Blaenavon Town Band Ammanford Contest

Saturday 7th October 2006

Ammanford Contest

Would ewe believe it! Son of Rambo strikes again. The lucky mascot (pictured left) helped the band to another contest success.

Blaenavon Town band take top honours in the South West Wales BBA Contest at Ammanford.  Winners with 185 Points in the second Section of this own choice contest playing Laudate Dominum by Edward Gregson.

This follows a second at Wychavon and a win at the Eisteddfod in recent months.  Other Prizes in the second section were taken by the Soprano player from Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Third Place went to Penclawdd and Second place was given to Briton Ferry.

Adjudicator, Steve Pritchard-Jones was disappointed by the amount of over-blowing in the second section but was impressed by the dynamic range shown by the band.

The Contest was marred by the fire alarm being set-off on 2 occasions. Firstly during the Fourth Section when Blaenavon Concert Band were on stage (It didn't put them off too much as they were placed second) and during the final section of Rogerstone's performance of Lorenzo in the first section. This second occasion was started by someone smoking in a toilet!  The concentration shown by the Rogerstone Players has to be commended as they completed there performance in style despite the distraction.

Blaenavon MD Alun Hathaway picked up the Conductors trophy and was very pleased with the performance and result. Pictured here with Linfa Protherough, Alun celebrated his first year with the band in style. 

The result will make an interesting contest in Treorchy next month. The Championship could go anywhere with Blaenavon, Briton Ferry and Penclawdd all in contention and hoping to get their hands on the Second Section Championship.

More pictures of the drunken antics of the band can be seen in the online gallery.

The Full results for the second section are shown below:

1.    Blaenavon Town (A. Hathaway) - 185pts Laudate Dominum
2.    Britton Ferry (Dr C. Jenkins) - 183pts Resurgam
3.    Penclawdd Brass (T. Small) - 182pts The Perfect Fool
4.    Ogmore Valley Silver (I. Barnett) - 181pts Rhapsody in Brass
5.    Newtown Silver (S. Edwards) - 180pts Coriolanus
6.    Severn Tunnel (S. Crawford) - 179pts Tryptich
7.    Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen (G. Davies) - 178pts Rhapsody in Brass
8.    Ynyshir Stacks of Tiles (D. Evans) - 177pts A Salford Sinfonietta

Adjudicator: Steve Pritchard-Jones
Best Instrumentalist: (Soprano) Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen