Historic 30th Championship Title For The Co-Operative Funeralcare Band

Members of The Co-operative Funeralcare Band celebrate a historic 30th championship victory after the announcement of the results at Glenrothes

On Sunday, 14th March, 2010 in the Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, The Co-operative Funeralcare Band passed another milestone in its illustrious history when it won the Scottish Brass Band Championship for the 30th time since the inception of the event.

Competing against nine other championship contenders, the band, under the baton of Russell Gray, gave a performance of George Lloyd's test-piece "English Heritage" which adjudicators Chris Wormald and Brett Baker described as "outstanding" and for which the band was awarded 198 points, two points and three points respectively ahead of old rivals Whitburn Band and Kirkintilloch Band.

Two other awards came the band's way as a result of the band's performance when solo horn player Matt Maines carried off the Bram Thompson Award for best horn player and conductor Russell Gray took possession of the Walter Hargreaves Trophy for the third successive year, having won it last year with The Co-operative Funeralcare Band and the year before that with Whitburn Band.

Needless to say, the band are delighted with this historic victory and are now looking forward to playing in The All-England Masters International Championship at Kettering on 30th May at which they will share the evening gala concert with Stavanger Band from Norway. The band's conductor on that occasion will be its Musical Director Michael Fowles.

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