Latest news with #DutchOpen
ITV News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Belfast brass band wins international title
First Old Boys set the tone at the Dutch Open and are hoping their victory will inspire more winners in the future.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
NI band hits the right notes to win international title
A Belfast-based brass band has struck the right chords to become the first from the island of Ireland to win an international contest title. First Old Boys Brass Band claimed the prize at the Dutch Open Brass Band Championships in the Bell, its principal cornet, said the band was hungry for gold after a few near misses at the European Championships. "We don't go competing unless we're going to try and aim for the top prize," she said. The moment the win was announced was not clear-cut."A lot of the talking was in Dutch, so we didn't really know what was going on," said Ms Bell."We had to wait for the band's name to come up on the screen."It was just incredible, like nothing we'd ever experienced before and probably something I'll always remember the rest of my life." The band travelled to the Netherlands as guest artists of the Groningen Brass Experience before taking part in the contest. Daniel Sharpe, the band's principal tenor horn, said the Dutch Open contest had become "a heartland" for the art in continental said the band wanted to cut its teeth against the top tier of competition. One of the standout moments for Ms Bell was the applause after the band finished its award-winning performance."There were so many people," she said. "Back home, you'd maybe get 50 people watching, and, of course, they're your competitors that you have year in, year out."They were just really, really happy that we did well, and that came across and made us feel really happy to come off stage and feel like we did our country proud." The band's conductor, Jonathan Corry, said the atmosphere felt "very collegiate and supportive"."We don't often get that in the UK; it's a bit more cutthroat," he said. "I felt that there was a real warmth in their applause and their cheers."He said he hoped the win would do more to raise the profile of the many brass bands based in Northern Ireland. "The little stretch of water between here and Great Britain is very, very difficult," he said. "We almost feel cut off here musically, but we're trying to make that slightly different now and show that people from Northern Ireland can actually perform at the same level as our counterparts in the UK and in Europe." It was an extra special weekend for Mr Sharpe, who hit the high notes to score the Best Soloist win for the memorised the Piper O'Dundee by Kenneth Downie, performing it without sheet music in front of was the only musician to do so that moment his win was announced came as a pleasant surprise. "I was waiting for the correction to come out, first of all," he said, laughing. But Mr Sharpe was most excited for the band's win. "We're a team, and this is a team sport. The most important thing is that feeling of togetherness in that celebration," he said. 'They're my second family' The band is made up of musicians aged 15-72 and takes part in about four local contests a year. "People come from different walks of life, different families, different backgrounds, ethnicities, religious backgrounds, - and they leave all that stuff at the band room door," said Mr Corry. Ms Bell said the band was like her "second family"."You leave all your problems and everything that you have at the door," she said."You go in, rehearse for two hours, and you feel so much better about yourself after, and the band are just there to support you through your problems." Mr Sharpe said he hopes the win encouraged more people to get involved in local music groups."Music organisers are crying out for people to help out and just be there," he said."Be the answer. Turn up. Do your bit – and you may even get a trophy at the end of it."
The Advertiser
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Dutch treat for maiden European tour winner Syme
Scotland's Connor Syme has won the Dutch Open, claiming his first title on the European tour. The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. "Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said the Scot. "I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson - who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth - and England's Richard Mansell. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," said Syme. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing." Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth. Scotland's Connor Syme has won the Dutch Open, claiming his first title on the European tour. The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. "Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said the Scot. "I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson - who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth - and England's Richard Mansell. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," said Syme. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing." Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth. Scotland's Connor Syme has won the Dutch Open, claiming his first title on the European tour. The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. "Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said the Scot. "I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson - who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth - and England's Richard Mansell. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," said Syme. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing." Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth. Scotland's Connor Syme has won the Dutch Open, claiming his first title on the European tour. The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. "Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said the Scot. "I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson - who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth - and England's Richard Mansell. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," said Syme. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing." Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth.
West Australian
08-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Dutch treat for maiden European tour winner Syme
Scotland's Connor Syme has won the Dutch Open, claiming his first title on the European tour. The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. "Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said the Scot. "I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson - who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth - and England's Richard Mansell. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," said Syme. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing." Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dutch treat for maiden European tour winner Syme
Scotland's Connor Syme has won the Dutch Open, claiming his first title on the European tour. The 29-year-old went into Sunday's final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Joakim Lagergren and maintained the same advantage despite a brilliant closing eagle from the Swede. Syme finished 11 under, shooting a one-under-par 70 on Sunday and making only one bogey in his final 38 holes. "It's so good. It's so, so good!"That winning feeling, @connor_syme 😉#KLMOpen — DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 8, 2025 "Unbelievable, it was so, so difficult the last few days," said the Scot. "I just felt so much better this week, I felt really ready to do it, and I'm so, so happy I managed to do it." Wife Alanis flew out to Amsterdam to surprise Syme on the final green, where he also enjoyed champagne-drenched celebrations with compatriot Ewen Ferguson - who had a hole in one earlier in the day to help him finish in a tie for fourth - and England's Richard Mansell. "It's so, so nice they stuck around," said Syme. "I've obviously been really pleased for them and I'm really happy to have joined them and won myself, so just amazing. Amazing." Lagergren finished nine under, with South Africa's Jayden Schaper third on four under. Ferguson, fellow Scot Richie Ramsay and Englishman Jack Senior were a further shot back to share fourth.
