Dalmellington take West of Scotland entertainment title with ‘edge of seat’ performance

A musical director-inspired and arranged programme that kept adjudicator Sheona Wade “on the edge of her seat throughout” earned Dalmellington Band the top prize at yesterday’s West of Scotland entertainment contest in Troon.

Led by Andrew Duncan, the band had Sheona gushing: “Super arrangements that were something very different. Some really great soloists. Thank you MD for this top quality programme.”

It was the band’s second win at the event in three appearances, having taken the honours in 2022.

Of the 14 bands that participated in the competition in the Walker Halls, Dalmellington took the top spot with 198 points. The runner-up band was Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) on 197 points and in third place was Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston) just one point behind.

Entertainment judge was Donald Reid to whom we are grateful for most of these photographs.

Dalmellington’s winning programme was: Scherzo from Symphony No. 10 (Dimitri Shostakovich, arr Andrew Duncan), Eriskay Love Lilt (traditional Hebridean air, arr Andrew Duncan, cornet soloist Rebecca Wilson Paterson), Bom Bom (Bloem de Wilde de Lingy, Aaron Horn, Samuel Ritchie and Raz Olsher, arr Andrew Duncan, sousaphone soloist Duncan McCluskie), Tonight from West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein, arr by Mark Freeh) and Peterloo Overture (Malcolm Arnold, arr Andrew Duncan).

The full results are:

1. Dalmellington (Andrew Duncan) 198 pts

2. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) 197 pts

3. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston) 196 pts

4. Unison Kinneil (Joshua Parkhill) 194 pts

5. Lochgelly (Chris Shanks) 193 pts

6. The Kirkintilloch Band (Hedley Benson) 192 pts

7. Johnstone (Joshua Parkhill) 191 pts

8. Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good) 190 pts

9. Dunaskin Doon (Ralph Brill) 188 pts

10. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (Mark James) 186 pts

11. Shotts St Patrick’s (Andy Shaw) 184 pts

12. Irvine & Dreghorn Brass (Helen Douthwaite Teasdale) 183 pts

13. Kilmarnock Concert Brass (Rebecca Wilson Paterson) 182 pts

14. Campbeltown Brass (Andrew McMillan) 181 pts

Best principal cornet: Rebecca Wilson Paterson, Dalmellington

Alex McCutcheon Quaich for best bass section: Dalmellington

Jim and Mary Stewart Trophy for most entertaining performance: Campbeltown Brass

Best championship band: Dalmellington

Best 1st section band: Newtongrange Silver

Best 2nd section band: Renfrew Burgh (pictured below with Sheona Wade)

Newtongrange Silver was the best First Section band

Coalburn Silver took the runner-up spot

Dalmellington Band's jubilant bass section

Campbeltown Brass was adjudged by Donald Reid (left) to have put on the most entertaining programme