BBL RESULT

BBL RESULT

The band won the Brass Band League Spring Festival contest at Glengormley High School on Saturday 31 March 2001, with a breathtaking performance of Peter Graham's "The Essence of Time'.

The days prior to the contest had been fraught with problems, with the original venue being changed at Short notice, the alternative venue proving unsuitable, and a decision made late on the Thursday night by BBL officers to cancel the contest and the already booked adjudicator.

This sad state of affairs left bands all over the Province annoyed and angry, given the short notice, and the perceived waste of time, effort and expense in rehearsing, booking coaches etc. Sensing this, 1st Old Boys conductor Grenville Moore stepped into the breach, and after a whirlwind round of phone calls, pleading and not a little heartache on Friday, alternative venue, adjudicator and prize money were found and the contest was back on! What a pity that some BBL officers were so ungracious in their reaction to Grenville's successful attempt to save the contest! One was left wondering if they really wanted a contest at all!

The band had its own problems with principal BBb bass Ian Shuttleworth being struck down on Thursday night with chicken pox. Luckily Bill McCann from the CWA Band stepped in as a late substitute.

The band was drawn to play second, and afterwards everyone was pleased with the performance. When the results of adjudicators Colin Hardy and Andrew Duncan were read out, there was pandemonium (well, in our corner of the hall anyway!) when we were announced first prize. In a moment of the sweetest irony, Grenville scooped the (much deserved) prize for best conductor.

This was our first win in this contest since 1994. That year we went on to collect “ The BBL/NIBA Double “. This year ... who knows? Lets just hope the powers that be can pick a test piece that's in print this year!

Joe Cassells (Band Secretary)

Click here for Adjudicators Remarks