Kirkie meets the Challenge to take the Shield with a clear victory

Congratulations to The Kirkintilloch Band on following up its win at the West of Scotland entertainment contest with a convincing victory at the Band Supplies Scottish Challenge in Perth Concert Hall yesterday, establishing a clear three-point lead over second-placed Bathgate Band.

Playing off the number 24 spot, it was Kirkie’s performance of Edward Gregson’s The World Rejoicing – under the musical direction of Hedley Benson – that caught the ear of adjudicators Owen Farr and John Doyle who also awarded the band the Anthony Hope Memorial for the best horn section and the 4barsrest Award for the best soloist to trombone player Luke Williams.

Peter Fraser leads the Kirkintilloch celebrations on winning the Scottish Challenge Shield

Following Kirkie on stage, Bathgate, conducted by Craig Anderson, took the runner-up placing with its admirable rendition of St James’s – A New Beginning by Philip Harper.

Third spot went to Clackmannan District, the highest placed Second Section band led by Paul Drury, who chose to play Connotations by Edward Gregson. And it was the performance of principal cornet Lorraine McLeod in this piece that brought home the Paul Dornan Memorial Trophy, an award that was presented to the contest on behalf of Clackmannan as a tribute to their late principal cornet who passed away after battling kidney cancer.

John Doyle presents the Bo'ness Fair Bowl to runners-up Bathgate

Highest placed Third Section Band was Brass Sounds Inverclyde (Joshua Parkhill) playing Albinus Variations arranged by Etienne Crausaz. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (Steven Craig) was the top Fourth Section band with Dark Side of the Moon by Paul Lovatt-Cooper.

Twenty-six bands took part in the contest, ensuring a long, hard day for the adjudicators, contest organisers and helpers. But their efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the appreciative players and band supporters, who acknowledged them all with enthusiastic rounds of applause.

However, the biggest cheers of the day were reserved for contest controller Peter Fraser who had returned to the fray after a period of ill health. As he occupied his place on stage for the awards ceremony, he was given a lengthy and well-deserved standing ovation by the audience for his decades of service to the Scottish Brass Band Association.

Ronnie Tennant of Scottish Challenge sponsors Band Supplies presents the SBBA Challenge Trophy to third-placed Clackmannan District

The full results of the Scottish Challenge are:

1. The Kirkintilloch Band (1st Section, conducted by Hedley Benson) 198pts

2. Bathgate (1st, Craig Anderson) 195pts

3. Clackmannan District (2nd, Paul Drury) 194pts

4. Newmilns & Galston (2nd, Alan Friel) 193pts

5. Newtongrange Silver (1st, Anne Crookston) 190pts

6. Granite City Brass (1st, Bruce Wallace) 189pts

7. Coalburn Silver (1st, Gareth Bowman) 188pts

8. Broxburn & Livingston (2nd, Andrew Duncan) 187pts

9. Dunaskin Doon (1st, Paul Drury) 186pts

10. Lochgelly (1st, Chris Shanks) 185pts

11. St David’s Brass (2nd, John A Dickson) 184pts

12. Newmains & District (1st, Paul McKelvie) 182 pts

13. Renfrew Burgh (2nd, Mark Good) 181pts

14. Brass Sounds Inverclyde (3rd, Joshua Parkhill) 180pts

15. Perthshire Brass (3rd, Willie McMullan) 179pts

16. Campbeltown Brass (1st, Andrew McMillan) 178pts

17. Arbroath & Carnoustie (3rd, Eoin Tonner) 177pts

18. Kilmarnock Concert Brass (2nd, Scott Walker) 176pts

19. Dysart Colliery (2nd, Robert Fraser) 175pts

20. Shotts St Patrick’s (3rd, Andy Shaw) 174pts

21. Buckhaven & Methil Miners (4th, Steven Craig) 172pts

22. MacTaggart Scott Loanhead (4th, Peter Holmes) 171pts

23. Turriff Silver (4th, Matt Bailey) 169pts

24. Dundee Instrumental (4th, Bob McDonald) 168pts

25. Tullis Russell Mills (1st, George Cameron) 166pts

26. Forfar Instrumental (4th, Donald Innes) 165pts

* Adjudicators' remarks, results and award presentations were live streamed on the SBBA YouTube channel and can be watched here.