Sunning It Up In Amboise
Travelling on Friday the 13th is never a good thing as the band found out on our way to the French Open at Amboise. Spending an hour in a Coventry car park while the coach was fixed, a few circuits of Charles de Gaulle to try and pick up those who didn't fancy the coach trip and four hours crawling between random French towns because of a horrific crash on the motorway all meant that we arrived over six hours later than planned.
Fortunately the playing went a lot smoother than the travelling. The band were drawn first for the contest which was probably a good thing given the heat as it probably got hotter as the day went on. The band performed the set test piece for the section Fête Nordic by Frank Urfer, along with the solo The Mermaids Song, performed by David Shawcross on Euphonium and finishing with William Rimmer's Rule Britannia.
The march contest saw the band performing Bramwyn beneath the towns magnificent chateaux. After lunch Lockwood returned to perform a short concert programme to an appreciative audience.
The results saw Lockwood placed unsurprisingly first in the third section, being the only band in the section. The results of the march contest were more surprising as Lockwood were placed third, with only two Championship Section Bands performing better.
Overall a brilliant weekend was had by all the band and we will no doubt make every effort to return next year, hopefully getting there on time!
March Results
1. Thorsby Colliery
2. Tongwynlais Temperance
3. Lockwood Brass
17/06/2003 22:54:23
