Sunday 4th February 2007

Blaenavon Collect Cups in the Forest

ON A bright but cold Sunday morning Blaenavon Town Band made their way to the Forest of Dean to play in the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association contest held in Coleford at the Forest Theatre. A rehearsal in the Berryhill Memorial Hall preceded the actual competition which, because of the low number of entries, was held in two halves, with fourth section bands playing with higher section bands. The open adjudication by Mr Brian Buckley was of five fourth section bands, two third section and one second section. There were cups a’plenty and Blaenavon did well to win the third section and come second overall to Tylorstown, the second section band.

Interestingly, there was only a point in it, with Tylorstown marked at 185 and Blaenavon 184. Bream were a long way behind with 181. In addition the soloist prize was won by brilliant flugel player Joanne Corcoran of the Blaenavon Band and the prize for the best entertainment/deportment was also won by the band.

As a matter of interest, Cross Keys had to be content with second place behind Bream Silver Band in the fourth section and Tylorstown were the only band in their second section.

We only made one change from the programme we played in 2006 – “Star Lake” taking the place of “Old Comrades”. So our programme started with “Ceremonial Fanfare”, “Star Lake”, flugel solo “Marianne”, “Ticket to Ride” (complete with flags and whistles) and concluded with the fugue section of “Laudate Dominum”.

 The only blemish on the day was that Wales lost to Ireland in the Millennium Stadium and we were fortunate to be able to find a pub in Coleford with a giant screen to view the proceedings in Cardiff. Our mascot, Shamus the sheep (or was it Son of Shamus?) had a green ribbon and a shamrock on it so it was a case of hedging our bets. In the end, we didn’t need the mascot, our playing did it all for us. We look forward now to Swansea on March 17th when “Prelude and Jubilate” will be the piece that will test all bands.

One more thing – new signings. We have been fortunate to sign the sisters Gough, on front row cornet and first baritone and another ex BTM player in Max Joseph.

The full results are shown here:

Section 1: (Open Contest for all registered bands)

1. Tylorstown (Arriva Trains Wales) - 185 pts
2. Blaenavon Town - 184 pts
3. Bream Silver - 181 pts
4. Wotton & District - 180 pts
5. Crosskeys Silver - 178 pts
6. Marshfield - 174 pts
7. Nailsworth - 172 pts

Most Entertaining Band: Blaenavon Town
James Whitson Trophy - Winning Conductor: Gary Davies
Best Soloist: Joanne Corcoran - Flugel - Blaenavon Town
Youngest Player: Ellis Davies - Crosskeys Silver

Highest Placed Second Section Band: Tylorstown (Arriva Trains Wales)
Highest Placed Third Section Band: Blaenavon Town
Highest Placed Fourth Section Band: Bream Silver

Section 2: (Youth, training or unregistered bands)

1. Usk Youth - 179 pts
2. Lydbrook Training - 177 pts
3. Frampton-on-Severn - 176 pts
4. Berry Hill Silver - 173 pts
5. Parkend Silver - 172 pts

Best Soloist: Rhyddian Griffiths - Percussion - Lydbrook Training
Youngest Player: Stephen East - Lydbrook Training