The Whitburn band maintained their dominance at the Land O'Burns contest as they took their winning run to five-in-a-row at the weekend (23rd August). The band have won quite a few thousand pounds in prize money over the years here and with the National and European Championships looming large in their calendar every single penny is made very welcome by Whitburns treasurer. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass came home in second place in a welcome return to the form which saw them promoted to the Championship section. Easington Colliery finished in third place just ahead of Bon Accord Silver who had the distinction of opening the contest from a number two draw after unforseen circumstances befell Renfrew Burgh as they travelled to the contest. Thankfully Renfrew arrived safely and played immediately after Bon Accord with their performance earning them the 4th Section prize. In the other sections Kirkintilloch Kelvin took the 1st section honours with Johnstone predictably winning the 2nd section. Irish visitors Downshire Brass did very well to finish sixth overall and lift the 3rd section prize. Whitburn almost did a clean sweep of the individual prizes, losing out only in the flugel, won by Easington, and Euphonium, won by Bon Accord.
After the summer hiatus it is good to get the second half of the contesting season kicked off with a very successful event. It was pleasing to note that most of the bands on show here had obviously been working very hard in the bandhall over the summer as the standard was quite high. Whitburn were obviously the big winners and the prize money will no doubt ease the financial burden of their contest travels later in the year. What was also evident from this event was that next years 1st section is probably going to the most competitive section in Scotland next year. Kirkintilloch Kelvin, Lochgelly and Barrhead did reasonably well and joining them next year will be Johnstone Silver who continue to show a level of performance which belies their 2nd section status. They will be good bets for the 2nd section Nationals in Harrogate in September and will travel with high hopes of winning the title.
The results of the Land O Burns 2008
| Venue: | Walker Halls, Troon |
| Date: | 23rd August 2008 |
| Adjudicator(s): | Alan Morrison |
| Entertainment Programme | |
Band |
Conductor |
Section | Draw |
Pts |
|
| 1. | Whitburn | Andrew Duncan | C | 13 |
195 |
| 2. | Kirkintilloch Kelvin | Charles Keenan | 1 | 9 |
193 |
| 3. | Easington Colliery | Stuart Gray | C | 7 |
192 |
| 4. | Bon Accord Silver | Richard Evans | C | 2 |
191 |
| 5. | Johnstone Silver | Raymond Tennant | 2 | 15 |
190 |
| 6. | Downshire Brass | Paul Hamilton | 3 | 14 |
189 |
| 7. | Lochgelly | Paul Drury | 1 | 8 |
188 |
| 8. | Barrhead Burgh | Martyn Ramsay | 1 | 4 |
187 |
| 9. | Dunaskin Doon | John Boax | C | 12 |
186 |
| 10. | Croy | Kenneth Blackwood | 2 | 6 |
185 |
| 11. | Annan Town | David Shanks | 3 | 5 |
184 |
| 12. | Renfrew Burgh | David Hutcheson | 4 | 1 |
182 |
| 13. | Shotts St. Patrick's Brass | Andrew Duncan | 2 | 11 |
181 |
| 14. | Coalburn Silver | Gareth Bowman | 3 | 3 |
179 |
| 15. | Brass Sounds Inverclyde | Graeme Parkhill | 4 | 10 |
178 |