Campbeltown are crowned national Second Section champions!

Very many congratulations to Campbeltown Brass on their outstanding victory at yesterday’s National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in Cheltenham – earning them the title of British Second Section Champions!

It was a case of saving the best until last as the band was the final Scottish entry from eight representative bands at the finals, taking to the stage in The Centaur well into yesterday evening to produce their winning performance of Ghosts, Goblins, Witches & Wizards by Darrol Barry.

And it was Campbeltown’s rendition of the test piece, under the expert guidance of musical director Stephanie Kennedy, that appealed most to adjudicators Brett Baker, Gary Davies and Chris King.

It was a performance that was described on 4barsrest as “simply sensational”.

For the rest of the Scottish bands, it was something of a mixed bag of results, with no other taking a podium place.

Playing on Saturday morning in the Third Section, Dysart Colliery were placed eighth and Kilmarnock Concert Brass 13th.  In the following First Section competition, Bo'ness & Carriden came eighth and Dalkeith & Monktonhall 11th.

Yesterday morning, in the Fourth Section, Brass Sounds Inverclyde took seventh place and Stranraer Brass 11th.  In the Second Section, as well as Campbeltown’s win, Tullis Russell Mills finished in 17th position.

It was some expedition for Campbeltown to get to Cheltenham – a 13-hour epic road journey of almost 500 miles – but there’s no doubt the return trip will be one of joy and celebration! Well done!!

It was a weekend of highs and lows, elation and disappointment but the overriding sentiment was one of every band taking part being winners in their own right, having earned their right to be in the finals in the first place.

Here are the full results:

First Section

Adjudicators: Gary Davies, Ian Porthouse, Roger Webster
Set work: Trittico (James Curnow)

1. Stannington (Sam Fisher)
2. Marsden Silver Prize (Andrew Lofthouse)
3. Staffordshire (Craig Williams)
4. Sandhurst Silver (David Johnson)
5. Accler8 (Jef Sparkes)
6. Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter)
7. Ashton under Lyne (Martyn Evans)
8. Bo'ness & Carriden (Charlie Farren)
9. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins)
10. Hyde (Nigel Seaman)
11. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
12. Kirkbymoorside Town (Sarah Woodward)
13. Gresley Colliery (Craig Stevens)
14. East of England Co-op (Nigel Cooper)
15. Houghton Brass (Michael Franey)
16. Bodmin Town (Steve Sykes)

Second Section

Adjudicators: Brett Baker, Gary Davies, Chris King
Set work: Ghosts, Goblins, Witches & Wizards (Darrol Barry)

1. Campbeltown Brass (Stephanie Kennedy)
2. Pemberton Old Wigan DW B (Jay Hall)
3. Beaumaris (Bari Gwilliam)
4. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Tom Haslam)
5. Helston Town (John Berryman)
6. Harborough (Brad Turnbull)
7. BD1 Brass (Jonathan Bates)
8. City of Norwich (Mark Ager)
9. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
10. Mid Rhondda (Alan Gibbs)
11. Wantage Concert Brass (Neil Brownless)
12. Poulton le Fylde (Alexander Webb)
13. Gosport Solent Brass (Phillip Littlemore)
14. Tewit Silver (Martin Hall)
15. Tilbury (Melvin White)
16. Stamford Brass (Julian Bright)
17. Tullis Russell Mills (Ray Maundy)
18. Bearpark & Esh Colliery (Philip Tait)

Third Section

Adjudicators: John Maines, Brian Rostron, Sandy Smith
Set work: Sinfonietta for Brass Band (Joseph Horovitz)

1. Skelmersdale (Benjamin Coulson)
2. Jayess Newbiggin (Duncan Beckley)
3. Formby (Louise Hough MBE)
4. Ellington Colliery (Calum Hartwell)
5. Lofthouse 2000 (Lee Whitworth)
6. Ratby Co-operative Mid (Gary Perrin)
7. Cwmtawe (Wayne Pedrick)
8. Dysart Colliery (Kenneth Letham)
9. Redruth Town (David Nicholson)
10. Ocean Brass (Andy Wareham)
11. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech)
12. Huddersfield & Ripponden (Adam Bell)
13. Kilmarnock Concert (Scott Walker)
14. City of Birmingham (Saphran Ali)
15. Olney Brass (Philip Devine)
16. Crwbin (Alex McGee)
17. Chichester City (Alfie Hughes)

Fourth Section

Adjudicators: David Ashworth, John Maines, Roger Webster
Set work: New Beginnings (Fredrick Schjelderup)

1. Dobcross Silver (Jason Smith)
2. Bideford Town (Mark Durham)
3. Morecambe (David Johnson)
4. Trentham Brass (Shaun Farrington)
5. Crosskeys Silver (Sion Jones)
6. Oughtibridge (Gavin Somerset)
7. Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill)
8. Hangleton (Richard Baker)
9. Barnsley Metropolitan (Alex Francis)
10. Flookburgh Silver (John Iveson)
11. Stranraer Brass (Angela Miller)
12. North Lakes Brass (Gary Williams)
13. Tewkesbury (Robert Nicholson)
14. Hemel Hempstead (Paul Fothergill)
15. Amington (Alan Gifford)
16. Rhyl Silver (Jamie Duncan)