The 96th Championship of Ireland Bands’ Contest was held today, Saturday 19th October 2013 in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. The contest was adjudicated by Mr Richard Evans.

The set piece for the Second Section Brass was “Kingdom of Dragons” by Philip Harper. The hard work and preparation for this contest resulted in a second place result, however, the band was awarded the John Beckett Memorial Cup for the best bass section.

Our congratulations go to Drogheda Brass on their win and to all the other winning bands today and in particular to our own soprano cornet player Peter Arthurs who not only conducted the Third Carrickfergus Junior Band and played with the a Third Carrickfergus Band but also played for the Laganvale (Metal Technology) Band who were the winners of the Championship Section. Click here to listen to a recording of the Third Carrickfergus Bands’ performance.

It was an unfortunate day for the Third Carrick Junior Band, for despite winning their section, due to a rule infringement, conceded the contest meaning that the runners up (1st Old Boys’ Silver Junior Band) were deemed the winners.

Full Results below:

Grade 5/Unaffiliated Brass

Test Piece: OWN CHOICE PROGRAMME

1st place: Lisnaskea Silver – Conductor: N Trimble 165 points
1st Larne Old Boys’ Silver – Conductor: W Clements 163 points
Dynamic Brass – Conductor: H Whan (Band played for adjudication)

Fourth Grade Brass

Test Piece: SUITE IN Bb (G Jacob)

1st place: Greystone Silver – Conductor: E Dalton 170 points

Youth Brass Band

Test Piece: OWN CHOICE PROGRAMME

Third Carrickfergus Junior Band – Conductor: P Arthurs 176 points (Voluntarily conceeded result)
1st place 1st Old Boys’ Silver Junior Band – Conductor: J Bingham (Mrs) 174 points
Laureldale Brass Ensemble – Conductor: B McIlveen 172 points

Third Grade Brass

Test Piece: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON (P. Lovatt-Cooper)

1st place: Wellington Memorial Silver – Conductor: J Kitchen 180 points
Comber Silver – Conductor: W Thompson 179 points
CWA Brass – Conductor: R Clinton 178 points

Second Grade Brass

Test Piece: THE KINGDOM OF DRAGONS (Philip Harper)

1st place: Drogheda Brass – Conductor: M Maher 186 points
2nd place: Third Carrickfergus Band – Conductor: D Graham 184 points
Ballyduff Silver – Conductor: W Hill 182 points
Roughan Silver – Conductor: K Anderson 181 points
Lourdes Brass – Conductor: J McCafferty 180 points

Best Bass section: Third Carrickfergus Band
Best Cornet section: Drogheda Brass
Conductor’s Prize: M Maher

Championship Brass

Test Piece: CHECKMATE (A Bliss arr. E Ball)

1st place: Laganvale (Metal Technology) – Conductor: T Carter 192 points
2nd place: 1st Old Boys’ Silver – Conductor: Stephen Cairns 191 points
Downshire Brass – Conductor: M Alcorn 190 points
Murley Silver – Conductor: W Hill 188 points
Strabane Concert Brass – Conductor: P Christian 187 points

Best Instrumentalist: Jackie McLarnon – Soprano Cornet – Downshire Brass
Conductors Prize: T Carter – Laganvale (Metal Technology)
Best Performance of the Day: Laganvale (Metal Technology)