Midlands Area Championships 2006

Porthywaen Silver Band travelled to Burton-on-Trent on Sunday 12 March for the 2006 midlands area Brass Band Championships. This has been an annual visit for some time but was certainly different this year. The darkness of a 6.30 a.m. leave from Porthywaen band hall was expected. What was not expected was a heavy fall of snow. This came as rather a challenge particularly for those who had to travel in from more 'up-country' locations. The journey through most of Shropshire was slow because of lying snow.

The road to Burton. Early morning on Sunday 12 March 2006. This is a colour photograph - even though the scene is very grey [the reflector post shows a little colour]. The photo was taken on the dual carriageway section of the A5 leading to the M54.

Fortunately the band were not drawn to play first and had a little time to rehearse. The band competed in the second section or ?league?, against 11 other bands. Each band plays the same contest music so by the end of the 12 performances the audience are familiar with the piece! The piece of music was Images of the Millennium by Howard Snell and was demanding in both skill and stamina.

Porthywaen Silver Band were placed fifth and awarded 181 out of 200 points. This is the highest placing the band has been awarded. There were only three points separating the third to fifth places. The adjudicators complemented the soloists in the band. The two percussionist of the band did very well with the heavy demands made on their section. The band?s musical director, David Thomas, did not let his shoulder injury get in the way of his baton wielding. The musical director and players were pleased that the band had consolidated and slightly improved its position from the previous year when it was placed sixth out of 14 bands.

The two adjudications are shown below: