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.
1932
1st Camborne Junior Contest
Dolcoath Road
18th June 1932
Adjudicator: George W Cave
Test piece: A Village Pastorale
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Gweek | S Reynolds | |
| 2 | St Agnes | ||
| 3 | Stithians | ||
| 4 | Marazion | ||
| Breage & District | |||
| Paul | Edwin J Williams | ||
Test March: Own Choice
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Gweek | |
| 2 | Paul | |
Specials: Cornet, horn, and trombone – Gweek. Euphonium – St Agnes.
Prize for bandmaster – Gweek.
“A band contest held in the evening attracted six entries, the bands marching to the field from various parts of the town and playing en route. Mr G W Cave was the adjudicator. Mr Cave in giving his decisions said he would like to see in a Cornish contest a sight-reading test, particularly for junior bands. Instead of an ‘own choice’ march or a set hymn tune, he would like to see a sight-reading test on a hymn text. The master of the promoting band could easily arrange about six or seven hymn tunes, and each band could be handed their test in a sealed envelope when they mounted the platform, and the band could then play the piece right away. He thought it would be a good thing for bands. He was glad that the bands that day had chosen no big, heavy marches, as they were unsuited to bands of the type competing there that day.” (Cornishman 23rd June 1932)
1933
2nd Camborne Junior Contest
3rd June 1933
Adjudicator: Charles Baker
Third Section test piece: Inspiration of Youth (J Ord Hume)
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Agnes | George Cave | |
| 2 | St Stythians | Tom Hubbard | |
| 3 | St Pinnock | Marsh Kessell | |
| Carharrack & St Day | Edwin J Williams | ||
| Gweek | Thomas Chainey | ||
| Marazion Town | Beth David | ||
| Paul | S Carne | ||
Specials:
Euphonium: Victor Trezise, St Agnes
Cornet: Ronnie Jeffrey, St Agnes
Trombone: Frank Kneebone, St Agnes
Test march: Kangaroo
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Carharrack & St Day | |
| 2 | Gweek | |
Fourth section test piece: Golden Spur
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Marazion Town | Beth David | |
| 2 | Paul | S Carne | |
| 3 | Carharrack & St Day | Edwin J Williams | |
Fourth section test march: True Blue
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Carharrack & St Day | |
| 2 | Marazion Town | |
“… Old drum was used by Mabe Band the Camborne band contest on Saturday. Mabe bought it from Penmarth Band for King Edward’s Coronation when it was 70 years old. Somewhat oval in shape, one of the original ends of the drum is still used. The wood is worm-eaten in places, and the rim has been repaired one place. Mabe players prefer to a new drum owing to its deep tone. The event was the second annual contest promoted by Camborne Junior Band, Mr. C. H Baker, of Redruth, being the adjudicator in two classes in which ten bands participated. Capt. Kelly (late 2nd Batt. Worcester Regt.) judged the open class for dress and deportment. Mr. C. H. Baker considered that the junior bands of the county had improved greatly, and that the talent in Cornwall was as good as anywhere. Some bands, however, were out tune in places, while some soloists were weak phrasing. He advised all bandsmen to practise their scales.” (5 June 1933 – Western Morning News)
“In winning the dress and deportment Stithians Silver Band were run very closely by St. Agnes Town. Both hands were splendidly turned out, and their marching and general …” (8 June 1933 – Cornishman)
1934
3rd Camborne Junior Contest
May 1934
Adjudicator: Mr. E. Ogden, of St Ives
Second section test march: Conqueror
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Redruth | C H Baker | |
| 2 | Falmouth | T G Moore | |
| 3 | St Agnes | G Cave | |
| Marazion Town | B H David | ||
| St Stithians | T Hubbard | ||
Second section marching test march: Conqueror
Third section test march: The Knight of the Road
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Stithians | T Hubbard | |
| 2 | Marazion Town | B H David | |
| 3 | St Agnes | G Cave | |
| Gweek | T J Chainey | ||
| Paul Silver | S Carne | ||
| St Just Old Town | W J Lawry | ||
Third section marching test march: The Knight of the Road
Fourth section test march: Old Warrior
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Marazion Town | B H David | |
| 2 | St Just Old Town | W J Lawry | |
| 3 | Mabe Brass | C A Dawe | |
| Lelant | F Gregory | ||
Fourth section marching test march: Old Warrior
“Mr. E. Ogden, of St. Ives, was the adjudicator of the test-pieces, while the adjudicating of the open dress and deportment competition was in the hands of Major R. O’Brien Fitzgerald, late of the Canadian Army. Both carried out their duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. Heamoor band was unable to attend owing to certain members being indisposed. … Mr. E. Ogden, the adjudicator of the test pieces, then conducted the massed bands. The piece chosen was “Old Warrior,” the test piece for the fourth section. Major R. O’Brien Fitzgerald, commenting on the open dress and deportment section, said that his job that afternoon had been a very difficult one. There were three or four bands whose marching was very good indeed, but there was one band whose manner and style stood out from all the rest, and that band was St. Stithians. ‘My task,’ Major Fitzgerald continued, ‘in the deportment section was even more difficult than that in the marching. There was one band that stood out above the rest, and the way they carried themselves was very fine. That band was again St. Stithians. In the other bands I had to take into consideration the little lack of efficiency in their bearing. I would suggest to the bandmasters that they pay more attention to the dressing and alignment when marching.’” (24 May 1934 – Cornishman)
1948
Camborne Junior Contest
May 1934
Adjudicator: Mr. E. Ogden, of St Ives
“Camborne Town Band has brought fame to its old district. First they plan launching second and third section band contest at Camborne on Whit Saturday. This contest will be held if there is sufficient support from bands eligible to compete.” (12 February 1948 – Cornishman)
It is not known if this contest took place
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)