Later than usual due to the double booking of the venue, Sunday March 30th saw the Band compete in the North of England Brass Band Championships. Held in Darlington, at the Dolphin Leisure Centre, this contest is effectively the qualifying round for the National Brass Band Championships to be held later in the year. The test-piece for this year was Eric Ball's Festival Music, a three movement composition first used as a test-piece in 1956 at the Royal Albert Hall, for the National Brass Band Championships. Despite its vintage, this test-piece still proved to be a test for conductors, soloists, and bands alike. Early rehearsals were taken by Jim Davies, Duncan Beckley, and Garry Oglesby, before Robert Childs came in to take the Band on stage at the contest. This was quite a homecoming for 'Bob' as he was instrumental in the Band's formation in 1989, along with local brass peripatetic Dixon Laing.

Okay! We were wrong. It is possible to turn a coach round outside the bandroom.

 (but don't try this manoeuvre at home).

Through The Keyhole - Whose house is this?

Yes, it's the old favourite toilet door shot, starring Jonathan.

When the clocks go forward to British Summer Time, one of the fears of contesting is that someone will forget to adjust their clocks and miss the coach. Fortunately everyone arrived on time, but Jonathan changed the coach clock to avoid any comments about us being in a different time zone.

Once again the Band rehearsed at the Cricket Club. Just warming up are two thirds of the trombone section - but where is Alistair's part?

Drafted in to play at the last minute Andy Grace has a quick check over the part. Our regular Assistant Principal 3rd Cornettist Simon Blow was at Wembley as part of his job of Sports Editor for The Grimsby Telegraph - Grimsby Town F. C. had qualified for the final of the Johnstone Paints Trophy. 

The 'middle' of the Band.

Just about ready to start the rehearsal.

Following the rehearsal the Band made its was across to the Dolphin Leisure Centre to prepare for the performance. We already knew at this point that we had drawn to play number 1. Whilst many consider drawing to play first quite unlucky, in this case the Band were not too disappointed as it meant we went virtually from rehearsal to performance without the usual period of 'hanging around'. It also meant that we were able to set the standard for everyone else to beat. 

Following the contest the Percussion Section of Jonathan, James, and Shaun, took the opportunity for a well deserved breather and a quick sandwich, before joining the rest of the Band in the refreshment area.

Do you know that if you type Garry into a mobile phone predictive text programme, it comes up with Happy! Garry had had a longer day than most. He is the Musical Director of the Barton Town Band who competed in the second section earlier in the day (They left Barton when the big hand was on 5). His input, together with that of Professional Conductor Richard Evans helped the Barton Band to win their section and qualify for the 2nd Section National Finals to be held in Harrogate in September.

The post-mortem begins, though every one was happy with the way the performance had gone.

And that's just a shandy!

Meanwhile at the civilised end of the bar, it was tea and stickies for Jayne.

It's refreshing to see that Kevin keeps his little finger concealed whilst drinking his afternoon tea.

You have to have been brought up correctly if you use a saucer for your beer, and a teaspoon for the froth.

And how refreshing (no pun intended) to see a table full of used crockery instead of the usual empty glasses.

The time for the results drew near, and most people moved back into the main hall to hear the all important announcement.

The Percussion Section - holders of the best Percussion Section Prize for another few minutes, they won it last year. Or could they retain their title?

A novel fashion statement, matching eyes and shirt.

Things starting to get tense as the moment draws near...........

......though Gareth, Andy, and Neil, were more interested in what Mr Bean was doing here!

After the speeches came the all important results.

Best Bass Section - Reg Vardy Band

Best Soprano Cornet - Tom Glendinning (Reg Vardy Band)

Best Cornet - Jimmy Hayes (Reg Vardy Band)

Best Percussion Section - East Yorkshire Motor Services Brass Band

4th Place - 190 points - The Fishburn Band

3rd Place - 192 points - The Felling Band

2nd Place - 193 Points - East Yorkshire Motor Services Brass Band

1st Place - 194 points - The Reg Vardy Band.

These results mean that both the EYMS Band and the Reg Vardy Band will represent the North of England at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, to be held at The Royal Albert Hall, London, on Saturday 11th October 2008. Since attaining Championship Section status, this will be the 10th time out of 13 attempts that the Band has qualified for the National Finals. Congratulations go to the Band Percussion Section of Jonathan Chapman, Shaun Davey, and James Hendry, for retaining the prize for the best Percussion Section.

The adjudicator (Mr. David Horsfield), wrote the following about the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band's performance.

Overture: Confident style with good style and flow. Tidy ensemble in 6. The tempo gives the music space. 9 ok but untidy slightly 10. Great style in ff 12. Some good dynamic contrast throughout. Good close.

Romance: Well balanced if not exactly together in entry. 1 balance in troms with excellent bass line. In the solo sections some secure contributions with finely spaced lyrical moments. We just lose a little flow in 5 + 1 & 2, but some great dynamics before6. In 6 sonorous sounds are created, with movement good in 7. 8 mp ,and euph and only the occasional blemish noted but a brave attempt. Trombone feature is musical with good pp & p behind. Balance fine again in trombones. Untidy a little final pause.

Impromptu: Attention to note values. Tempo good; only slight blemishes noted. Delightful pp 5. 8 has quite nice expressive feel, and the cantabile sings well. 10 excitement to the close, just slightly untidy towards the trill close. Thank you.   

Luckily, there was a few minutes to celebrate before the journey back to Hull.

Garry's celebrations continued when it was pointed out, that he wasn't actually the smallest person in the building.

 Are these two related?

What you can't see is that Garry's feet don't actually reach the floor!

Answers on a postcard please.

Pictures by Kathy Newiss & Mark Unsworth.

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