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8th May 2004 - Grand ShieldAdjudicators: Dr Roy Newsome, James Scott The Grand Shield in previous years had never been kind to us, with our three prior results in this contest being 7th, 8th and 15th. It was a contest that we really wanted to do well in, as the top two bands qualified for the British Open which takes place in September, and this would mean that we didn’t have to do two competitions every year in May. This year, due to three bands relegated from the Open, there were three qualification places on offer, which gave us our best chance yet to qualify. The piece for this year’s Grand Shield was very challenging for the brass players in the band, but very light on percussion. There were, however, four percussionists required, three of whom didn’t play a note until 350 bars into the piece. To make up the numbers in the percussion section, we co-opted Billy Parkinson, our of our Cornets, to play the bass drum part. The piece was a difficult test for all the solo players in the band, with particularly tricky parts for flugel and sop. The sop part was very high, and we were confident that Paul would be able to play it when other bands in the contest may not. We set off from the bandroom at 6pm on the Friday night, and picked up two players on the route across the Pennines. Half way across we were flagged down by a passing motorist and we both pulled over onto the hard shoulder of the motorway. He said that we appeared to be leaking something, and he was worried it might be fuel. It turned out that someone had left a tap running in the toilet! We arrived in Blackpool just after eight and found our way to the hotel which was on the front. We also discovered that there was another band in the same hotel, but it was thankfully not one taking part in the same contest. It was Ransome, who were in the Senior Cup, the contest we won last year (contest report). After finding our rooms in the rabbit warren of doors and passages, we settled down in the bar for a rehearsal. It proved to be an expensive rehearsal for Kenny Argyle, when his car was clamped in the car park next door and he had to pay £80 to get it released. The band then relaxed before turning in for the night. We all got up early the next morning, ready for a rehearsal at 8.30 and after playing a little waited for the draw which took place at 9am. Whilst waiting for the draw we were entertained by Dai Hale on the organ in the corner of the rehearsal room, playing “Oh I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside”, whilst it poured down with rain outside. When the draw came through it was excellent for us, with many good bands at the start, then us at 12th in the middle, with most other contenders further towards the end. 
The band then relaxed for the morning, some staying in the hotel to play pool, and others going to watch the first few bands of the contest. This year’s Grand Shield contest was in a different hall. In previous years it had been in the ballroom, but it was found to be too big, and so the contest was moved to the Opera House. The first few bands all had little slips and problems. Leyland, the current North West Area champions, had drawn first, from which it would be difficult for them to get into the prizes. It might have been where we were sat in the hall, but their trombone section seemed to dominate the piece, and they didn’t seem to have much power at the louder dynamics. After the first few bands, we returned to the hotel for our final rehearsal, and then went to the hall to wait for our turn to play. We had the ballroom to get changed in this year, and from there, after a long wait, we went up to register and wait for the previous band to finish. This time, we made sure that Rich remembered to sign the form! Our performance on stage was good, but there were a few errors that we hadn’t been making in rehearsals. We came off stage happy with the overall band sound, but disheartened about the errors. We then went our separate ways again, many people heading for the bar, others out into the town for food. I came back in time to hear Desford and the last few bands, before settling into my seat to wait for the results. The organisers were attempting to give out all three contest’s results in the same hall, but one contest (the Senior Trophy) was still going on, so they waited. After a while they gave up and did the results for the Senior Cup and Grand Shield first. 
There was a buzz about the Desford performance when we came to the results. It had been very impressive (particularly the soprano player) but for me it was just a bit dull. They played it much slower than us, and it seemed to lack sparkle. The percussion was also, in my opinion, too timid. We had no idea where we had come, it would all depend on what the adjudicators were looking for. The soloist prize went to the soprano player with Desford (and well deserved it was too). Fourth place went to Kibworth who played just after us. It was an excellent result for them, as they are only a first section band. Third place went to Desford, which threw the other results wide open, as many thought they might have won. We got second, which was excellent and gets us a place in the British Open in September. First place went to Sellers, which now means that the top six bands in this year’s Yorkshire Area contest are in the British Open. The full result was as follows: 1. Sellers 7. JAG Mount Charles This is a fantastic result for the band, and backs up the good result that we achieved at this year’s Yorkshire Area. We can now take part in our first British Open in September. Unfortunately, we’ve booked a trip to take part in the Swiss Open which is the week after the British Open, so that’s going to mean a rather hectic month. This second place also means that we have beaten four Area Championship winners and one runner up. Redbridge won the London Area, Travelsphere the Midlands, Leyland the North West, Mount Charles the West of England and EYMS were second at the North of England area. Thanks to:
First, we have the little contest at Cambridge in three weeks time, which with Harrison’s Dream is a much harder piece for percussion, and is also very difficult for the rest of the band. I’m just glad we don’t have to do two contests in May next year now… Tim Sawyer “Can you hear me at the back?” |