A BUMPER crowd turned out to enjoy the music of 13 bands as they competed in the Holme Valley Brass Band contest in Holmfirth Civic Hall.

After suffering a decline in popularity over recent years, a new committee was elected, increased sponsorship was obtained and more bands entered the two-section contest, which made it a great day out for brass enthusiasts who filled the hall to capacity.

Skelmanthorpe, conducted by John Roberts, took the top honours in Section A, with Uppermill (Alan Widdop) also picking up two top awards in Section B. Barry Thompson, a former member of Grimethorpe Colliery Band, was the music adjudicator, with former Coldstream Guardsman Stuart Fawcett, now musical director of Meltham & Meltham Mills Band, adjudicating the deportment as the bands marched through Holmfirth at the close of a very successful and entertaining contest.

RESULTS

Section A.

hymn tune: 1 Skelmanthorpe (John Roberts) 88pts, 2 Hade Edge (Simon Wood) 87; own choice test-piece: 1 Skelmanthorpe 188, 2 Hade Edge 186.

Special awards—Outstanding euphonium player in Section A, Skelmanthorpe; best bass section: Skelmanthorpe; outstanding soloist: Jason Evans, principal cornet Marsden Silver [Ossett Brewery] (Glyn Williams); highest unplaced Section 2 band: Holme Silver [Disposables UK Group] (Duncan Beckley); best Holme Valley band in Section A, hymn tune only: Hade Edge; best Holme Valley band in Section A, test-piece only: Hade Edge; outstanding conductor in Section A: John Roberts (Skelmanthorpe).

Section B

hymn tune: 1 Uppermill (Alan Widdop) 83pts., 2 Skelmanthorpe “B” (Philip Garlick) 82; own choice test-piece: 1 (£400 sponsored by Hinchliffe Mill Brass Band Charity Fund in memory of Keith Pearson) 1 Uppermill 185, 2 Stalybridge Old (John Briggs)ŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠŠ 183, 3 Skelmanthorpe “B” 182.

Special awards—Outstanding euphonium player in Section B, Stalybridge Old; best trombone section, Uppermill; highest unplaced youth band: Scissett Youth (S. Mansfield); outstanding conductor in Section B: Alan Widdop (Uppermill).

Results of deportment of bands on the march: 1 Wakefield Metropolitan, 2 Holme Silver (Disposables UK Group), 3 Skelmanthorpe.