YORK Railway Institute Band have swept to victory in the North of England Brass Band Championships, clinching a place in September’s National Finals.

Newly promoted to the First Section contest following their success in last year’s Second Section, the band won with an “outstanding performance” of the test piece, Howard Lorriman’s Cry Of The Mountains, at last weekend’s event at the Dolphin Centre in Darlington.

“Four years ago, York RI Band were languishing in the Third Section with only occasional prizes to show for their efforts on the contest stage, but the arrival of Gordon Eddison as musical director, brought about a resurgence in fortunes,” says band stalwart Clive Marshall.

Between 2010 and 2013, the band finished as victors or runners-up in Darlington, qualifying for the national finals on four successive occasions and moving up through the sections.

“Unfortunately, because of work commitments, Gordon had to relinquish the baton, which was passed to Chris Hirst, a peripatetic brass teacher of some standing with an impressive playing pedigree in top-flight Yorkshire bands, such as Grimethorpe Colliery and Brighouse and Rastrick,” says Clive.

“Chris took up the post last October and quickly established himself as a supreme motivator, not only in concert work but particularly in contest preparation, and the reward for his efforts and musical ability came last weekend. To win the area championship at the first time of asking was quite an achievement.”

In second place were York RI’s old rivals from years ago, Kirkbymoorside Town, and third place went to the much-fancied G.T.Group Peterlee Band, but the sweetness of victory did not end there for the York musicians. Four special prizes were on offer and three of them were taken home by York RI: Tadcaster Grammar School pupil Pearce Abbey won the best principal trombone prize; Francesca Rochester, Laurie Gunson and Ben Sharples, the best percussion section prize, and Chris Hirst, the winning conductor’s prize.

“The band members will now focus their attention on their regular entertainment commitments during spring and summer,” says Clive. “But in the back of their mind they’ll have not only their fifth successive appearance at the National Finals in Cheltenham on Sunday, September 21, but also their appearance in Darlington in March 2015 as newly-promoted Championship contenders.”