2022 Welsh Open Championship
After two years of Covid-19 challenges, contesting made a welcome return in Wale with the Welsh Open Entertainment Championships at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport.Thirteen bands competed for the CISWO Challenge Trophy and £1,000 first prize, as well as the chance to secure an invitation to the British Open Spring Festival in May, with Pontardulais Town led by Matthew Jenkins (regular MD Paul Jenkins was on stage as the band's trombone soloist due to a Covid illness) declared the winners. Drawn last, Pontardulais performed a ‘West Wales Fantasy’ programme, securing the band a one point victory over second placed City of Cardiff (M1) and seeing them awarded the ‘Best Horn Section’.
Adjudicator Dr. Robert Childs was delighted with the day’s performances, but did highlight that although he did “look at the overall package of how the programmes were put together”, it was the “quality of the playing” that he looked at particularly closely. He went on to clarify, “If intonation wasn't mentioned on your adjudication remarks, then that was one of the main reasons some bands did well today. Some failed to realise their potential as MDs lost clarity through dynamics that were too loud and tempos that were too fast. However, there was much more to commend today than to criticise.” Full results can be viewed below:
Results
1. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins): 184
2. City of Cardiff (M1) (Christopher Bond): 183
3. Tongwynlais Temperance (Carl Saunders): 181
4. Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter): 180
5. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall): 178
6. BTM Band (Jeff Hutcherson): 176*
7. SW Comms (Stephen Sykes): 175
8. Tylorstown (Gary Davies): 173
9. Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts): 172
10. Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths): 171
11. A W Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck): 170
12. Forest of Dean Brass (Thomas Dunne): 169
13. Markham & District (Jayne Thomas): 168
*1 point time penalty
Withdrawn: Filton Concert Brass
Invitation to British Open Spring Festival: Pontardulais Town
Highest Placed First Section Band not in prizes: Ebbw Valley
Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: City of Cardiff (M1)*
Best Soloist: Megan Newbury (cornet) — SW Comms
Best Cornet Player: Becky Cale — City of Cardiff (M1)
Best Soprano Player: Clint Miller (BTM)
Best Horn Section: Pontardulais Town
Best Percussion Section: Brunel Brass
Youngest Player: Noah Davies (aged 11) — Tylorstown
*Prize decided by adjudicator David Francis
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