The 100th Championship of Ireland Bands’ Contest was held today, Saturday 14th October 2017 in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. The contest was adjudicated by Mr Derek Broadbent.

The band and conductor, Mr Brian Connolly, worked extremely hard in preparation for the contest and achieved 3rd place in the championship section. As a result of this placing the band will get a BBC Radio Ulster broadcast in 2018. (We will keep you posted when we have more details).

The set piece for the Champion Section Brass was Salamander by John McCabe.

Our congratulations go to the 1st Old Boys’ Silver Band on their win and to all the other winning bands bands in their respective sections today.

Congratulations also go to trombonist James Kerr who who was competing in his first contest with the band. Our grateful thanks also go to Jenny Hill for her help today.

Full results of the day are noted below.

Championship Brass

Test Piece: Salamander (John McCabe)

1st place: 1st Old Boys’ Silver – Conductor: S Cairns 193 points
2nd place: Downshire Brass – Conductor: M Alcorn 190 points
3rd place: Third Carrickfergus Band – Conductor: B Connolly 187 points
Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band – Conductor: S Crooks 186 points
Three Rivers Brass – Conductor: N Barr 184 points
Murley Silver Band – Conductor: W Hill 183 points

Best Instrumentalist: Alan Howarth – Euphonium – 1st Old Boys’ Silver Band
Conductors Prize: S Cairns – 1st Old Boys’ Silver Band
Best Overall Performance of the Day: 1st Old Boys’ Silver Band
1st Old Boys’ Silver Band Band will be invited to compete at the European Brass Band Championships (B Section) to be held in Montreaux, Switzerland in 2019.

Second Grade Brass

Test Piece: Chaucer’s Tunes (M Ball)

1st place: Drogheda Silver Band – Conductor: M Maher ??? points
2nd place: Roughan Brass Band – Conductor: G Proctor ??? points
3rd place: Lourdes Brass Band – Conductor: M Hannan ??? points
Comber Silver Band – Conductor: W Thompson ??? points
CWA Brass – Conductor: E Ruddock ??? points

Best Bass section:
Best Cornet section:
Conductor’s Prize: M Maher

Full results for the day will follow soon