Tight at the top but Whitburn pip the Co to Scottish title

Whitburn Band successfully defended its Scottish title, beating the cooperation band by a single point in a closely fought tussle at the top in the Championship section.

Led by Florent Didier, the band scored 192 points for its masterly rendition of the test piece Elgar Variations by Martin Ellerby, a performance which appealed to adjudicators Chris King and John Doyle.

the cooperation band, under musical director Dr Glenn Van Looy, was awarded 191 points, three points clear of third placed The Kirkintilloch Band, conducted by Chris Binns.

All three bands have qualified for an invitation to compete in the National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 3 October. Whitburn will also be invited to represent Scotland at the 2027 European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland.

Winning the Peter Fraser MBE Trophy – kindly donated in memory of the late vice president of the Scottish Brass Band Association by Kenny Cochrane of Punchcraft, Cumbernauld – was Dalmellington (Erik Janssen) on 187 points.

Chris King said he had heard some superb playing during the weekend and in this contest he and fellow judge John Doyle had studied the score “inside out” to ensure making a fair decision.

Their expectations were high that the right notes would be played in the right place with the right balance. The test piece was fragmented in structure and bands that made sense of this were the successful ones, two of whom were outstanding.

John Doyle gave the percussion players a mention, saying they had to be an integral part of a band’s performance and “not just an add-on”. He congratulated all the soloists, whether principal players or not.

The full results of the Championship Section are:

1. Whitburn (Florent Didier) 192pts

2. the cooperation band (Dr Glenn Van Looy) 191pts

3. The Kirkintilloch Band (Chris Binns) 188pts

4. Dalmellington (Erik Janssen) 187pts

5. Coalburn Silver (Gareth Bowman) 186pts

6. Bon-Accord Silver (Adam Cooke) 185pts

7. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston) 184pts

8. Bo’ness & Carriden (Phil Chalk) 183pts

9. Kingdom Brass (Eoin Tonner) 182pts

10. Granite City Brass (Raymond Tennant) 181pts

Terris Medal for best solo cornet: Whitburn

Gavin Lindsay Quaich for best soprano cornet: Coalburn Silver

Alex Chalmers Memorial Quaich for best flugel: Newtongrange Silver

Bram Thompson Medal for best horn: Whitburn

James MacMillan Medal for best baritone: Granite City Bras

Curly Wilson Memorial Trophy for best euphonium: Whitburn

John Campbell Award for best trombone: Whitburn

Angus Pearse Memorial Trophy for best bass: the cooperation band

James Hills Memorial Trophy for best bass section: the cooperation band

Hugh Johnstone Memorial Trophy for best percussion section: Dalmellington