Sparkling victory for Jedforest Instrumental at Borders contest

Jedforest Instrumental Band celebrated Bonfire Night early with a sparkler of a performance to win the Borders Entertainment Contest in Selkirk’s Victoria Halls yesterday.

In the process of winning the competition, the band (conducted by Phil Rosier) also picked up awards for the best bass section, best instrumentalist (solo trombone Gordon Melrose), highest placed Borders band and best Second Section band.

Taking second place was Annan Town Band (Lewis Wilkinson), who also picked up prizes for best solo cornet (Olivia Beckett) and best percussion section, and in third place was Langholm Town Band (Chris Bradley), who also received best deportment, best entertainment and best Third Section band awards.

The award for best soloist went to Irvine & Dreghorn Brass principal cornet Lois Kirk and the best Fourth Section band prize went to MacTaggart Scott Loanhead.

There was also a special award made to Galashiels Town Band for having taken part in every Borders contest since its inception.

Jedforest’s winning programme opened up with members taking to the hall floor for a dramatic performance of Space Chords before resuming their places on the stage for the remainder of their set which comprised Dance Zeibekikos by Philip Wilby, One Night Only arr. Christopher Bond and Scherzo for Motorcycle and Orchestra arr. Klaas van der Woude.

Adjudicators David Thornton and Jim Chamberlain were both in agreement about the impressive standard of playing throughout the day and also on the quality of the soloists.

“It’s no mean feat to stand up and play in front of your peers,” said David. “All the soloists were excellent today. And as for the performances, we didn’t think for one minute there had been an ill-chosen programme by any of the musical directors.”

Jedforest celebrate their Borders contest victory

The runner-up prize went to Annan Town

Langholm Town put on the most entertaining programme

Photos courtesy of Emma Scott

The full contest results were:

1. Jedforest Instrumental (Phil Rosier)

2. Annan Town (Lewis Wilkinson)

3. Langholm Town (Chris Bradley)

4. Irvine & Dreghorn (John Boax)

5. Selkirk Silver (Charlie Farren)

6. St. Ronan’s Silver (David MacLeod)

7. MacTaggart Scott Loanhead (Peter Holmes)

8. Coalburn Intermediate (David Fehilly)

9. Ellington Colliery (Calum Hartwell)

10. Peebles Burgh (Vaughan Fleischfresser)

11. Kirkton Brass (Simon Railton)

12. Hawick Saxhorn (Stuart Black)

13. Penicuik Silver (Doug Anderson)

* Galashiels Town (Stuart Black) was a non-contesting participant.

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