The band is celebrating the start of the 2014 contesting year with a win at the annual Brass Band League NI entertainments competition which was held in the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown on Saturday 1st March and sponsored by G R White & Son. A full house watched and listened to the band’s winning performance. This impressive win, with a maximum of 20 points – being top in both music and entertainment, means that the band have won this contest for the 3rd year running. The band also won the section’s Most Entertaining Band prize.

The adjudicator this year was Mr Alan Fernie.

The music played by the band was:

Strike Up The Band – George Gershwin are. Goff Richards
Georgia On My Mind – Hoagy Carmichael & Stuart Gorrell arr. Alan Morrison – Soloist: Claire Hueston (cornet)
The Stars And Stripes Forever – Sousa
For The Love Of A Princess – James Horner arr. Andrew Duncan
The Conquest Of Paradise – Vangelis arr. Alan Fernie

Well done to our Principal cornet soloist, Claire Hueston on her excellent performance and on winning the soloists prize.

Congratulations also to the Murley Band, CWA Brass, Dungannon Silver Band and Dynamic Brass who won in their respective sections and to all the other winning soloists.

Full results of the day were as follows: Total Points (music points, Entertainment points)

Fifth Section
1st: Dynamic Brass – 20 points (10, 10)

Best Soloist: Joint Award – Patricia Evans (Share My Yoke) & Allister Crawford (Wanderin’ Star)

Fourth Section

1st: Dungannon Silver Band – 20 points (10, 10)
2nd: Maguiresbridge Silver Band – 18 points (9, 9)
Letterbreen Silver Band
Poyntspass Silver Band

Entertainment Prize: Dungannon Silver Band
Best March: Dungannon Silver Band (Le Reve Passe)
Best Soloist: George Bracken, cornet (Letterbreen Silver Band) – My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose

Third Section
1st: CWA Brass – 20 points (10,10)
*2nd: Wellington Memorial Silver Band – 17 points (9, 8)
*2nd=: St Mark’s Silver Band – 17 points (8, 9)
Comber Silver Band

* When points are tied the band with the highest music score is awarded the prize.

Entertainment Prize: CWA Brass
Best March: Wellington Silver Band (Aces High)
Best Soloist: Jackie Moore, cornet (CWA Brass) – Amazing Grace

Second Section
1st: Third Carrickfergus Band – 20 points (10, 10)
2nd: Roughan Silver Band – 18 points (9, 9)
Ballyduff Silver Band

Entertainment Prize: Third Carrickfergus Band
Best March: Roughan Silver Band (Arnhem)
Best Soloist: Claire Hueston, cornet (Third Carrickfergus Band) – Georgia On My Mind

Championship Section
1st: Murley Silver Band – 19 points (10, 9)
2nd: Downshire Brass – 18 points (8, 10)
1st old Boys Association Silver – 17 points (9, 8)

Entertainment Prize: Downshire Brass
Best March: Murley Silver Band (Wo Unsere Fahne Weht)
Best Soloist: James Cooke, soprano cornet (Murley Silver Band) – Oh When The Saints