Annan Town wins Borders contest with a programme of music by just one arranger

It was Annan Town Band’s performance of a programme of music, all arranged by Adam D J Taylor, which took the fancy of adjudicators Anne Crookston and Sheona Wade at yesterday’s Borders Entertainment Contest.

The event – hosted by St Ronan’s Silver Band in the Memorial Hall in Innerleithen – saw 14 bands take to the stage in what has become one of the highlights of the Scottish brass banding calendar.

As well as winning the contest overall, taking the Scottish Borders Trophy, Annan – under the direction of Andrew Warriner – received the Souter Ronnie Trophy for best Second Section band and the Bert Neil Memorial Quaich for best bass section. Euphonium player Jamie Bryden was also named as the best instrumentalist for his rendition of Can’t Help Falling in Love.

Other pieces in the winning programme were traditional Russian folk song Karobeiniki, This Night by Billy Joel and California Dreamin’ by John and Michelle Phillips.

Victorious Annan Town Band with euphonium soloist Jamie Bryden

 Second place went to Broxburn & Livingston, conducted by Jim Bone. Last year’s winners Jedforest Instrumental, under the baton of Philip Rosier, were placed third, a result which gave the band the highest-placed Borders band prize. Further silverware came in the form of the Jenny Corbett Memorial Cup for having the best percussion section.

The entertainment prize of the Ash Glass Design Shield was awarded to Langholm Town Band, conducted by Chris Bradley, whose programme comprised Softly, Softly, arranged for band by Ray Farr, Starburst by Dan Price, I Believe by Eric Levisalles, arranged by Reif Gilje, and The Bangles’ hit Walk Like an Egyptian, arranged by Philip Harper.

Langholm also received the John A Wilson Memorial Trophy for being the best Third Section band.

The highest-placed Fourth Section band was Coalburn Intermediate, directed by Gareth Bowman, receiving the Harry Pierce Memorial Trophy.

Renfrew Burgh‘s Ash Paton was awarded the Dave Young Trophy for best solo cornet and also the best soloist prize for her performance of Miss Blue Bonnet, arranged by Sandy Smith. The band also won the Langholm Town Band Bicentenary Trophy for best deportment.

Renfrew Burgh's Ash Paton won the best soloist prize

 The full results of the contest are:

1. Annan Town (Andrew Warriner)

2. Broxburn & Livingston (Jim Bone)

3. Jedforest Instrumental (Philip Rosier)

4. Langholm Town (Chris Bradley)

5. Renfrew Burgh (Mark Good)

6. St Ronan’s Silver (Chris Shanks)

7. Selkirk Silver (Stuart Black)

8. Shotts St Patrick’s (Andy Shaw)

9. Coalburn Intermediate (Gareth Bowman)

10. Peebles Burgh (Caroline Farren)

11. Whitburn Heartlands (Peter Holmes)

12. Penicuik Silver (Jess Purbrick)

13. Hawick Saxhorn (Andrew Holland)

* Galashiels Town Band was non-competing.