🏆 Victory at the Borders Entertainment Contest!

We’re absolutely chuffed to announce that we’ve taken home top honours at the 2025 Borders Entertainment Contest in Jedburgh! With 15 bands competing, the standard was sky-high - but our team rose to the occasion with a performance full of flair, finesse, and heartfelt musicality.

Our Awards Haul:

• 🥇 First Place Overall

• 🥇 Best Third Section Band

• 🎖️ Best Instrumentalist: Ash Paton

• 🎖️ Best Principal Cornet: Ash Paton

Ash’s double win was a standout moment, and rightly so - her solo work was nothing short of dazzling for the second year running. But she wasn’t alone in the spotlight. Our programme featured a trio of brilliant soloists: Ash on cornet, Matthew Tanner on trombone, and Allan McGranaghan on euphonium. Each brought their own magic to the stage, and we’re grateful for their artistry and commitment.

We took the audience on a musical journey with a varied and entertaining set:

🎶 A Closer Walk with Thee – A soulful opener that set the tone with warmth and depth.

🎶 Novella – A lyrical gem that showcased our band’s dynamic range and sensitivity.

🎶 California Dreaming – A nostalgic crowd-pleaser with a fresh brass twist.

🎶 The Mask of Zorro – A fiery finale full of drama, flair, and cinematic punch.

Each piece was chosen to highlight the band’s versatility and to give our soloists the perfect platform to shine—and shine they did!

Behind every great performance is a great team. Huge thanks to our musical director, Mark Good, whose leadership and vision continue to inspire us, and to our assistant MD, Ash Paton, who somehow manages to juggle conducting and soloing with style!

We also want to acknowledge the adjudicators for their thoughtful feedback, and the Scottish Borders Brass Band Association for organising such a well-run and welcoming event. It’s always a pleasure to support this contest—it’s a highlight of our calendar.

A special shout-out to Jedforest Instrumental Band and Annan Town Band for their podium finishes. The camaraderie and competition among bands in the Borders is something we truly value - it keeps us all striving for excellence.

This win is a testament to the hard work, passion, and community spirit that drives our band. Whether we’re rehearsing, performing, or fundraising, we do it together - and we do it with pride.

Here’s to many more musical adventures ahead!