Double win for Bathgate Brass Band after trip south for march and hymn contest
A West Lothian brass ensemble returned home victorious after travelling to the north east of England to take part in a musical competition.
Bathgate Brass Band made the long journey to County Durham on June 14 where they took part in the annual Beamish March & Hymn Tune Contest, run by Durham County Brass Band Association.
Setting off early in the morning, the band travelled to the Beamish Living Museum near Durham.
The museum setting, with its deep connections to mining heritage, was a fitting backdrop for a wonderful competition celebrating the brass band tradition.
With warm weather and ideal conditions, Bathgate joined nine other competing bands, each performing a march and a hymn tune for the contest adjudicator and crowd.
Despite the lengthy seven-hour round trip, the effort proved more than worthwhile as Bathgate Brass Band scored a double victory.
Conducted by their MD Craig Anderson, the band delivered a stunning performance of Clive Barraclough's 'Simoraine' and the Salvation Army hymn 'When I Survey' (arr by Olaf Ritman), impressing both the judge and the audience.
Their musical excellence secured first place in both the hymn tune and march categories, which meant they claimed the overall competition title as well.
Speaking after the event, band President Gerry Duggan expressed the band's delight at their win, saying: 'The Beamish contest has become one of the events the band looks forward to most in our calendar.
'The setting of the mining museum brings out the deep heritage of the brass band movement and particularly that of our band.
'We were delighted that we put on a performance that the adjudicator and the crowd really enjoyed. It makes the hours travelling down in a bus worthwhile. We want to say a huge thanks to the DCBBA for putting on a great contest again and for their hospitality.'
After their triumphant performance, Bathgate Band already has its sights set on next year's event, hoping to return in 2026 to defend their title.
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