Midlands Victory for GUS
GUS was victorious in Bedworth today at the Midlands Regional Championship. The band gave a fine display of Derek Bourgeois’ ‘Diversions’ led by MD Dr David Thornton. The band will now represent the region at the Royal Albert Hall in October at the National Finals. Joining GUS in London will be runners-up Desford Colliery, who also gave a well crafter performance under the leadership of Ian Porthouse, but who couldn’t quite reach the coveted top-spot today. Completing the podium places was Derwent Brass in third place.
Lower section victories were claimed by Foss Dyke, Ibstock Brick Brass and Syston. Raunds Temperance, Audley Brass, Avonbank (Evesham), Thrapston Town, Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) and Brackley & District will join them in Cheltenham as fellow qualifiers. The Second Section competition is due to take place next weekend on 15th March.
Result:
Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Steven Mead, Chris King
1. GUS Band (Dr David Thornton)*
2. Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)*
3. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
4. Ratby Co-operative (Allan Withington)
5. Staffordshire (Lee Woodward)
6. Langley (Cliff Parker)
7. Enderby (Michael Fowles)
8. Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones)
9. Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
10. Blidworth Welfare (Gary Perrin)
11. Brass Band of Central England (Stephen Cooper)
12. Bilton Silver (Rugby) (Brad Turnbull)
*Qualify for National Final
First Section:
Adjudicators: Derek Renshaw, Steve Pritchard-Jones
1. Foss Dyke (Gareth Westwood)*
2. Raunds Temperance (Jonathan Pippen)*
3. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)*
4. Hucknall & Linby MC (Simon Gresswell)
5. Kibworth (Brendan Caddy)
6. Jackfield (Ryan Richards)
7. Thoresby Colliery (Luke Pallister)
8. City of Coventry (Lee Woodward)
9. Shirley (Tom Stoneman)
10. Rushden Town (Adele Hudson)
11. Bedworth Brass (Jonathan Mott)
12. Oddfellows Brass (John Davis)
13. Gresley Colliery (Craig Stevens)
14. Burbage Buxton (Steve Critchlow)
15. Stamford Brass (Julian Bright)
*Qualify for National Final
Third Section:
Adjudicators: Stephanie Binns, Nick Garman
1. Ibstock Brick Brass (Jon Penton)*
2. Avonbank (Evesham) (Micah Parsons)*
3. Thrapston Town (Nathan Waterman)*
4. Wigston (Colin Jones)
5. Wem Jubilee (Cathy Rutherford)
6. Wellington (Telford) (Ian Johnson)
7. Shipston Town (Alex Bland)
8. Whitwell Brass (Rob Deakin)
9. Newark Town (Gary Wyatt)
10. Trentham (Matthew Ludford-King)
11. Cleobury Mortimer Concert (Chris Cobon)
12. Daventry Brass (Ken Ewer)
13. Market Rasen (Peter Richardson)
14. Long Eaton Silver (Sharon Stansfield)
15. Amington (Chris Barker)
*Qualify for National Final
Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: David Hirst, James Holt
1. Syston (Alex Bland)*
2. Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) (Sarah Fellowes)*
3. Brackley & District (Mark Probert)*
4. Cubbington Silver (Kieron Howe)
5. Dunchurch (Paul Whitmore)
6. University of Warwick (Tom Stoneman)
7. Arrow Valley (Alex Bland)
8. Coventry Festival (Allan Wheelhouse)
9. Bilton Silver (Evolution) (Jodie Kelsall)
10. Croft Silver (Henry Dunger)
11. Bretforton Silver (Paul Wood)
12. Corby Silver (Daniel Thompson)
13. Matlock (Chris Banks)
14. Melton Borough (Tony Rifugiato)
15. Skegness Silver (Steve Walker)
16. Moulton 77 Brass (Kirsty Woodhouse)
17. Malvern Hills & District (Chris License)
*Qualify for National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Hannah Taylor (University of Warwick)
