Mixed emotions as Scots bands return home

As Whitburn and Bon-Accord Silver players return from their moment in the sun at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday, there will probably be mixed emotions – delight at having qualified for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britiain, but disappointment at not achieving higher placings when the results were announced yesterday evening.

Nevertheless, both bands did Scotland proud in their performances of the notoriously difficult test-piece Hyperlink by Peter Graham and improved on their results in last year's National Finals when Whitburn came 14th and Bon-Accord 15th.

In the end adjudicators Dr Robert Childs, Dr Stephen Cobb and Professor Rob Wiffin OBE chose Foden’s – under the baton of Russell Gray – as the best of the 20 participating bands. Whitburn came in 11th and Bon-Accord 13th.

Drawing 1 and 2 in the order of play for Whitburn and Bon-Accord respectively probably didn’t help the Scottish cause!

A Bon-Accord spokesman commented: “We are heading back to Aberdeen after having had a great weekend in London. The band was very happy with its performance and was delighted to improve on the result gained from last year's competition.”

Well done, Whitburn and Bon-Accord! Congratulations Foden’s!

Here are the full results from the 2022 National Finals:

1. Foden's (Russell Gray)
2. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)
3. Cory (Philip Harper)
4. Flowers (Paul Holland)
5. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
6. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
7. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
8. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
9. Desford Colliery (Michael Fowles)
10. Redbridge (Chris Bearman)
11. Whitburn (Garry Cutt)
12. Aldbourne (Erik Janssen)
13. Bon Accord Silver (Adam Cooke)
14. Easington Colliery (Stephen Malcolm)
15. Leyland (Thomas Wyss)
16. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Christopher Bond)
17. Ratby Co-operative (Mareika Gray)
18. Northop Silver (Daniel Brooks)
19. NASUWT Riverside (Dr. David Thornton)
20. Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)

• The top four bands pre-qualify for the 2023 finals.

Making history for their bands... Whitburn (top) and Bon-Accord Silver (above) players pose for their iconic photos outside the Royal Albert Hall