Whitburn Take Land O Burns Title
The 11th Land O'Burns contest took place on Saturday 27th August at the Walker Halls in Troon. For the first time in the contests history this year saw the participation of bands from all sections represented. Credit for the continued expansion and popularity of this contest goes to the Dalmellington band who it must be said provide a very well run contest. A record entry this year saw 17 bands converge on Troon all looking to pick up one of the many prizes on offer. The Championship section was particularly well represented with no less than six of the countrys top ten bands making the journey, no doubt all with their eyes on the top prize of ?2000. As well as the silverware, the Land O'Burns contest has on offer the biggest prize fund for any open contest in Scotland, ?4400 in total. The entertainments format, although not universally appreciated by bandsmen, works well in the seaside atmosphere of Troon and all of the bands 
made the most of their twenty minutes. There was a huge variance of music old and new to be heard here and, as adjudicator John Maines said, all of it was good. There were some old favourites but for the most part bands chose to go with good new music from some of the best arrangers in the business such as Alan Fernie and Sandy Smith. As well as the contest itself the Dalmellington band can be proud of their whole organisation of this contest. The canteen and bar were always well populated by bandsmen and women and all staffed by the hardworking members of Dalmellington band. Sandy McAughtrie and his team can be justifiably proud of all of the hours of hard work which went into making a very successful and enjoyable day.
And so to the contest itself. The draw certainly gave neutral observers something to look 
forward to by grouping five of the fancied contenders towards the end of the day. That is not to detract from those bands in the earlier part of the draw. Indeed there were two Championship section bands, Bo?ness & Carriden and Newmilns & Galston, in the first six bands as well as 2nd section challengers Lochgelly and Clydebank. In the middle order there were current 3rd section Scottish Champions Shotts St. Patricks and National Championship qualifiers Coalburn Silver. So a good day in prospect, even the weather brightened up after bit of a gloomy start to the day. All bands acquitted themselves well and adjudicator John Maines must surely have had the hardest of tasks to sort them all out. The Championship section bands played to form as witnessed by all six of them taking the first six placings. After these bands though the lower section bands provided a few surprises. In the end it was Scotlands big three of Whitburn (Andrew Duncan), 
Scottish Co-op (Allan Ramsay) and Kirkintilloch (Alistair Orr) who took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places respectively with the ever improving Unison Kinneil (Paul Drury) in 4th place. The 1st section prize was taken by Johnstone Silver conducted by Gavin Lindsay. The Lochgelly Band conducted by James Chamberlain, enjoyed a fantastic day by winning the 2nd section prize and also by finishing in overall 7th place with only the Championship section bands above them. Shotts St. Patricks conducted by Alan Duguid also had a great day, taking the 3rd section prize whilst finishing ahead of everyone except the Championship section bands and the aforementioned Lochgelly Band. The 4th section prize was awarded to Coalburn Silver, a timely boost as they prepare to head for the National Finals in Harrogate.
The individual prizes were awarded as follows. The best instrumentalist was awarded to the Paul Kiernan of Scottish Co-op who delighted the audience with a sparkling rendition of the trombone solo Bolivar. Best principal cornet was awarded to Kirsty Abbots also of Scottish Co-op whilst Andy Mclean of Kirkintilloch band took the prize for best euphonium and Scott Forrest of Whitburn band the prize for best soprano cornet. The bass section prize was awarded to Whitburn band. The dress and deportment award went to Campbeltown band and Newmilns & Galston band were awarded the prize for highest finishing Ayrshire band.
And so another successful Land O?Burns contest has come to an end. Overall the contest was well organised, mainly down to the hardworking members of Dalmellington band. It was also very well supported by the brass band community in Scotland. The decision of the contest committee to open the contest to all sections has been completely successful and the attraction of big prizes provided good incentive for bands to make the trip south. Such a good days entertainment is presented with the help of a number of sponsors of whom special mention must go to South Ayrshire Council for their continued assistance and support. Thanks also go to Cathy Jamieson MSP, the Scottish Minister for Justice who presented the prizes at the end of the Contest. Once again many thanks to Sandy McAughtrie and his team for a very enjoyable day. Roll on next year.
The results of the Land O'Burns Contest 2005
Open Contest
| Venue: | Walker Halls, Troon |
| Date: | 27th August 2005 |
| Adjudicator(s): | John Maines |
| Entertainment Programme | |
Band |
Conductor |
Section |
Draw |
Pts |
|
| 1. | Whitburn | Andrew Duncan |
C
|
16
|
195
|
| 2. | Scottish Co-op | Allan Ramsay |
C
|
14
|
193
|
| 3. | Kirkintilloch | Alistair Orr |
C
|
17
|
192
|
| 4. | Unison Kinneil | Paul Drury |
C
|
13
|
191
|
| 5. | Bo'ness & Carriden | Brian Keachie |
C
|
2
|
189
|
| 6. | Newmilns & Galston | Craig Anderson |
C
|
1
|
188
|
| 7. | Lochgelly | James Chamberlain |
2
|
6
|
186
|
| 8. | Shotts St. Patrick's Brass | Alan Duguid |
3
|
12
|
185
|
| 9. | Johnstone Silver | Gavin Lindsay |
1
|
15
|
184
|
| 10. | Irvine & Dreghorn | David McKellar |
3
|
9
|
182
|
| 11. | Buckhaven & Methil | Bob McDonald |
3
|
7
|
181
|
| 12. | Coalburn Silver | Gareth Bowman |
4
|
4
|
180
|
| 13. | Annan Town | David Shanks |
2
|
10
|
179
|
| 14. | Clydebank Burgh | Alan Duguid |
2
|
3
|
178
|
| 15. | Brass Sounds Inverclyde | Alistair McCorkell |
4
|
11
|
176
|
| 16. | Campbeltown Brass | Craig Anderson |
3
|
5
|
175
|
| 17. | Penicuick Silver | Frank Culross |
4
|
8
|
174
|
Best Instrumentalist - Paul Keirnan, Scottish Co-op
Best Principal Cornet - Kirsty Abbots, Scottish Co-op
Best Euphonium - Andy McLean, Kirkintilloch
Best Soprano Cornet - Scott Forrest, Whitburn
Best Bass Section - Whitburn
Dress & Deportment - Campbeltown Brass
Highest Placed Ayrshire Band - Newmilns & Galston
