On Sunday 12th March 2006, the Morecambe Senior Band competed in the 3rd Section of the North West Regional Championship.

The band met at the band room at 7.00am and then set off to Poulton-le-Fylde bandroom. We rehearsed there from 8.15am-9.00am, then after a brief speech from the conductor Mark Vause we returned to the coach and awaited a phonecall for the draw. We soon found out that we had drawn 14th (second to last). Some were not happy by this as it made it into a long drawn out and nervous day. However, this was a good contesting draw, and we felt with only fifteen bands in the section, at least with a good solid performance the adjudicator would remember us.

We finally performed in the Empress Ballroom at around 2.30pm. We had a shaky first movement. A few splits here and there and some sections of the band rushed occasionally so parts of the movement weren't together. This was probably down to nerves and the initial shock of the poor acoustic of the Ballroom. However, the band soon got over this and performed a superb 2nd movement, followed by a strong closing movement. Although we were aware we had not played our best we were also aware that we had still performed to high standard and were probably hoping to be within the top six. Audience members were also surprised by the return to contesting of such a strong Morecambe Brass Band.

During the adjudication I was both stunned and a little hopeful in what the adjudicator had to say. Roy Roe had basically said that he had adjudicated bands on interpretation and had penalised bands for rushing. We had played a stunning 2nd movement and although sections of the 1st movement had rushed in places, we had taken the piece at a steady tempo for detail and clarity. WE were hopeful!

Both ourselves and (and as I found out later) many audience members were quite stunned by the result. The band that had won had been one of the fastest bands on stage, the adjudicator contradicting himself! Also it has become clear since that the adjudicator had panelised bands for doing exactly what it said on the score, by the composer himself!! Later we read the remarks which on the whole were very positive and gave the band no indication as to where we went wrong and how we could improve our piece.

Out of 50 contests one of the most puzzling results I have ever witnessed. Roy Roe explain yourself please! However, as people say, that is banding!


A Special Tanks To …

The MBBA and players of Morecambe Brass Band would like to thank Jonathan Hall, John Tibke and David Tattersall for helping out the band at Blackpool. We hope to see you all again soon.

Also a special thanks to Mark Vause for conducting the band, we couldn't have entered the contest without you.