It was not until the last minute that the Youth Band actually decided to enter Bugle contest this year as Simon Dobson would be getting married on the same day and it would mean getting someone else to conduct the Band. After many phone calls to conductors far and wide a contact was made with Garry Lannie who expressed interest in taking the band and after meeting with the management team of the Youth Band a rehearsal schedule was drawn up and the gauntlet thrown down to St. Dennis Youth.

In the run-up to Bugle Contest Garry and the Band worked very well together, on one of the practices which was held at Mount Charles School people walking near the school couldn't help but come in and listen as it was sounding so good.

The day began at 08.45 with the youth band having a rehearsal at Bugle Village Hall. They had worked extremely hard in the previous week having had four full rehearsals, so this rehearsal was to blow out the cobwebs and top and tail the test piece and perfect the march.

We all hoped the weather forecast was wrong for the day of the contest but it wasn't, it rained and rained for most of the day. It was touch and go whether the march down would proceed but luckily the rain abated and the march down proceeded. This year Mount Charles Youth watched the march down as there was no senior band to mass with.

The day started with the fourth section and Garry's Band St. Breward played third. This was followed by the third and second section. Luckily while the Youth Section was on the rain did stop briefly, Mount Charles played second and gave a stunning first class performance of both the march and the test piece.

Garry Lannie had this to say about the band and the day:

"WET WET WET" and I am not talking about the pop group! I was delighted to get the chance to work with this outstanding band, our preparation was excellent and I would like to thank all of the management team for great support.

The morning rehearsal really set the day for me, the performance on stage was well brilliant! The march Molinnis Park was absolutely nailed, played with real swagger, and from the first four bars I knew that this was going to be a great performance.

The test piece was played with poise and a stamp of class, the soloists played really well and I was delighted for Zak and Sarah when they were awarded the specials .

The stamina at the end was something we worked on in rehearsals and it really paid off with plenty in the tank at the end.

I am so very proud of every player it was a real honour for me and, with the result for St Breward, I personally had a top day!!

But more importantly MCYB are back on the winning track!!"

Derek Thomas (Mount Charles Bands Chairman) had this to say:

"Fantastic news and a great result! I'm well pleased, the band are a credit to the organisation and themselves!"