The Kirkintilloch band represented Scotland at the recent European Championships held in Stavanger on 2nd/3rd May. It was not to be a happy trip for the band however as they were placed well down the field in tenth position.
The bands tilt at the title was not helped as they drew number 1 for the set test piece event on Friday. The draw did however allow the band to give the world premiere of the set test piece "Brass Blot" by Hakon Berge. The band gave a good account of themselves under the baton of Howard Taylor but perhaps too many slips cost them dearly in the final reckoning.
The bands luck did not change for the own choice contest on Saturday as this time they drew number 2. Again the band gave a good account of their chosen work, Philip Sparkes "Music of the Spheres", but again perhaps too many slips left the door open for other bands to better it.
The contest was won by Cory band from Wales, their first win in 28 long years. They were followed home by the English Champions Grimethorpe with defending European Champions Willebroek back in third place. Overall it was another excellent European Championship festival and credit must go to the Norwegian authorities for organising such an enjoyale week of events. Next year the Championships will be held in Ostend where Whitburn will represent Scotland.
The results of the EBBA European Championships 2008
| Venue: | Stavanger Concert Hall |
| Date: | 3rd May 2008 |
| Adjudicator(s): | David King, Jens T. Larsen, Jan van der Roost |
| Own Choice Testpiece | |
Band |
Conductor |
Draw |
Pts |
||
| 1. | Brass Band Willebroek | Frans Violet | 8 |
98 |
 |
| Music for Battle Creek - Philip Sparke | |||||
| 2. | Grimethorpe Colliery | Alan Withington | 1 |
97 |
 |
| Vienna Nights - Philip Wilby | |||||
| 3. | Cory | Dr. Robert Childs | 10 |
95 |
 |
| Music for Battle Creek - Philip Sparke | |||||
| 4. | Brass Band Buizingen | Luc Vertommen | 5 |
94 |
|
| Concerto Grosso - Derek Bourgeois | |||||
| 5. | Stavanger | Gary Cutt | 7 |
93 |
 |
| Music of the Spheres - Philip Sparke | |||||
| 6. | Stockholm | Kent Jonsson | 4 |
92 |
 |
| Year of the Dragon - Philip Sparke | |||||
| 7. | Brass Band Fribourg | Arsene Duc | 11 |
90 |
 |
| Vienna Nights - Philip Wilby | |||||
| 8. | Brass Band Lyngby Taarbaek | Christian Schmiedescamp | 6 |
89 |
 |
| Apocalypse - Derek Bourgeois | |||||
| 9. | Brass Band De Waldsang | Rieks van der Velde | 9 |
88 |
 |
| Music for Battle Creek - Philip Sparke | |||||
| 10. | Oberoesterreich Brass Band | Hans Buchegger | 3 |
86 |
 |
| Dreams - Bertrand Moren | |||||
| 11. | Kirkintilloch | Howard Taylor | 2 |
84 |
 |
| Music of the Spheres - Philip Sparke | |||||
| Venue: | Stavanger Concert Hall |
| Date: | 2nd May 2008 |
| Adjudicator(s): | Armin Bachmann, Nigel Boddice, Arvid Anthun |
| Set Testpiece: | Brass Blot, Hakon Berge |
Band |
Conductor |
Draw |
Pts |
||
| 1. | Cory | Dr. Robert Childs | 10 |
99 |
|
| 2. | Grimethorpe Colliery | Alan Withington | 2 |
97 |
|
| 3. | Brass Band Fribourg | Arsene Duc | 6 |
95 |
|
| 4. | Brass Band Lyngby Taarbaek | Christian Schmiedescamp | 9 |
94 |
|
| 5. | Stavanger | Gary Cutt | 4 |
92 |
|
| 6. | Brass Band Buizingen | Luc Vertommen | 8 |
91 |
|
| 7. | Brass Band De Waldsang | Rieks van der Velde | 7 |
90 |
|
| 8. | Oberoesterreich Brass Band | Hans Buchegger | 11 |
89 |
|
| 9. | Brass Band Willebroek | Frans Violet | 3 |
88 |
|
| 10. | Kirkintilloch | Howard Taylor | 1 |
87 |
|
| 11. | Stockholm | Kent Jonsson | 5 |
86 |
|