A BAND had a rewarding trip to North Wales at the weekend.

Under the direction of Glyn Williams, the Riverhead Brewery-backed Marsden Band won section one of the Pontin's Brass Band Championships at Prestatyn.

The band won a cheque for £1,750.

The Colne Valley band beat 25 other contenders who were called on to perform the set test, Lorenzo.

Blackburn and Darwen finished runners-up with Glossop Old third.

Glyn Williams, who is also principal euphonium with Fodens Richardson Band, has continued the winning form of Marsden since his appointment.

The Mortimer Championship, which drew the weekend of brass to a close, produced a big surprise as seven bands withdrew from the 24-band class.

Staffordshire came out winners, followed by Wingates. Fishburn from the North-East was third.

Pennine Brass, led by Ian Porthouse, hit the prize list in fourth, with Lindley, led by Neil Jowett, in eighth.

Herbert Howells' Three Figures was the test-piece.

Huddersfield's only other contender in the championships was Meltham and Meltham Mills, led by Stuart Fawcett, which finished twelfth in a 25-band encounter in section two.

Here the bands were called on to perform Edward Gregson's Laudate Dominum.