INNERLEITHEN’S St. Ronan’s Silver Band has won the prize for the best Borders Band at the fourteenth Borders Entertainment Contest held in Peebles at the weekend. Conducted by Chris Bradley, the Band gave an assured performance which placed them 4th overall in a very competitive field.

The Band’s programme opened with the innovative “When Thunder Calls” by Paul Lovatt-Copper. This rousing opener involved the band experimenting with an alternative stage configuration. Next the band played A.E. Kelly’s very effective march, “Arnhem” written to commemorate the Second World War battle of the same name. This was followed by Gordon Langford’s beautiful arrangement of Welsh Air, “All Through the Night” which featured the Band’s euphonium and baritone sections. The last item was the finale from Edward Gregson’s “Variations on Laudate Dominum” which gave the Band an opportunity to raise the roof in a exciting finale.

The music adjudicators were John Doyle and James Chamberlain. The band received positive feedback from both and Jim Chamberlain’s comments concluded, “An intelligent and sensible programme – consistently well played.” The event was organised by the Scottish Borders Brass Band Association and Peebles Burgh Silver Band and the compére was Alasdair Hutton OBE.

The full result (place, band, conductor and draw): 1st, Tullis Russell Mills, Paul Drury, 11; 2nd, Shotts St Patrick’s Brass, Michael Marzella, 14; 3rd, Irvine & Dreghorn Brass, Scott Kerr, 9; 4th, St. Ronan’s Silver, Chris Bradley, 7; 5th, Langholm Town, Chris Shanks, 5; 6th, Selkirk Silver, Alan Fernie, 10; 7th, Annan Town, Peter Heyes, 17; 8th, Jed-Forest Instrumental, Philip Rosier, 15; 9th, Tullis Russell Intermediate, Steven Craig, 16; 10th, Hawick Saxhorn, Alan Fernie, 6; 11th, Buckhaven & Methil Brass, David Neil, 12; 12th, Barrhead Burgh, Brian Keachie, 4; 13th, Penicuik Silver, Stuart Black, 3; 14th, Peebles Burgh Silver, Stephen Baird, 1; 15th, MacTaggart Scott Silver Loanhead, Bobby Weir, 2; 16th, Bon Accord Silver 'B’, Robert Fraser, 8; 17th, Creetown Silver, J Stuart McNab, 13.

St. Ronan’s Band is now in the throes of preparing for its annual Christmas Concert in the Memorial Hall, Innerleithen, on Saturday, December 13, at 7.30pm. This will be held in conjunction with the Future Band and tickets are now on sale from Adam’s Bakery or the Thrift Shop (Innerleithen) and Robb’s Keystore (Peebles).