Boarshurst Band Do Saddleworth Proud At Nationals
The Boarshurst Band in action at Dobcross Band Club earlier this year.
Congratulations are in order for the Boarshurst Silver Band. Saddleworth’s only representatives at the National Brass Band Finals in Cheltenham at the weekend finished a very respectable fifth in the Fourth Section.
Playing test piece Henry The Fifth, Boarshurst were fourth of the 19 competing bands to play. Musical director David W Ashworth said the band put in a “very good peformance indeed.”
He added: “We’re all very pleased. It was a great weekend, we had a very good time with the whole band together.”
After qualifying for the finals earlier in the year, the Greenfield-based band carried out a series of fundraising events and concerts to get the money together to make the trip to Cheltenham.
David said: “We had that much support it was frightening. Everybody chipped in. We had several Saddleworth bands agree to play free concerts, and so many people who put in so much effort, I’d just like to thank everybody.”
He continued: “I think we represented Saddleworth to the best of our ability, and that’s the main thing.”
Welsh band Mellingriffith 2 took the Fourth Section honours, ahead of New Forest Brass and Rushden Town.
Brass band website 4 Bars Rest was liveblogging the contest, and praised Boarshurst’s performance. Its writer commented: “A secure opening is a good one with the basses laying a solid foundation. Fanfares are well played, but it just loses focus and gets a little scrappy. Neat close though.”
The critic went on: “Bold to close, with a march of character that holds its majestic feel. We hear some fine middle band sounds too with the baritones taking the lead. More than enough in the tank to close too.”
Boarshurst have been promoted to the Third Section for next year, and their first contest at the new level will be the Butlins Mineworkers Championships in January, before the regional heats for the nationals are held in February.
If you’d like to see Boarshurst in action closer to home, you can find their list of engagements on their website here.
Coverage of the weekend’s events can be found on 4 Bars Rest here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
If you would like to share an interesting story, achievement, photo or something you just want to happily shout about please send it in an email to hello@saddleworthlife.com We'd ❤ to hear from you!!
