On Saturday 1st March 2025 the popular “Brass In Concert” entertainment contest was held, as usual, in the Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown. The contest drew not only a large entry of bands but a large audience too.
The music adjudicator for the day was Mr. Martin Heartfield and in the entertainment Adjudicator’s chair was BBC Northern Ireland’s Fermanagh based reporter, Julian Fowler.
The Third Carrickfergus Band performed a well rehearsed programme entitled “It’s All About The Music” showcasing a wide range of music and styles and featured our cornet soloist, Kelly Kaya, playing “Concert Etude.” We ended the day with a 5th place in music and a 5th place in entertainment. Our congratulations go to all the winning bands and soloists and to all those who took part in order to may the event an enjoyable one.
The results of today’s contest were as follows;
Championship Section
1st 1st Old Boys’ Band – Conductor: Dr J W Corry – (10, 10) 20 points
2nd Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band – Conductor: C Fyffe – (9, 8) 17 points
3rd Strabane Brass – Conductor: B Coyle – (8, 7) 15 points
Murley Silver Band – Conductor: K Teers – (5, 9) 14 points
Downshire Brass – Conductor: T Carter – (7, 5) 12 points
Third Carrickfergus Band – Conductor: B Connolly – (6, 6) 12 points
Best March: Mountain Camp – 1st Old Boys’ Band
Best Soloist: Mark Ruddock, Soprano cornet (Let Freedom Ring) – Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band
Most Entertaining Band: 1st Old Boys’ Band
2nd Section
1st Roughan Silver Band – Conductor: Stephen Crooks – (10, 10) 20 points
2nd CWA Brass – Conductor: Stephen Cairns – (9, 9) 18 points
Ballyduff Silver Band – Conductor: William Hill – (8, 7) 15 points
Comber Silver Band – Conductor: Paul Hamilton – (7, 8) 15 points
Best March: Roughan Silver Band Band – Cornish Cavalier
Best Soloist: Andrew Gordon, cornet (Share My Yoke) – Roughan Silver Band
Most Entertaining Band: Roughan Silver Band
3rd Section
1st Dungannon Silver Band – Conductor: B Pinto – (9, 10) 19 points
2nd St Mark’s Silver Band – Conductor: Bob Quick – (8, 9) 17 points
Wellington Memorial Silver Band – Conductor: S Cairns – (10, 6) 16 points
Poyntzpass Silver Band – Conductor: S Lutton – (5*, 7) 12 points
* 1 point deducted due to exceeding the time limit
Best March: Wellington Silver Band – Gruss An Thuringen
Best Soloist: Amy Wilson – Dungannon Silver Band
Most Entertaining Band: Dungannon Silver Band
4th Section
No contest