Banding’s so bracing!

Feb 1 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A BRASS band is celebrating success with help from the bracing air of Skegness.

Skelmanthorpe soared to success against a big field of 24 bands to retain their First Section title in the Butlins Mineworkers Open Festival.

Under conductor John Roberts they played Edward Gregson’s The Plantagenets to take the £1,500 top prize and trophy.

It was a dream debut for principal cornet Jo Payne (pictured), who has moved to the area to study at Huddersfield University.

She is also principal cornet with the university brass band.

Jo has previously played for Sellers and Point of Ayr.

Since 2003 she has played on the top chair at Jackfield Band, followed by a brief spell at Yorkshire Co-op.

Adjudicators Malcolm Brownbill and Paul Cosh gave the victory by a one-point margin from United Yorkshire Co-op in second place, with Vernon Building Society Poynton third.

The success confirmed that the band is going from strength to strength since winning at the Pontins contest in November.

Band members are now rehearsing hard for the area contest in March.