Backworth Colliery Band News

With seventeen bands entering and one withdrawing, Backworth’s results suggest an excellent night at Easingwold.

Coming joint 11th in the Deportment March, placed 10th in the Concert March, and 13th overall, the latter from both sets of marks totalled.

In Deportment, Backworth (4th section) came joint 11th from the 16 bands; joint with Frickley South Emsall (2nd section) and Knottingley Silver (1st section); and ahead of Broughtons (1st section), Emley (3rd) and Northumbrian Water (1st section).

Better still, in the Contest March, Backworth’s 10th place came ahead of Garforth, Broughtons, Houghton, both Shepherd Group and Shepherd Group Concert, and Northumbrian Water.

In the 4th section class, Backworth lost out to Shepherd Group Concert by 1 point – 261 to 262, being the totalled points from the two march classes. Backworth were 7 points ahead of Shepherds in the Contest March, but 8 points adrift in Deportment.

It’s probably quite easy to make significant improvements in Deportment; it’s harder to make equivalent improvements in a Contest performance. Suppose we had been just 2% better in Deportment: we’d have made up the shortfall on Shepherds and won our section. Makes you think.

So well done this year – a great result on the Stand.

Results are online at http://www.yhbba.org.uk/easingwold5.htm

Saturday evening at the Easingwold Deportment Contest saw the Band parade around the village square to “National Emblem” followed up with a stirring performance on the stand of “Ravensworth”.

In a strong field that included several Championship and 1st section bands, Backworth came 10th out of 17, losing out narrowly out in the 4th section category. Our 10th place put the Band above Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery and Broughtons, amongst others.

The evening represented a fitting send-off for Colin Harris who stands down as Musical Director, having served the Band as MD, contest secretary, arranger, player, and in numerous other capacities. Colin’s decision pass the baton on comes after several successful and enjoyable years, leaving the Band stronger after his recent 5 years as MD.

We sincerely wish Colin every future happiness and warmly acknowledge his significant contribution to Backworth Colliery Band.

Bus leaves Into Change Backworth 16:00.

Runners and Riders from
http://www.yhbba.org.uk/easingwold1.htm:

Backworth Colliery 4th C. Harris
Broughtons Brass 1st N. Davies
Emley Brass 3rd G. Hallas
Fishburn Ch TBA
Frickley South Elmsall Brass 2nd David Nichols
Garforth Brass 3rd S. Bailey
GT Group Peterlee 1st S. Malcolm
Houghton Brass 2nd H. Smith
Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Ch J Woodward
Knottingley Silver 1st O. Wedgwood
Shepherd Group Brass 1st T. Oldroyd
Shepherd Group Concert Brass U/G M. Pratt
South Yorkshire Police 2nd Leigh Baker
Stape Silver 3rd M. Breckon
Wakefield Metropolitan Brass 1st N. Law
Wetherby Silver 3rd G. Hallas

The line up for the small bands required for the two Walkerville concerts are as follows:

Tony (M.D.)

Teresa
Nicole
Callum
Stephen
Michael
Norman

Catherine
Nicola

Terry
Matthew (Friday only)
Aubrey

Mary (Thursday only)
Christina
Michael (Friday only)

Chris T

Colin

Thursday and Friday, 1930 start, Pinewood Close, Walkerville

The band took part in the 2009 Whit Friday marches in East Manchester on 5th June, and despite the worst weather in living memory, the band played at 4 venues, excelling to two of them.

At Denshaw, the band won a prize for being 2nd out of the 4th section bands, and at Dobcross the band finished a lofty 22nd out of 59 bands.

Diggle and Scouthead saw the band take the worse of the weather, although results there were not bad for a 4th section band.

A big thank you to Peter, Rob, Dionne and Gareth who helped us out and too all the band for performing in the face of wet, wind, hail and cold.

Several members of the senior band, and the full junior band, took part in yesterday’s Wansbeck Music Festival, held at Morpeth Reform Church.

The most impressive result was cornet player Callum Harrison, winning the prestigious James Shepherd contest, along with a useful bursary of £150, against 7 of the most promising brass players in the area. Bass player Chris Travis also gained third place in the same section.

Full results:

B2 under 16 (min grade3)
Callum, Christina, Matthew entered
Mathew came second

B2a under 16 (min grade 4)
Callum, Christina, Mathew, Stuart entered
Mathew came second

B4b over 16yrs
Sam and Chris entered getting joint 3rd

B6 under 16 duet
Callum and Mathew won

B4a under 21 James Shepherd special performance class
Callum, Christina, Sam and Chris entered
CALLUM WON, Chris 3rd place

B15 under 18 brass band
Backworth junior band won

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Our link is http://twitter.com/backworthband

For the second time in a month, the band were visited and filmed performing. Our visitor last night was Chris Howell from Northumbria University, who is currently working on a documentary about the history of the West End of Newcastle.

The band were filmed peforming “Blaydon Races” from the popular selection “Songs of the Tyne” arrange by Jack Carr.

The band are breaking for Easter, and when they return next week we will be preparing our 2009 concert programme, ready for our busy Summer Concert season, starting with St. Georges Day celebration concert at Backworth Hall on April 25th.

Despite a strong performance, the band came 4th out of 9 bands at this year’s Area Qualification Contest at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington.

Criticism of tempos were the main point allocated by the adjudicator Barry Thompson in placing the band lower than was predicted.

A big thank you to Duncan Beckley for all his hard work, and to Cath McAllister, who now leaves the band after 2 years brilliant service as the band’s first trombone. Her infectious personality and enthusiasm will be sorely missed.

Full results:

http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=9615

Section 4
Saturday 21 March

Draw: 1.30pm
Commences: Approximately 3.30pm, after Section 1 awards
Adjudicator: Barry Thompson

Results

1. Kirkby Lonsdale (A. Greenwood), 4
2. Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes (S. Askew), 2
3. Swinton and District Excelsior (N. Sutherland), 9
4. Backworth Colliery (D. Beckley), 6
5. Bearpark and Esh Colliery (V. Eckerman), 3
6. Lanchester (J. Fenwick), 8
7. NASUWT Riverside Youth (J. Bell), 1
8. Trimdon Concert (B. Wright), 5
9. Craghead Colliery (J. Robson), 7

Top 2 Qualify

Best Principal Cornet: Kingsway Printers
Best Euphonium: Kirkny Lonsdale

Last night, the Newcastle Evening Chronicle visted the Backworth Colliery Band rehearsal, as part of a series on the effects of the Mineworkers strike and subsequent closure of the collieries.

The band has a video posted on the website of us rehearsing Ravenswood at:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/videos-pictures/picture-gallerires/2009/03/04/colliery-band-strikes-a-chord-72703-23062639/

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2009/03/04/mining-heritage-strikes-a-chord-with-colliery-band-72703-23062033/

and is also featured on page 20 of today’s Evening Chronicle.