Contesting
Not all bands enter competitions and there are some which shun the contest stage, preferring to concentrate their efforts in providing music for local events. For most players, though, contesting has always been an important part of brass banding, the reason that they spend so many hours trying to perfect their art. It provides them with the opportunity to test their musical skills against others and, of course, to bring home that silverware.
This section includes brass band contests which have taken place in Cornwall. I doubt that all are here, and there are certainly some results missing, but, over time, it is hoped that it will become a comprehensive record of all Cornish Contests.
1898
Camborne
Bassett Recreation Ground
25th August 1898
Adjudicator: G Walsh, Bandmaster, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Another report states Mr Pocock of Exeter)
Test piece: Maritana (Wallace ar. T A Haigh) / Own choice
Placed | Conductor | Points | |
1 | Penzance Independent (Champion) | John Andrews | 82 |
2 | Camborne Town (Champion) | William Uren | 79 |
3 | Illogan Reed & Brass (Patiance – Sullivan) | Harry Oxland | 73 |
4 | Porthleven Reed & Brass (Victoria Regina) | Amos Blight | 72 |
(West Briton 25th August 1898 / Cornish Post 1st September 1898)
“Sir. Will you kindly allow us to call public attention to a serious breach of faith in connection with the recent Band Contest at Camborne. It was an open and honourable understanding, when Illogan and Porthleven entered for the contest, that our Bands should be judged in their entirety and not on brass instruments alone. We now find that although more than one half of are wood-wind no marks whatever have been credited them. In the judge’s report we find marks assigned to Cornets, trombones, euphoniums and basses, but no marks have been given to clarinets, flutes, piccolos and bassoons. This is a distinct breach of faith and of Rule I under which more than one bandmaster and several of the bandsmen the contesting bands stated, on the ground that our reeds were “well in tune throughout” so that the Judges omission is unaccountable. It is action like this kind that fosters ill feeling and brings discredit to all our Band contests. We should like to add that Reed Bands are now so popular with the public, that they deserve … We are, Sir, Yours faithfully, Illogan Band. 39th August. 1898.”(Cornubian and Redruth Times – Friday 02 September 1898)
Report: (2 September 1898 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
1898: “Sports and Band Contest at Camborne…last to enter the lists was the Camborne town band, who, under the direction of Mr W Uren, played Champion, in addition to the contest piece. All the bands were fairly evenly matched, the Penzance and Camborne bands being better than their rivals…” (1 September 1898 – Cornishman)
1898: “Sports and Band Contest at Camborne. …Patience and afterwards the test piece 41 Maritana. The band numbered … and was conducted by the Rev. Oxland. Porthleven band then played, their selection being Victoria Regina, arranged by O Hume, addition to the test piece…” (1 September 1898 – Cornishman)
“Camborne Band Contest and Cycle Races was held on Thursday the 25th August 1898 at the New Recreation Ground; it seems to have been an annual event. The bands had to play an “own-choice” piece in addition to the test piece Maritana and in this particular year there was a major upset as Penzance Independent pushed the host band into second place. It’s interesting to note that the third and fourth placed bands, Illogan and Porthleven, were brass and reed bands.
The Royal Cornwall Gazette? commented, “…………. there was a band contest, which resulted in the Camborne Band being beaten by the Penzance Band, this was very galling to the Camborne boys, for they had freely boasted of being certain of the first prize. However I have no doubt this will do them some good by letting them see that there are others capable of beating even them. Conceit is a deadly foe. It is pleasing to know that the judge’s decision is considered fair, even by the disappointed ones. Can it be true that Penzance engaged outsiders to play for them in order to beat Camborne? I should think not, although rumour has it to the contrary.” (1 September 1898 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
“Camborne Band Contest. Sir, it is with great reluctance that I have to correspond with you re above. In your paper I noticed a paragraph which states that we had outside help for our band on August 25th, when we won the first prize. L am glad to be able to say that such is not the case. I am extremely sorry that these reports and rumours should get about; but in order to put the matter right, and for the sake of my own band, I feel duty bound to contradict the statement. Now we are on the subject, and for the benefit of all concerned, I may say that since May 1897 (16 months ago), there has only been one change in our membership, and that is one of our first cornet players, who left us to go to Devon to work and another first cornet player has come with us and has been playing with us over eight months. So you see practically there has been no change at all. It is not fair that a band should be falsely charged with these things. If we got any other than the first prize, I doubt whether anything would have been said on the matter. All protests were heard before the contest commenced and were, apparently, satisfactorily settled. I may say we have attended 13 contests, and can honestly declare that not once have we attempted, or even tried to attempt, to deceive or act unfairly towards any other band; and rather than do such a mean thing we would retire from contesting altogether. Trusting you will insert this, so as to explain matters, I remain, yours very truly, John Andew, Conductor of Penzance Independent Band. Penzance, 5th Sept., 1898.” (8 September 1898 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1903
Camborne
1903
Adjudicator:
No results found (1 July 1903 – The Cornish Telegraph)
1914
First Annual Band Contest, Camborne
30th May 1914
Adjudicator: Walter Nuttall – Irwell Springs
First Section
Test Piece: Martyrs
1st St Dennis Temperance under J E Fidler of Liverpool
2nd St Austell Territorial under T Eastwood of Huddersfield
3rd Redruth Town under W Halstead of Queensbury
Specials:
Cornet: St Dennis Temperance
Trombone: St Dennis Temperance
Second Section
Test piece: Classic Gems No. 1
1st Bugle Silver under E J Williams
2nd Stenalees Temperance under Tom Eastwood of Huddersfield
3rd Indian Queens under J G Dobbing
4th St Ives Town under E J Williams of St Ives
St Agnes Town under W Layman of Camborne
Foxhole Temperance under J Stubbs of Crewe
Liskeard Temperance under R Honey of Liskeard
Specials:
Cornet: Bugle
Euphonium: St Ives
Trombone: Indian Queens
1920
1920
Adjudicator:
R Wills conducted Redruth but no report found
1922
Camborne
1922
Adjudicator:
A note that Mr Venton conducted Redruth Band at the 1922 Camborne Contest is the only indication found that this contest took place
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)