North West Regional Championships 2009

Sunday 1st March 2009 saw Ashton Band gain Championship Section status after a phenomenal performance of the extremely difficult test piece Pentacle by the Composer Graham Cole held in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. The Band had worked very hard on the run up to the contest and met the challenge of a very busy rehearsal schedule set out by our talented MD Martyn Evans whom, the Band would like to thank publically for creating such a wonderful performance on stage.

We left our band room at 7 a.m. (yawn) and made the short journey to Blackpool Music Centre for a rehearsal and then waited for the draw. The band drew number 11 and had plenty of time (hanging around) to prepare for their performance. The performance itself was one that Brass players occasionally feel in that, when you come off stage there is a buzz within the band and everyone agrees it was a really, really good performance, a point that was reiterated by Martyn who said the performance was "amazing" (a word he rarely uses)

The band were further lifted by the comments from neutrals in the audience and from the media people that covered the event, we could only hope that our performance found similar favour with the one person that mattered...the adjudicator, hidden in a box at the back of the hall. Unfortunately he didn't agree (booo) and we were announced as 3rd place, itself a great achievement especially whilst competing in such a strong contest with a lot of great sounding bands and our congratulations go to the 1st & 2nd placed bands and we wish them well for the future.

After the results ceremony (and a visit to the bar) we made the journey (with only 1 stop!) home with onboard entertainment provided by our Concert Secretary and ex cornet player with the band Mr Graham Hetherington - a man of many talents, who entertained us all the way home with his very own unique style of lyrics and compositions. (he really should consider X factor)

Once back at the band room and a quick unloading of the coach we learned we had been promoted to the Championship Section because of our wins and high results in previous competitions. This news was cause for celebration and the band headed off to the local drinking establishment and was met with a thunderous welcome from friends, family and the proud people of Ashton. Also present was an official from our only, (but irreplaceable) sponsor Tameside Council, a very proud Mr Alan Whitehead, who commented he "was extremely proud of the Bands remarkable achievement"  and did the band the honour of wearing Ashton Bands full walking out uniform (see photo)