Cory Win in Wales
Congratulations to Cory led by MD Philip Harper on winning the Welsh Regional Championships. The band gave a scintillating performance of Wilfred Heaton’s much loved ‘Contest Music’ in a return to the traditional venue of the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea. With Cory and Tredegar pre-qualified it meant 4 places at the Royal Albert Hall were on offer for the 7 competing bands, so there were plenty of smiling faces when Dr Robert Childs announced the results. City of Cardiff (M1) claimed 4th place, with Northop Silver in 3rd and reigning champions Tredegar this time beaten into 2nd place for the first time since 2018. Cory clearly had the edge today picking up a host of other prizes in addition to the Welsh Championship title and an invitation to the 2023 European Championships. Tom Hutchinson was awarded best cornet, Glyn Williams received Best Instrumentalist and the band also won Best Basses. Gwyn Thomas, Cory stalwart and number one supporter was also awarded with a special Lifetime Achievement award.
Congratulations are also owed to Pontardulais, Beaumaris, Cwmtawe and Crosskeys Silver on winning their respective sections with Ebbw Valley, Mid Rhondda, Crwbin and Rhy Silver joining them in Cheltenham for the lower section Nationals in September.
Results:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs and Rob Wiffin
1. Cory (Philip Harper)***
2. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)**
3. Northop Silver (Daniel Brooks)*
4. City of Cardiff (M1) (Christopher Bond)*
5. Llwydcoed (Andrew Jones)
6. Tylorstown (Gary Davies)
7. Tongwynlais Temperance (Carl Saunders)
***Pre-qualified for National Final plus invitation to represent Wales at the 2023 European Championships
**Pre-qualified for National Final
*Invite to National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Glyn Williams (euphonium) Cory
Best Cornet Player: Tom Hutchinson (Cory)
Best Bass Section: Cory
First Section:
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs and Rob Wiffin
1. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins)*
2. Ebbw Valley (Gareth Ritter)*
3. BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)
4. Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts)
5. Parc & Dare (Nigel Seaman)
6. Deiniolen (Keith Jones)
7. Markham District (Jayne Thomas)
*Invite to National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Lyndon Harris (euphonium) — Pontardulais Town
Second Section:
Adjudicators: John Maines and Glyn Williams
1. Beaumaris (Bari Gwilliam)*
2. Mid Rhondda (Thomas Coaches) (Alan Gibbs)*
3. Abergavenny Borough (Lana Tingay)
4. Usk (James Jones)
5. Ammanford Town Silver (Glyn Rhys Davies)
6. Abertillery Town (Alun Williams)
7. Royal Buckley Town (Keith Jones)
8. Penclawdd (Tony Small)
9. Ifton Colliery (Scott Robert Lloyd)
Best Instrumentalist: Darren Williams (soprano) — Mid Rhondda
Best Percussion: Beaumaris
*Invite to National Final
Third Section:
Adjudicators: David Ashworth and Gary Davies
1. Cwmtawe (Wayne Pedrick)*
2. Crwbin (Alex McGee)*
3. RAF St Athan Voluntary (Alan Bourne)
4. Briton Ferry Silver (Jeff Pearce)
5. Gwaun Cae Gurwen (Alex Parker)
6. Newtown Silver (Steve Edwards)
7. Ynyshir (Dean Evans)
Best Instrumentalist: Sion Lloyd (flugel) — Cwmtawe
*Invite to National Final
Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: John Maines and Steve Pritchard-Jones
1. Crosskeys Silver (Sion Rhys Jones)*
2. Rhyl Silver (Jamie Duncan)*
3. Oakdale Silver (Kerry Bowden)
4. Ogmore Valley Silver (Danny Stone)
5. Cwmbran (Adrian Browning)
Best Instrumentalist: Terry Wells (euphonium) — Oakdale Silver
*Invite to National Final
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