IT was a nil return for Huddersfield bands competing in the Besson National Brass Band Championship finals in Harrogate Conference Centre over the weekend.

However, the town does have something to cheer about because Chris Houlding, who took Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel to victory in Section 1, also conducts Slaithwaite Philharmonic.

Grange Moor and Slaithwaite bands had qualified for the Section 3 final earlier in the year when Grange Moor won the day, closely followed by Slaithwaite.

However, hopes were dashed yesterday when Grange Moor, conducted by Duncan Beckley, of Wakefield, finished in 10th place, with Slaithwaite (Barry Hudson) having to settle for 15th spot.

Slaithwaite were drawn to play No 3 with Grange Moor drawing the unloved No 13.

The set test was A Gallimaufry Suite, by Philip Harper, and the adjudicators, Stan Lippeatt and Peter Roberts, two men who spent many years together in Grimethorpe Colliery Band, awarded top prize to Jersey Premier Band.

Despite the disappointment of the weekend, under the grading system, Slaithwaite and Grange Moor will next year be promoted to Section 2.

The best return for Yorkshire on the opening day came in Section 4, where Garforth Brass (S Bailey) and Gawthorpe Brass (D Hoyle) found second and third places respectively.

Valley Brass (North-West) came out winners. Here the test was A Mendip Celebration by Darrol Barry. Roy Roe and Barry Thompson adjudicated.

There was more disappointment for Yorkshire in the Section 2 final, where Belmont Variations (Sir Arthur Blass) was the set work.

St Keverne (Cornwall) kept up their winning ways to take the top honour, while Hebden Bridge and West Yorkshire Police were placed ninth and 14th respectively.

Diggle Band, conducted by Norman Law, of Huddersfield, finished in fourth place. Under the grading rules the band will be elevated to Section 1 as from next January.

Kevin Wadsworth, of Brockholes, conducted the Police Band. Phillip McCann and Stephen Sykes adjudicated.

Cheers for a Yorkshire victory finally rang out yesterday evening.

This came with the announcement that Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel, directed by Chris Houlding, were Section 1 winners.

The Imps also picked up the award for best soloist, this going to cornetist Mark Walters.