After spending a considerable amount of time in intense rehearsals, the band have been justly rewarded with a win to become Irish Champions for the third time in the last 5 years. The band was also awarded the “Best Bass Section” of the day for the second time in four years. This has been a great achievement and is particularly special as the band heads ever nearer to its 50th anniversary.

The contest was held in the Ulster Hall, Belfast on Saturday 28th October 2006 and was adjudicated by Hughina Naylor.

The set piece for this year in the Second Section Brass was “Oceans” by Goff Richards. A superb piece of music writing which is both enjoyable to play and for an audience to listen to, the band, under the baton of Musical Director Des Graham, gave a Championship winning performance and interpretation to this brilliant piece of music.

Celebrations of the win started almost immediately and went on until dawn.

Full results are as follows:

Second Grade Brass

Test Piece: OCEANS (G Richards)

1st place – Third Carrick Band – Conductor: D Graham
2nd place – Downshire Brass – Conductor: Dr W Hylands

Best bass section: Third Carrick Band
Best cornet section: Downshire Brass

Championship Brass

Test Piece: CARNIVAL ROMAIN (Berlioz arr. Frank Wright)

1st place: 1st Old Boys’ Brass – Conductor: S Cairns
2nd place: Laganvale (Metal Technology) – Conductor: E Ruddock

Best Instrumentalist: M Bingham (Cornet) – 1st Old Boys’ Brass
Conductors Prize: S Cairns – 1st Old Boys’ Brass