Today Backworth Colliery Band achieved a great first position at the annual DCBBA grading contest, held at Peterlee Leisure Centre.

The band, drawn 2nd, played "St. Andrews Variations", an original test piece by Alan Fernie. In remarks from adjudicator Colin Hardy, the band were rewarded for good style and dynamics, with several band members singled out for praise. Special praise was also reserved for Natalie, who due to illness was a last-minute call-up to the Principal Cornet seat and did a great job considering the short notice.

Backworth gained three awards, the award for winning the section, an award for being the best basses heard during the whole of the morning's contest, and a trophy for the winning conductor, Colin Harris. The result is also one that should see the band promoted for 2009.

In a day of many firsts, 4 members of the band made their debut (from left to right, Michael, Stuart, [Colin], Marc and Sam).

Michael has been a part-time member of the band for a while and volunteered to help out at today's contest, his first. Stuart and Marc are new recruits and two of the most talented young brass players in the North East, and we are very fortunate to have them in our ranks. Indeed Marc has only been with the band a couple of weeks but played what is a very tricky Repiano part. Sam is a student at Newcastle University and has joined the band from his root in Immingham on the East Coast.

Colin with members of the prize-winning bass section.

A big thanks goes to all those involved in helping the band prepare for this contest, including Duncan Beckley, the Reg Vardy soloists and Alan Fernie, all of whom have played a part in preparing us for the contest alongside our conductor Colin.

The band are new busy preparing for the Christmas concert season, and today's result was good preparation for the Butlins Contest at Skegness in January.