Welsh Win for Cory
There was a good deal of national pride as well as friendly domestic rivalry on show at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea this weekend. 36 bands took to the stage at Welsh Regional Championships, hoping to show a bit more hwyl and spirit than the Wales rugby team. The audience and adjudicators were certainly not left disappointed, and the Championship section was scintillating.
From the ‘dreaded’ number one spot it was Philip Harper and Cory that emerged once again victorious and who have now qualified for an invitation to the 2025 European Championships in Stavanger. The adjudicators can have been in little doubt of the outcome with Tom Hutchinson and Glyn Williams picking up individual honours in addition to the bass team. Tredegar under the guidance of Musical Director Ian Porthouse, also gave a superb performance of Philip Sparke’s set work, however today they had to be content with the runner-up spot. With Cory and Tredegar already pre-qualified for the National Finals there was hot competition for the 3rd and 4th spots to join them at the Royal Albert Hall in October. These two places went to Tongwynlais Temperance with MD Owen Farr and Gareth Ritter’s Ebbw Valley respectively.
Also making a trip to the National Finals are winners of their respective sections: Northop, Abertillery Town, Penclawdd and Holywell with fellow qualifiers BTM, Usk, Crwbin and Severn Tunnel also claiming an invite to Cheltenham in September. Full results are below with review of this weekend’s contesting appearing in the next issue of Brass Band World magazine.
Result:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Dr Rob Wiffin & Sandy Smith
Test piece: Variations on an Enigma (Philip Sparke)
1. Cory (Philip Harper)***
2. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)**
3. Tongwynlais Temperance (Owen Farr)*
4. Ebbw Valley (Gareth Ritter)*
5. Tylorstown (Robert Westacott)
6. Llwydcoed (Joshua Ruck)
7. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins)
8. City of Cardiff (M1) (Christopher Bond)
Best Instrumentalist: Glyn Williams (Cory)
Best Cornet: Tom Hutchinson (Cory)
Best Basses: Cory
***Qualify to represent Wales at the 2025 European Championships in Stavanger and pre-qualified for invitation to National Final
** Pre-qualified for invitation to National Final
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
First Section:
Adjudicators: Dr Rob Wiffin & Sandy Smith
Test piece: High Peak (Eric Ball)
1. Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss)*
2. BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)*
3. Goodwick (Ian Wilkinson)
4. Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths)
5. Deiniolen Silver (Lois Jones)
6. Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts)
7. Burry Port Town (Andrew Jones)
8. Abergavenny Borough (Lana Tingay)
Best Instrumentalist: Steph Jonas (cornet) — Northop Silver
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
Second Section:
Adjudicators: John Maines & Glyn Williams
Test piece: Triptych (Philip Sparke)
1. Abertillery Town (Stephen Sykes)*
2. Usk (James Jones)*
3. Royal Buckley Town (Keith Jones)
4. Crosskeys Silver (Sion Rhys Jones)
5. Ammanford Town Silver (Glyn Rhys Davies)
6. Markham & District (Gary Davies)
7. Newport Borough (Robin Hackett)
8. Cwmtawe (Wayne Pedrick)
9. Mid Rhondda (Graham Sheppard)
Best Instrumentalist: Andrew Thomas (euphonium) — Abertillery Town
Best Percussion: Abertillery Town
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
Third Section:
Adjudicators: Alan Bourne & John Maines Test piece: Corineus (Christopher Bond)
1. Penclawdd (John Jones)*
2. Crwbin (Alex McGee)*
3. Ynyshir (Robert Burnett)
4. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) 2 (John Murray)
5. City of Wrexham (Ian Johnson)
6. Newtown Silver (Steve Edwards)
7. Briton Ferry Silver (Jeff Pearce)
8. Gwaun Cae Gurwen (Alex Parker)
Best Instrumentalist: Chris Smith (cornet) — Penclawdd
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: Christopher Bond & Alan Bourne
Test piece: Music for Jock Tamson (Alan Fernie)
1. Holywell (Jamie Duncan)*
2. Severn Tunnel (David Ferris)*
3. Oakdale Silver (Adrian Browning)
Best Instrumentalist: Molly Williams (flugel) — Severn Tunnel
*Qualify for invitation to National Final
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