4 October 2009

Borders Slow Melody Contest

Soloists and quartets from across the Borders Region flocked to Knowepark Primary school in Selkirk on October 4th for the annual Borders Slow Melody Contest.

As usual the contest was organised and supported by Selkirk Silver Band and was hotly contested by a large number of players across the age spectrum.

The slow melody contest was started in 1985 in memory of Alex Mallin, an ex-band member and supporter who died in 1984. Slow melody was chosen because it is the most difficult type of solo playing and by design aids the achievement of the younger members and challenges the ability of the older players..

The age span for this year’s competition ran from the under 10’s to the open section that contained some, who’s ages would rather not be known in public, ensuring not only the continuation of the contest but insures that the future of brass banding in the Borders remains healthy. Seeing the Juniors compete with as much, if not more, fervour and passion than some of more mature players makes a solid statement for the future of brass playing in the Borders area.

There were several trophies up for grabs through the various sections, along with some 16 shields and various medals.

Results for the competition day are as follows:

Intermediate Quartets (Rob Beattie Trophy)

Draw Name Points Award

1

Selkirk Silver Band

87

1st Place

Open Quartets (Johnstone and Wilson Trophy)

Draw Name Points Award

1

Trombone Choir (Selkirk Silver Band)

91

1st Place

3

Double DCR (Peebles Burgh Silver Band)

90

2nd Place

2

Selkirk Silver Band

89

3rd Place

Junior Section, Under 10’s (Shoe World Trophy)

Draw Name Band Points Award

3

Struan Legge

Selkirk Junior Band

82

1st Place

1

Guy Mallin

Selkirk Junior Band

81

2nd Place

2

Hannah Kemp

Selkirk Junior Band

80

3rd Place

Junior Section, Under 12’s (Ian McCudden Trophy)

Draw Name Band Points Award

2

Harry Marshall

Wilton Primary School

86

1st Place

5

Heather Hughes

Berwickshire High School

85

2nd Place

1

Emma Boland

Hawick Saxhorn Band

84

3rd Place

4

Ben Hindley

St Ronans Future Band

83


3

Iain Rolland

Wilton Primary School

82



Junior Section, Under 14’s (Colin Park Memorial Trophy)

Draw Name Band Points Award

3

Dominic Russell

Peebles Burgh Silver Band

86

1st Place

2

Jake Hume

Hawick High School

85

2nd Place

1

Duncan Fraser

Earlston High School

84

3rd Place

4

Christopher Upton

Earlston High School

WD


5

Ruairidh Allan

St Ronans Future Band

83



Senior Section, Under 18’s (Alex Mallin Trophy)

Draw Name Band Points Award

7

Joanne Grieve

Selkirk Silver Band

88

1st Place

2

Callum Hewson

Hawick High School

87

2nd Place

4

Rory Watt

Selkirk Silver Band

85

3rd Place

3

Rose Hadshar

Kelso High School

84


8

Greg Lane

St Ronans Future Band

84


1

Ned Booker

Berwickshire High School

83


5

Alex Watney

Berwickshire High School

83


6

Liam Blain

Earlston High School

83



Open Section (Selkirk Silver Band Trophy)

Draw Name Band Points Award

1

Colin Crozier

St Boswells Band

90

1st Place

9

Colin Kemp

Selkirk Silver Band

89

2nd Place

16

Brian Hermiston

Selkirk Silver Band

88

3rd Place

6

Rhona Musgrave

Peebles Burgh Silver Band

87


5

Daniel Williamson

Peebles Burgh Silver Band

86


7

Gordon Melrose

St Boswells Band

86


8

Colin Heatlie

Selkirk Silver Band

84


10

Alex Watney

Berwickshire High School

84




Reporter: Graham Borthwick
SSB Committee