The Welsh Regional Championships 2022 took place this weekend, with 35 bands competing across five sections for the honours of becoming Welsh Champion and qualifying for an invitation to the National Finals.
BTM are currently in Section 1, and performed the set test-piece “Spectrum” (Gilbert Vinter) at the imposing Brangwyn Hall venue (below).
Competition was fierce in Section 1 this year. Ebbw Valley had been relegated from the Championship Section in 2020, and the resurgent Pontardulais Town were winners of the recent Welsh Open contest. Other bands in the section included the solid outfits of Lewis Merthyr and Parc & Dare.
BTM were quietly confident going to the contest, as the band were defending champions from 2020 & rehearsals had been going well - although a last-minute COVID-enforced change meant that Evan Smith played the 2nd Trombone part on a baritone! The band had also suffered from a couple of COVID isolation absences in the lead-up to the event.
The contest performance itself was good, although a little scrappy in places with a few unforced errors. 4barsrest liked the performance however; their live summary is below:
#regs2022 Wales S1: @BTM_Band round off things with a splendid rendition - full of passion, drama and cohesion. Right in the Cheltenham mix for us
BTM eventually came a respectable 3rd, which means the band will be in pole position for promotion to Championship Section at next year’s Regional contest.
Congratulations to Section 1 Champions Pontardulais Town, and 2nd-placed Ebbw Valley. Full results are below.
Section 1
Test piece: Spectrum (Gilbert Vinter)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs and Rob Wiffin
1. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins)*
2. Ebbw Valley (Gareth Ritter)*
3. BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)
4. Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts)
5. Parc & Dare (Nigel Seaman)
6. Deiniolen (Keith Jones)
7. Markham District (Jayne Thomas)
*Invite to National Final
Best Instrumentalist: Lyndon Harris (euphonium) — Pontardulais Town
(Full results courtesy of 4barsrest.com)
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