14.5k tune in for Bolsover

Bolsover Festival of Brass

A record breaking worldwide audience tuned in to enjoy the brass band entertainment at the Bolsover Festival of Brass with around 14,500 unique users taking up the opportunity to link up with the partnership production at the Heritage High School in Clowne hosted by Bolsover District Council, broadcast by the First Art organisation and supported by Arts Council England.

13 hours of live broadcasting started at 8.30am, eventually reaching 23 countries across the world, as well as over 220 towns and cities within the UK. Bolsover & NE Derbyshire District Council Chief Executive Daniel Swaine said that the event was a showcase for what local authorities can do best. "It's a wonderful event — brilliantly run by Carole Hirst and her team and supported in partnership with other leading organisations such as Arts Council England and First Art amongst others. Being able to help promote as well as celebrate what is so good about brass bands is something we are very proud of doing."

Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel were in winning form with recently appointed MD David Hamilton and claimed the Wilson Bowden Developments Trophy and £750 first prize in the Championship Section.

Speaking after the victory David commented, "I couldn't have asked for anything better. It's a real pleasure to conduct this famous band, one that has a brilliant attitude and such a progressive musical approach. I hope this is now the start of many more successes together." Unite the Union came runner-up for a second successive year as a well-worked set under the baton of John Roberts also claimed the Margaret Allsop Memorial Trophy as giving the 'Most Entertaining Performance', whilst the final podium slot went to a delighted Shepherd Group under Richard Wilton.

Earlier, Elland claimed the honours in the First Section, as under MD Daniel Brookes they produced a highly enjoyable set to claim the £500 first prize to pip rivals Foresters Brass 2000 and Longridge. Stannington Brass enjoyed their clear-cut success in the Second Section time and time again.

The recently crowned Second Section National Champion showed their quality under Derek Renshaw to take the £400 first prize by a commanding three-point margin over rivals Foss Dyke, with Ibstock Brass a point further back in third. Another Yorkshire National champion showed its quality in the keenly competitive Third Section, as Crofton Silver added yet more silverware to their burgeoning 2016 list of successes.

There was certainly plenty of great entertainment on offer for Anne Crookston and the audience to enjoy in the Fourth Section with an excellent set from Swinton & District Excelsior under the baton of Robin Rutter that claimed the £250 first prize, ahead of close rivals Audley Brass and Kirkby Colliery Welfare.

The investment in the Bolsover Festival has ensured that every band's performance was recorded to be released for future broadcast through the website of the First Art organisation and it is hoped that the Festival will be able to build further on what was an overwhelming success, as Bolsover became the focus of worldwide banding attention.

Results:

Championship Section:

Adjudicator: Roger Webster

1. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (David Hamilton) — 95
2. Unite the Union (John Roberts) — 93
3. Shepherd Group (Richard Wilton) — 91
4. Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard) — 90
5. Hatfield Band (Stan Lippeatt) — 89
6. Elland Silver (Daniel Brookes) — 88
7. Easington Colliery (Chris Bentham) — 86
8. Foresters Brass 2000 (John Davis) — 85
9. York Railway Institute (Chris Hirst) — 84
10. Haverhill Silver (Mark Ager) — 83
11. 11= Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield) — 82
12. 11= Shirley Band (David Bishop-Rowe) — 82
13. Kibworth (Dave Holling) — 81

Most Entertaining Band: Unite the Union
Best Soloist: Ginette Baker (flugel) — Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
Major Peter Parkes Winning Conductor Prize: David Hamilton
2017 Spring Festival qualification: Shepherd Group

First Section:

Adjudicator: David Childs

1. Elland Silver (Daniel Brookes) — 94
2. Foresters Brass 2000 (John Davis) — 93
3. Longridge (Mark Peacock) — 91
4. Blidworth Welfare (Martin Heartfield) — 90
5. Chapeltown Silver (Andrew Dennis) — 89
6. Enderby Band (Simon Greswell) — 88
7. South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker) — 87
8. Gresley Colliery (Dave Purkiss) — 85
9. Kibworth (Dave Holling) — 84
10. Ireland Colliery Chesterfield (Richard Windle) — 82

Most Entertaining Band: Elland Silver
Best Soloist: Rob Wilshaw (trombone) — Foresters Brass 2000

Second Section:

Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Stannington (Derek Renshaw) — 96
2. Foss Dyke (Colum O'Shea) — 93
3. Ibstock Brick Brass (Simon Willis) — 92

Best Soloist: Richard Dowling (cornet) — Stannington

 
Third Section:

Adjudicator: Colin Hardy

1. Crofton Silver (Dean Jones) — 93
2. Matlock Band (Geoff Hawley) — 91
3. Rolls Royce (Derby) (Graham Cardwell) — 90
4. Towcester Studio (Neil Brownless) — 89
5. Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson) — 88
6. Resdev Market Rasen (David Dernley) — 86
7. Stacksteads (Fred Bowker) — 85
8. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock) — 83
9. Newhall Band (Kevin Holdgate) — 81
10. Oughtibridge (Gain Somerset) — 79
11. Dronfield Genquip (Simon Kerwin) — 76

Best Soloist: Andrew Clutton (cornet) — Crofton Silver

 
Fourth Section:

Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Swinton & District Excelsior (Robin Rutter) — 94
2. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock) — 93
3. Kirkby Colliery Welfare (Neville Buxton) — 92
4. Ilkeston (Geoff Hawley) — 91
5. Deepcar Brass (Cathryn Rogers) — 90
6. Newark (Rupert Trippett) — 89
7. Ellenbrook & Boothstown (Christopher Barmes) — 87

Best Soloist: Daniel Potter (horn) — Swinton & District Excelsior

Unregistered Section:

Adjudicator: Anne Crookston

1. Carlton Brass Training Band (Geoff Hawley) — 88

Best Soloist: Sarah Harper (cornet) — Carlton Training Band

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