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.

 

 

1954

1^st Camborne Town Band Contest

Rosewarne

(Camborne Town Band)

11^th September 1954

Adjudicator: Fred Roberts

Second section test march:

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	St Agnes	Frank Moore	86
2	Helston	C Leonard Hender	83
3	Porthleven	E Bawden	82
	Bodmin Town	W D Lawton
W (poss)	Penzance	J Grand
	Perranporth	Jack Eustace
	Mount Charles	T A Cooper

 

Second section test hymn:

Placed		Points
1	St Agnes	39
2	Porthleven	37
3	Perranporth	35
	Bodmin
	Helston
W (poss)	Penzance
	Mount Charles

 

Third section test march:

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	St Agnes	Frank Moore	93
2	Helston	C Leonard Hender	89
3	Mount Charles	T A Cooper	86
	St Newlyn East	N Halls	85
	Porthleven	E H Bawden	82
	Perranporth	Jack Eustace
W (poss)	Penzance	J Grand

 

Third section test hymn:

Placed		Points
1	St Agnes	43
2	Helston	39
3	St Newlyn East	38
4	Porthleven	37
5	Perranporth	35
	Mount Charles
W (poss)	Penzance

 

Deportment:

First: Helston

Second: St Agnes

 

The Camborne Town Band March, Hymn Tune and Deportment Contest was for Second and Third Section bands, similar to the more famous contest at Stenalees. Fred Roberts was the adjudicator at the first contest, held in the open-air at Rosewarne, Camborne, on the 11^th September 1954. Playing in the Second Section, St Agnes took first prize for the march and second for the hymn.

St Agnes was definitely second in the deportment section held at the Recreation Ground and judged by Lt. Col. G J Miller, M.V.O., M.B.E. Frank Moore, the MD, had talked the players into entering, “Because no one else ever bothered”. Apparently there was some good prize money offered and, as luck would have it, Frank was correct and only two bands took part. Helston had clearly been well-drilled and performed like a military unit so there was no chance that St Agnes was going to take the top prize. But equally, there was no doubt that it was going to pick up the second prize and, of course, some prize money. It seems they set off in an orderly fashion but at some stage the instruction was given to halt. Unfortunately, only about half of the players heard it and the rear section piled into the back of their colleagues. A bit embarrassing but they did take home some money.

Rivalry between bands is always friendly – well almost always. I guess there is as much gamesmanship and rule bending as in any other competition and there are those who are always looking for reasons to appeal or, at least, to explain away their defeat. One such occasion was when St Agnes won the top prize at Camborne’s Recreation Ground when a close contest was expected with Helston. Frank Moore, the St Agnes MD, had a habit of tapping his music stand twice to bring the band to order and he did it on this occasion. It was suggested this had been a signal to the adjudicator and the fact that St Agnes won seemed to prove it in some people’s judgement. A note in the programme congratulated Mr F E Moore and the St Agnes Band on their great success at the Stenalees contest. It went on to say, “Their steady rise in quality of performance has been noticed by all”. St Agnes won the march and the hymn in both sections and must have returned home very pleased.

 

1955

2^nd Camborne Town Band Contest

Rosewarne

(Camborne Town Band)

10^th September 1955

Adjudicator: A V Creasy

Second section test piece: Rigoletto (Verdi)

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	Truro	Alwyn Teasdale	96
2	St Agnes	Frank E Moore	94
3	Mount Charles	T A Cooper	88

 

Second section test march: March of the Peers (Sullivan)

Placed		Points
1	Mount Charles	95
2	St Agnes	94
3	Truro	91

 

Third section test piece: By the Old Church from A Rustic Suite (Rimmer)

Placed		Conductor	Points
1	Porthleven	E H Bawden	89
W?	Gweek	T S Chainey

 

 

Third section test hymn: Praise my Soul the King of Heaven

Placed		Points
1	Porthleven	85
W?	Gweek

 

Hymn tune section: Own choice

Placed		Points
1	St Agnes (Love Divine)	94
= 2	Mount Charles	93
= 2	Truro	93
4	Porthleven	89
W	Gweek

 

In 1955 the adjudicator was A V Creasy and one of the prizes was the A W Parker Trophy. St Agnes (F E Moore) was first overall in the Second Section with Truro (Alwyn Teasdale) second and Mount Charles in third place. The test pieces were Rigoletto by Verdi and March of the Peers by Sullivan. In the contest programme notes, L A Fletcher Hon. Gen. Sec. said, “We would like to thank those bands that cannot be with us owing to the harvest but sent us their good wishes”.

1955 to 1959 circa: “Truro City Band, under Mr A Teasdale of Portreath won the first place in the second section at the second annual brass band contest staged by Camborne Town Band at Rosewarne on Saturday.”

(West Briton Argus 15^th September 1980 – 25 years ago)

 

1956

3^rd Camborne Town Band Contest

Rosewarne

1956

Adjudicator:

 

St Agnes was placed 1^st for both the hymn and the march in the Second section.

 

No report found

 

 

 

 

Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)