Once again it was all too familiar as Whitburn took on Scottish Co-operative in the WLC Challenge Final, with the latter aiming to emulate the hat trick that their opponents had achieved in 2004. The final brought together the two best bands in Scotland at the moment with both competitors having won their respective semi-finals by massive five point margins. Scottish Co-op looking for a third victory and a chance to exorcise the demons which saw them humbled in Cambridge. A third consecutive victory for Scottish Co-op would at least give a different band the opportunity to contest the final next year. For Whitburn it was all about continuing the great run of success which has seen them lift two of Scotlands "majors" in the quest for an elusive "Grand Slam".
First up it was Whitburn with a sparkling rendition of "Silverado", an arrangement by Gareth Green from the Oscar nominated film score of the same name. Great opener for any occasion this one, the film however, is allegedly shocking! Afterwards the tone went to the opposite extreme with what turned out to be the winner in the best solo category, 
Alex Philip in marvellous form playing the Hoagy Carmichael classic "Stardust", beautifully accompanied by the band. Andy Duncan then gave away his secret regarding visits to Kneller Hall during his study time in London as a teenager, "HRH The Duke of Cambridge", a march by Malcolm Arnold is also the name of the pub opposite the famous military music school. Perhaps that's where Andy sat and arranged it! I've enjoyed this on the many occasions Whitburn have played it and this was no exception. If you haven't heard it it's typical Arnold with a hint of Old English Yeomanry and Elgar, a great link to Whitburn's next piece, the "Fugue from A Severn Suite". Lovely stuff on the whole but some fragile entries which may, from discussion with Stephen Roberts following the results, have been significant. It went light hearted after this with Andy's arrangement of what could be described as one of Cole Porters lesser known pieces, "Miss Otis Regrets", a musical dialogue of lovers deceit ending with a lynch mob. Nice little piece this with little cameos from the kit drummer and Principal cornet.
We got the Kenneth Downie contribution next and what a surprise, "In Perfect Peace". A great little number by Kenneth Downie but the audience had heard it all before as this seemed to be the favourite amongst competing bands this year having been used on no less than four occassions. The band played it very well but there were some loose entries in this, surprisingly !!!
Great contrast next, Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Aint Got Swing". The audience loved this one, even although it got pipped in the category of Longest Title!
Whitburn chose to finish with two classics from their Andrew Duncan arranged repertoire. Firstly the beautiful and tender small ensemble item "Scarlet Ribbons", sadly accompanied, not for the first time I regret to say, by the almost now obligatory sweetie paper rustlers. What a shame the people who sorted out Miss Otis weren't sitting behind them. Thankfully it didn't bother the players, a real gem of an item. And lastly, a piece to challenge any sweetie rustler, "Peterloo Overture". No wrapper is big enough to drown this out, although an attempt at it would have saved us from the tuning on the opening note, mutes, who wants them! When this gets going it's a real mass of sound depicting the Manchester Militia's brutal put down of a peaceful demonstration, an incident etched in history as the defining moment in the birth of trade unionism in the UK. A marvellous end to a fine programme.
So to Scottish Co-op and what a blistering tempo Russell Gray chose as they ripped into "The Corsair" with aplomb. Not without the odd split here and there but at a speed which threatened at times to nudge the sound barrier it was hardly surprising. Amazingly they totally nailed the syncopation at the end. Next we had a quite stunning solo from Lesley Howie as she played the "Finale from Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto". This was indeed a virtuoso performance from a World class soloist but, why did the band have to be so loud in places. This may have cost Lesley the soloist award in my humble opinion. Finally everything settled down in the third item with a beautifully balanced rendition of "Peace" by Kenneth Downie. This was real class and thankfully the sweetie brigade had run out of boilings, or, as one cynic suggested, were they Co-op plants put there to unsettle Whitburn. Surely not, there are no conspiracies in brass band contests!
To continue, Russell Gray decided to inject some fun into the proceedings with four back to back crowd pleasers. First up "Barnum and Bailey's Favourite", arranged by semi-final judge Peter Roberts. This is a rousing American Marching Band type march and was quite brilliant at times. The trombones certainly worked hard in what is a horrendously difficult, if short, bass solo section. Then came the one which gave us the L-o-n-g-e-s-t T-i-t-l-e, "I'm Goin To Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter"! Try writing that in the dark after the editor of the British Bandsman breaks the bulb on your clip on lamp. This was quite remarkable because basically the band were playing it, in a contest, at about quarter to eight, having first sight read it at six o'clock. The arrangement was fantastic, penned by Rebecca Lundberg, a student of Russell Grays and principal trombone at Carlton Main. 
Following this the temperature rose ( if that was possible in a sauna of a theatre) in expectation as five lovely "young" ladies, Andrea Casey, Lesley Howie, Caroline Munro, Alison Bonnar and Lorraine Bisson emerged from the ranks of the band and lined up along the front of the stage. As many amongst the audience prayed for You Can Leave Your Hat On from The Full Monty the temperature dropped as fast as it had risen as they actually performed "Girl Talk" by Neil Hefti. This was a really nice, evenly balanced, well shaped ensemble, and the playing was very good as well ! The last of the four pieces featured a little talk over section by the MD as the band played their way, in a slightly laid back manner, through "Perpetuum Mobile" that well known Howard Snell arrangement of the Strauss showpiece. Again, playing of the highest standard. The audience were then brought back down to earth with what I have to say has been a favourite of mine since I played it with Fauldhouse Miners Youth Band in 19**, "49th Parallel" is a beautiful little piece from the film of the same name and was composed by Vaughan Williams. Very rarely played, it's one of those which, if delivered, gets the hairs up on the back of the neck.
The Co-op then delved into the world of test pieces for their finisher, movement three of Philip Sparkes brilliant "Year Of The Dragon". It opened really well, taking the audience minds back to The Corsair, but then all of a sudden it faltered, the tempo waivered ever so slightly in the middle section, there were a few minor slips, the bass trom arrived a fraction early at one point and people began to wonder if the pendulum had swung in favour of Whitburn.
Opinions in the bar prior to the results were predictable, the Co by half a length going into the last piece became the Co by a neck or Whitburn by a neck depending who you talked to. Whitburns' audible faults were the one or two nervy little lifts between phrases and the odd early drop off in long notes in the quieter numbers. It was the opposite with the Co Op with dynamics in the big pieces, especially the solo accompaniment being the main target for criticism.
In the end it was down to Mr Roberts and it was the Co by 2 points. Some said 2 points was too much, does it matter, certainly not to the guys in the blue shirts and tartan waistcoats. What a great night for everyone, what a shame that the Co-op wont be there next year to defend their title once more.
For the Record the secondary prizes judged by Tony Swainson were awarded as follows;-
Best New Composition -- A Scots Miscellany by Alan Fernie, performed by Newtongrange.
Best Ensemble Piece -- Buglers Holiday performed by Scottish Co-Op.
Best Soloist -- Alex Philip playing Stardust with Whitburn.
Words by Dave Frame