Michael Silson)
8. Thurcroft Welfare (Matthew Wright)
*Qualify for National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Paul Robinson (euphonium) — Dodworth Colliery MW
Best Percussion: Garforth Brass
Youngest Player: Edward Hall (Thurcroft Welfare) — aged 10