CHALFORD continued its run of contest successes on Sunday, February 10, winning two more trophies at Gloucestershire Brass Band Association's annual entertainment contest.

Conductor Steve Tubb, players and supporters went wild when compere Bill Brunt announced that second section Chalford had come second overall of the 14 bands - thus beating all first section rivals from the Forest of Dean. Bass trombonist Jack Smith went on stage to collect the trophy, having earlier received the challenge trophy and £100 for the highest placed second section band (an inevitable result as we were the only one).

Adjudicator John Berryman had given us 191 points for the 20-minute programme, just one point less than the overall winners, first section City of Bristol. He said he had difficulty choosing between the top two bands.

His endorsement was just what we wanted to hear: "It is the all round playing from the band which has been so impressive in this performance," he wrote in his remarks. Lydbrook were third overall with 190.

The result has given the band great encouragement and confidence and augurs well for the next big test - the area championships at Colston Hall, Bristol, on April 6.

It was a splendid debut for Chalford's newest signing, German veterinerary surgeon Markus Froembling, playing in his first brass band contest, on the cornet front line. "I really enjoyed it. I wanted to play more," he said afterwards.

Section results: 1st section - 1 City of Bristol, 2 Lydbrook, 3 Lydmet-Lydney. 2nd section - 1 Chalford. 3rd section - 1 Ynshir Welfare (Stack of Tiles), 2 Tewkesbury Town, 3 Portishead. 4th section - 1 Ogmore Valley, 2 Pillowell, 3 Phoenix Brass.

Best soloists were Lydbrook's cornet and City of Bristol's flugel horn player. Eight-year-old Scott James (City of Bristol) won the youngest player award.

Chalford senior band's programmme and John Berryman's remarks were:

"Prelude to A New Age: Excellent start with a fine all round sound. The playing has shape and there is excellent dynamic control. Excellent start.

Sunshine of My Life (trombone soloist David Young): Quite a nice style and well done band for providing a good rhythmical background.

Japanese Slumber Song: Not totally relaxed in opening bars but it settles and you produce some lovely sounds. In the main intonation holds up quite well as there are one or two difficult moments in this piece. Lovely sounds after (J) unfortunately there were also one or two exposed solo passages when it was not quite blemish free, but I did enjoy the good moments.

Circle of Life: A lovely blend of sound and it also moves so freely. Percussion excellent. The trombone section also catches my ear. However it is the all-round playing from the band which has been so impressive in this performance."

Training Band's good show

Competing at fourth section level, Chalford Training Band (conductor Derrick Witts) was not among the prizewinners but put up a good show, particularly as some key players were absent. The judge awarded 176 points. Veteran member and ex-MD Ken Wear played a brilliant cornet solo, Georgia on My Mind, and the adjudicator praised his "good style."

The programme and remarks were:

"Walkabout: It's rhythmically tight with a good balanced sound and intonation is at quite a good level. A good start.

I Will Follow Him: Again it's quite tuneful with just a hint of sour tuning amongst the horns. Now we have tight rhythmical playing from the fast rock section and no real problems. Well done.

Georgia on My Mind (cornet soloist Ken Wear): Soloist plays with good style with accompaniments well in control, too. Just a slight falter but generally it's enjoyable listening. Band last chord not well in tune.

Out of Africa: The opening not really convincing and it's some way in before we really recover, but you do and now some intonation problems occur and I think this is your least convincing piece.

Glasnost: It feels comfortable but intonation again not as good as it could be but from (C) it feels more at home except the odd bar from the cornets where we have some mispitched notes and it's lost some of its forward momentum.

Generally well done."

Full results, in order of merit (highest points first) and with grading in parenthesis, were:

City of Bristol (1) 192, Chalford (2) 191, Lydbrook (1) 190, Ynshire Welfare (3) 187, Lydmet-Lydney (1) 186, Ogmore Valley (4) 185, Pillowell Silver (4) 183, Pheonix Brass (4) 182, Tewkesbury Town (3) 180, Gloucester Excelsior (4) 178, Portishead Town (3) 177, Chalford Training (4) 176, Cheltenham Silver (4) 175, Lydbrook Training (4) 174.