GOODWICK Brass Band soared back to winning ways at the West Wales Festival Contest held at Fishguard on October 4.

The band lifted the First Section trophy with a memorable performance hailed by a large and enthusiastic home audience.

With a dazzling reprise of their UK championships interpretation of A King’s Lie by Stan Nieuwenhuis, Goodwick easily overcame opposition from Lewis Merthyr and RAF St Athan to lift the Mary Barnett Memorial Challenge Shield and first prize of £200.

Flugel horn player Ffion Williams won best instrumentalist prize and Matthew Jenkins won the winning conductor’s trophy.

To make it an outstanding day for Pembrokeshire players, the Goodwick Youth band conducted by Luke Jenkins won the Gold Award in a highly entertaining youth competition with its horn section picking up the Trevada Cup; and the newly-formed Phoenix Band led by James Voros came third in the Fourth Section. “To win on home ground was very special,” said Matthew Jenkins. “All of our bands gave great performances and the home support was very much appreciated.”

On its second visit to Fishguard, the contest was the second leg of the South and West WalesBrass Band League and attracted no fewer than 30 bands from as far afield as Newport, Cardiff and the South Wales valleys.

Organiser Tony Evans was delighted by the response of all involved.

He said: “The feedback was very positive with bands hoping that the contest will be held here again in 2016.

“The highlight of the day was to see so many youngsters playing in the youth contest and we at Goodwick Brass would like to thank all who sponsored the event and the volunteers who helped to make it such a success.”