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.
1909
1st Pencoys, Four Lanes Contest
(Four Lanes Band)
August 1909
Adjudicator: Wm Short
Pencoys, Four Lanes Contest commenced in 1909 and claimed to be “The Largest Musical Event in the West.” The First Section was for bands not exceeding 24 performers and the second was for smaller groups of not exceeding 16. Like most local contests at that time there was no grading based on standard of play. The top prize in the First Section was “£15 and a Class A (B flat) Prototype Silver-plated and Engraved Cornet (value £11.11s) specially made for this contest by Messrs Besson and Co Ltd., London, sole makers of the famous Prototype and Harmonic Vale Instruments as used by the famous Foden’s Band, and other leading bands in the Country”. There were lesser prizes for the second section and numerous medals for soloists including a special award for the best baritone. The event included a March Contest, with a prize of one pound, and was judged as bands paraded the village. The event was wound up with a “Grand Slow Melody Solo Contest” when the President provided a medal for the best Bombardon solo. The adjudicator was Mr Wm Short, LRAM (The King’s Trumpeter).
No results found
1910
2nd Pencoys, Four Lanes Contest
(Four Lanes Band)
August 1910
Adjudicator: W J Uren
First section (bands over 24 players) test piece: Memories of the Past
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Dennis Temperance | W Juleff | |
| 2 | Redruth Territorials | ||
| 3 | Pendennis | ||
| 4 | Constantine | ||
| 5 | Four Lanes | ||
There was a good attendance at the Four Lanes and Pencoys amateur athletic sports on Saturday afternoon, which were held near the church. With the exception of a very heavy downpour of rain near the close, the weather was satisfactory, … A new and attractive feature this year was the county band contest, for which there were five entries. Mr. William Uren, leader of the town band, was the adjudicator, and the crowd showed much excitement when he declared the results.
… 1, St. Dennis (temperance); 2, Redruth (territorlal): 3, Pendennls brass band (Falmonth). … The adjudicators’ report regarding Four Lanes and Redruth bands was as follows
No. 1, Four Lanes.—Alleg. mod. The attack was not good, and the band not well in tune. The accents were not well observed, but there fair close. Andante con motto, Blow, blow thou winter wind.” The tempo was slow, but euphonium fair. The cornet entered tunefully, but the accompaniments were only moderate. The rit was not observed. Allegretto. “The Jockey to the fair.” The tempo was slow, ??? soprano not heard. The movement too laboured, and the cadenza only moderate. Andante “Banks of Allen Water.” The cornet was fair on the theme, but tempo still slow, The ??? lento were not well together. Basses fair. Allegretto, “opened out of tune, the cornet and trombone being fault. The former made wrong notes. The trombone played too detached a manner and was weak. ??? was stiff and there was only fair noise. In Lento “Hush a bye baby,” the band was inclined to be Slow, and adjudicator did not like the way they played the movement. Allegretto “The lass with the delicate air.” The ??? was still on the slow side. The cornet played fairly, but slurs were not well observed. The band should pay more attention to lights and shades. The finish was only fair. Andante con. “Sweet love, good night.” The trombone was not to the judge’s liking. The cornet was fair, but in the cadenza euphonium fault- Allegretto, “Begone dull care.” The band unsteady and the finish very moderate. Fifth in merit marks. No. 5
Redruth.—Alleg. mod. The attack was good, were the cornets, and the time was all right. Poor. ??? expression marks were overdone. The finish was fair. In “Blow, blow, thou winter wind,” the tempo slow. The euphonium was good and the band proceeded well. The cornet entered nicely ??? the euphonium became sharp but closed well. “Jocky the fair,” well rendered, and the best cadenza by cornet. The cornet was little heavy “Banks of Allen water,” but he was a fine player. The accompaniments ware not neat in No. 1 band. The Ploughboy ” was well rendered, as was Hush a-bye, baby. “The cornet was still good in “The lass with the delicate air”, the marks were fairly well attended to, but tempo was changed, and the baritone and trombone ???. The ??? was fair. The trombone was unsuccessful in ??? in “Sweet love good night,” The accompaniment was alright, and the duet cadenza well played. The movement commenced slow, tempo increased and there was a good finish though not as good as No. 3 band. Second prize, ?? marks. (1 September 1910 – Cornubian and Redruth Times)
County Band Contest. Four Lanes, Redruth Territorials, Pendennis (Falmouth), St. Dennis, and Constantine entered. The test piece was Memories of the Past,” and Mr. Wm. Uren, Camborne, was the judge. Result: St. Dennis; 2, Redruth Territorial; 3, Pendennis. Mr. J. Best, St. Dennis, received silver mounted oak biscuit barrel for rendering the best trombone solo. Mr. W. Juleff, St. Dennis bandmaster, was adjudged the best comet-player in the five bands, and Mr. ??? Rogers, of the same band, considered be the best baritone player. Miss Dorothy Andrew, of Stithians, distributed the prizes, and in the evening Camborne Town Band gave a promenade concert. (1 September 1910 – Royal Cornwall Gazette)
1911
3rd Pencoys, Four Lanes Contest
(Four Lanes Band)
August 1911
Adjudicator:
No results found
1912
4th Pencoys, Four Lanes Contest
(Four Lanes Band)
Four Lanes, Redruth
10th August 1912
Adjudicator: Thomas Valentine
First section test piece: Maritana (William Vincent Wallace) / Own choice)
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Camborne Town | William Uren | |
| 2 | Redruth Town (Emilia) | R Wills | 67 |
| 3 | St Dennis Temperance | William Juleff | |
| 4 | Foxhole Temperance | John Morcom | |
Specials:
E C Wills, Camborne (cornet)
George Roseveor, Camborne (trombone)
James Williams, Redruth (best dressed bandsman)
(Cornubian 15th August 1912 / Cornish Post 15th August 1912)
High Compliment for Cornish Bandsmen. … which four bands of the county took part. Great interest was evinced in the band contest the four bands did remarkably well. ??? were Camborne Town Band (conductor, Mr William Uren); Redruth Town Band (Mr. Wills); St. Dennis Temperance Band (Mr. W. Julef); and Foxhole Temperance Bond (Mr. Morcom <. Each band had first to play a ??? its own choice, and the test piece was Maritana.” Awards:—l. £7 cash and a Clipper ton cornet value £9 95. Camborne; 2, £6.. a bandmaster’s cap and a conductor’ ?? Redruth; £5 cash and a bandmaster’ . St. Dennis; music valued £l, Foxhole. Mr. E. C. Wills (cornet. Camborne), won the Modal for beat soloist and also a medal for best cornet solo; Mr. G. Roseveare (Camborne) the medal for the best trombone soloist; and Mr. James Williams (Redruth) was awarded the medal for the neatest and best dressed bandsman. awarding the last-named medal, the judge (.Mr. T. Valentine) said he had to take into consideration the condition of the instrument. He had been very agreeably surprised at the playing of the four bands… Although did not take notes of the piece of their own choice, be was very favourably impressed with the selections, and had there been prizes for that piece only, he should have awarded them to the bands the order they played. As to the competition real, he had no hesitation whatever awarding the first prise to the second band that played (Camborne), but the selection of the second prize band caused him some difficulty. He decided eventually that it must to No. (Redruth), but they must not run away with the idea that they won easily, because they were very closely followed No. 3 (St. Dennis). He awarded the medals to the cornet and trombone players in the first band, but they would have won quite as well had they been in any other of the bands. The Rev. R. Prior said they had had a favourable day with a very good “gate.” for which they were very thankful. Last year they were down something like £26, and very much depended on the amount of money they took that day as whether they would be able continue. He was glad to say the success that day would enable them to hold the sports next year, when they hoped to get another large and orderly crowd. (Hear hear). The prizes were afterwards distributed by Miss P. A. Rowe (Alma Hotel. Redruth). (15 August 1912 – West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser)
Playing the test piece Maritana Camborne Town (Wm Uren) was in first place with a special prize for the best soloist (cornet) and medals for cornet and trombone. In second place was Redruth Town (R Wills) with a medal for the neatest and best dressed bandsmen. St Dennis Temperance (W Juleff) was third and Foxhole Temperance (J Morcom) fourth.
1913
5th Pencoys, Four Lanes Contest
(Four Lanes Band)
Four Lanes, Redruth
9th August 1913
Adjudicator: William Short
Spectators at the 1913 Contest (Photo: courtesy of Roy Blewett)
First section (bands over 24 players) test piece: Emilia / Own choice)
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | Redruth Town (The Bohemian Girl) | Richard Wills | |
| 2 | Camborne Town (Maritana) | Walter Nutall | |
Specials:
Soprano: R Hooper, Redruth
Cornet: James Williams, Redruth
Trombone: A Richards, Redruth
Euphonium: J Sando, Redruth
Second section: The Village Bride (William Rimmer)
| Placed | Conductor | Points | |
| 1 | St Ives Town | Edwin J Williams | |
| 2 | Bugle Silver | Samuel Minear | |
| 3 | Stenalees Silver | J Libby | |
| 4 | Lelant Brass | John Tanner | |
| 5 | Indian Queens | C Tamblyn | |
| 6 | Foxhole Temperance | John Morcom | |
| 7 | St Agnes Town | Harry Robins | |
Specials:
Horn: St Ives
Baritone: St Ives
Marching section, open to all bands
| Placed | Points | |
| 1 | Bugle Silver | |
| 2 | Camborne | |
| 3 | St Ives | |
| 4 | Lelant Brass | |
| 5 | St Agnes | |
| 6 | Redruth | |
| 7 | Stenalees | |
| 8 | Indian Queens | |
| 9 | Foxhole | |
Contest Programme states that Porthleven Brass & Reed Band also took part. (Phillip Hunt from Cornish Studies Library archives)
Entries in the Slow Melody Contest: (Phillip Hunt from Cornish Studies Library archives)
E J Williams (euphonium) St Ives
Ford Knight (trombone) Indian Queens
R Arthur (euphonium) Foxhole
J M Minear (soprano) Bugle
W Minear (bombardon) Bugle
A Pinch (baritone) Bugle
1913: “Band Contest at Illogan. The Camborne band’s was next… clear that Redruth band whose only fault was that they were little stiff. Their treatment of the piece, however, was good. The medals must also to Redruth band. This band certainly had the best soloists. Mr Short added and the trombonist, Mr Richards, … take him back London.” (14 August 1913 – Cornishman)
“The victory of Camborne Band at Trevethoe recalls to mind the fact that nearly fifty years ago there was a band content at Clowance in connection with a great Oddfellows’ demonstration. St. Day Brass Band led Mr. Tom Cara (afterwards of Gross Valley. California) was awarded the first prize £14. which with £2 for playing Chacewater Oddfellows to the ground, made £16 for the day’s playing. Camborne Band “for attempting a difficult piece” was awarded second prize. At Tregullow soon afterwards, with another judge, Camborne Band was given first prize. St. Day second, and Truro Volunteers third. So that history repeats itself and the present-day Camborne Band recovers its balance and defeats Redruth, which for a moment at Four Lanes enjoyed transient victory over its redoubtable neighbour. Half-a-century ago, however, St. Day Band, under Mr. Cara, was one of the finest bands in the county. One member at least is still alive, and resides in Penzance.
The success of Camborne Town Band at Lelant Saturday has caused general satisfaction throughout the town, and the reception recorded “our champions” on their return home must have been flattering the performers. It is interesting trace the history of the Town Band. Since I889, the time Mr. W. Uren took over the leadership, they have won more first prizes than any band in the county; have received over in £300 cash prizes, won forty solo medals and eleven instruments. In conversation with a member of our staff this week, Bandmaster Uren said if Camborne merited the prize at Lelant, they merited it at Four Lanes. The performance of the test piece at Four Lanes was one of the best they had ever given. “At Four Lanes” he continued, “Redruth beat us for the first time in their lives. It will be some time before this happens again. Our band can beat Redruth every day in the week, whether we play for money or marbles.” The Town Band are busily engaged practising for the Bugle contest, which takes place next week. The test piece will be the same as at Four Lanes and Lelant – “Emilia.” All Cornish bands of note are entered, together with some crack bands from Devon, Somerset and Gloucester, therefore good contest is expected.” What Camborne People are saying: That the quotation; ‘The first shall be last,’ was applicable for Redruth Band was concerned on Saturday. That they were first at Four Lanes, but last at Lelant. That Camborne Town Band must have been gratified at the reception given them on their return from the contest. That according to a well-known musician they did not play as well at Lelant as they did at Four Lanes, yet they were an easy first at the former contest.” (11 September 1913 – The Cornish Telegraph)
This amusing story was written following the 1913 contest when Redruth famously defeated Camborne. It was said that the Camborne players were not very happy and walked home across the fields kicking the turnips out of the ground as they went.
Billy at the Band Contest
(14 August 1913 – The Cornish Telegraph)
Deer Maaister,
Fower Laanes band contest is awl right in its way, but et cain’t be compeered to the contests we used to ave away back fifty year agone down weth we. In thay days brass bands wadn’t hardly heerd about cepts into Druth an awver Caamburn. Our bands wor mostly fife an drum bands, good wauns they wor, too. I used to live at Downs in they days, fur yeers we ad the best band in the parish, an to heer them play “Hold the fort” or “Pull fur the shore” wor a experience wot you wud never furgit waunce you heerd et. My ould fayther wor laider ov that band, an wen ee wor forced to give up cause ee got so fat that he cudn’t blaw agoin agen the hill I wor put in his place, an though I say et as shudn’t say et, theer wor never a band wot had a purtier, a moare capable, a moare fearless laider than I wor. Talk about laiden, we won the fust prize ov five shillin waunce awver to Scroggan, an North Country band wot wor second wor as jealous as fire an called us chaits an awl the rest ov et. Now tes hard lines fur honest men to be called chaits, an as I wor jealous fur the reputaashun ov our band I called theer laider aside an tould un that ef ee dedn’t call back thay wurds I shud feel et my dooty to chastise un. But, as luck wud ave et, et turned out that I wus talkin to a moare aable man than myself, fur taakin me by the scruff of the neck ee gov me sich a shaakin that the teeth neerly dropped out ov my head, an ef I dedn’t scraim murder I believe theer wud ave ben a end ov me the spot.
Waunce I wor axed to judge in a contest. I wus allers a bit ambitious that way so I took on the job wi’thougt weighing up the conserquences. The contest wor down to Bridge, besides the Bridge band whose laider wor Peter Pott, wot kept the kiddleywink down theer, theer wor also Purtraith band, Laity Moors band, Skithy band, Puggis Hill band, Scroggan band, North Country band, an one or two moare bands whose naames I doan’t exactly remember now. Twer a terrible cold day, I hadn’t slept fur two nights fur toothache so I put a lil bottle ov brandy in my pocket. Ther wor loud cheerin wen I cumed on the field, an awl the laiders touched theer hats jist fur awl the wurld ef I wor a rail gentleman. We had five test peaces – “Wheer is wanderin my boay to-night,” “Dare to be a Daniel,” “At the faist of Beltshaazer,” “Swanee River,” and “Theer’s a light in the winder”, an as theer wor ten bands, an aich band ad to play awl the peaces, you cudn’t but say that everybody wor in fur a good pennyworth. Wen everything wor ready I wor put in a wheelbarrow an cuvered up weth a peace ov canvas, fur tents wor very scarce in thay days. At laist I gov the signal, and the fust band started to play, an my ould tooth started to ache at the saame time. I put a drop ov brandy on un, wot aised un fur the time, but in a minute ee wud start agen wuss than ever. So ee had moare brandy, still moare brandy, ontil at laist the achin wor awl gone, an I wor feelin that drowsy an my head agoin round that fast, that I cudn’t keep my eyes open. Then I must ave dropped off to sleep fur I dedn’t remember nawthin moare until sumbody shaaked me an axed which band got the prize. “Wot prize?” I sed weth eyes still shut.
“Why the contest prize, booby,” ee sed.
“Ef you call me booby agen,” I sed, “I’ll – I’il – but afore I finished I must ave gone to slaip agen, fur the next thing I remembered wor being dropped in a pool ov water down the corner ov the field. That brought me to me senses purty quick, an I scrambled out ov the mud water in less time than et took them to put me theer. I cud see the pepul up in the field waavin theer hands awl excited, an cud hear them shoutin to ave theer muney back. So wot I took an dun wus to climb awver the hedge an maake fur ome as quick as I cud. Next day l ad to pay awver fower shellin an sevenpence to maake up wot wor short after payin the people theer pennies back. I dedn’t go down to Bridge fur a long time after that, an I aven’t dun no judging sense.
Well, three weeks ago cum Toosday Jack Sleeman cumed to my house awl excited an ee sed, sed ee : “You do knaw me, Billy,” ee sed.
“I think I do,” I sed, thinkin ov the many aalf suverigns Jack borrowed frum me frum time to time an ad never payed back.
“An you knaw me to be a able man, Billy,” ee sed.
“Iss,” I sed, I conseder that you be the ablest man in this ere parish, next to myself.”
“An ov coorse I be musical, Billy.”
“Coorse you be,” I sed.
“An you be musical, too, Billy,” ee sed.
“Rather,” I sed.
“Well,” ee sed, “I spoase theer be six or eight moare down ere wot es musical, too,” ee sed.
“No doubt about et,” I sed.
“Then wot es theer to purvent us agoin to Fower Laanes next week an taakin that Fifteen pound prize?”
I sed. “Wotee main?”
Then ee up an sed as theer wos to be a £15 prize an a silver cornet fur the band wot do play the purtiest.
“Be ee shure,” Jack?” I axed , fur it wor hard to blieve that so much muney cud be won in waun afnoon.
“Read the bill fur yourself,” ee sed, an took a bill out ov his pocket fur me to read. I put on my glasses, an theer et wor in bould print that the best band wud git a silver cornet.
“We aven’t got a band, Jack,” I sed.
“But we can soon maake waun,” ee sed, “fur theer’s Joe Pearce, an Maaister Carpenter, an young Tom Blight, an Josey Paul an his son-in-law Jim Pooler, young Nickey, Jan and Dicky Boo.”
“Wot about musics?” I sed.
“We can git fifes fur ninepence aich,” ee sed, “an Joe Peerce ave still got his ould drum.”
Well to maake a long story short, we called a mitten the saame evenin, an I wor conductor, an afore the end of the week we wor practisin in my ould barn fur awl we wus worth the two ould faavourites “Dare to be Daniel” an “Theer’s a light in the winder,” an wen the day ov the contest arrived we cud play both peaces weeth our eyes shut. We left ome weth stout hearts and a detarminashun to win that fust prize or perish in the attempt. Wen we got close to Druth we formed up in marchin order an let out awl lusty weth “Dare to be Daniel,” an the pepul cumed to the doors to see wheer the sound wor cumin frum. By the time we reached the bottom ov the town theer wer fifteen or twenty lil boays follerin behind, an et looked fur awl the wurld like a taytrait. I maake bould to say twor purty moosic, too, fur Josey an Jack an boay Nickey an the rest ov them wor in fust rate form. Wen that wor awver we pressed on owr journey an dedn’t play no moare ontil we got to Fower Lanes. And did’n the pepul stare wen we struck up “Theer’s a light in the winder.” Then a accerdent appened fur Joe Peerce wor that rash that ee scat in the side the drum. The pepul must ave knawed I was cumin weth the band, fur the flags wer flyin everywheer. At the gaate we kept on marchin and playin, but the man in charge shouted, “Sexpense aich, plaise.”
“But we are the band,” I sed.
“Which band,” ee sed.
“The champshuns,” I sed. Then after lookin at the red paaper ee took out ov his pocket, ee sed theer wor no band ov that name entered.
“Ov coorse we aven’t entered,” I sed, “fur you ave stopped us.”
“Wot be your naame?” ee sed.
“Billy Annear,” I sed, walkin close so to catch un in caase he went off into a faint.
But strange to say, he wadn’t a bit upset by the news that Billy Annear had arrived, but only sed, sed ee, “Th e name eden on this ere paaper. An whot’s moare, I doan’t knaw ee.”
“Doan’t knaw me,” I sed, fur I cud hardly believe my ears.
“No I don’t” sed ee.
“You don’t?” I sed agen.
“No, I don’t knaw ee frum Adam,” ee sed.
“Then, young man,” I said, “your edycaashun av ben sadly neglected.”
Then a nice-lookin young man weth a badge on his coat axed wot wor the matter. “Tes like this ere. Maaister Roberts,” sed the man. “This ere feller wot do say his name es Billy Annear want to go in fur nawthin weth awl his party,”
Pon hearin my naame, this ere Maaister Roberts cumed forth an’ neerly ringed my hand off, an sed ee wus proud to welcum sich a important person to the contest. “You be a noospaper man Maaister Annear.” ee sed, “an theerfor you doan’t pay.”
“Wot about my baud?” I axed.
“Fife an drum bands aren’t allowed to play fur the prize,” ee said, but you can do awl the playin you want awver in the corner of the field purvided the tother bands doan’t ear ee.”
That wor a fear offer, an we awl thanked the young man fur makin et. Then I took aalf-a-suvrign out ov my purse an we awl passed through.
Theer wor a band playin so luvely wen we got theer that we greed not to do no playin at awl, but to listen to the other bands. So we put our fifes in our pockets an Joe Pearce thrawed his broken drum awver the hedge.
We were glad we cumed, fur we never heerd purtier music afore cepts weth the Grenadier Guards an Luggan band. The seven lil bands dun so purty that if I ad ben the judge I shud ave gov em all the fust prize.
After they finished Druth band started, an I doan’t mind sayin that I wanted them to do well, fur though I be a Downs man, an my Lizzie Ann a Scroggan woman, I’ve allers somehow ad a likin fur Druth. Well, they played bootiful, an wen they finished Maaister Richard Reynolds, who I knawed wen ee wor awnly so high, an his fayther and grand fayther afore un, looked sum proud wen ee walked off the stage. The Caamburn band, in charge of a strange-lookin gentleman who I never seed afore, dun theer playin, an afore they finished Jack Sleeman and Maaister Carpenter sed twud be a close thing atween that two bands. An a close thing et wor, too, but Druth got in frunt, an I shudn’t be surprised but wot they doan’t keep theer.
Well, we didn’t git that fust prize, but we ad a enjoyable day, an wudn’t ave missed et fur anything.
So long fur the time.
Billy Annear
Compiled by Tony Mansell (Bardh Kernow)