ALL SMILES FOR COMPETITORS

A BRASS band is celebrating a notable hat-trick at the National Eisteddfod.

The Oakley Silver Band from Blaenau Ffestiniog was established more than 150 years ago and has regularly competed at the National Eisteddfod.

Competing in Section 4 during the opening day of the Eisteddfod on Saturday the 28-strong group was up against five other bands from South Wales.

The band won the competition and took home the Ivor Jones Challenge Cup and a £500 cash prize for the third time in a row.

John Glyn Jones, conductor for 25 years, said the band had won at the National Eisteddfod at Bala in 2009 and had been second every year since then until two years ago at Llanelli during their 150th anniversary year. They retained the trophy at last year’s National Eisteddfod at Meifod.

A jubilant John Glyn said: “I couldn’t ask for any more. We had a final rehearsal on Friday and while I set off from Blaenau later quite a few of the band got up early on Saturday and made the journey down here.

“The old band won the old Welsh national championships in a row but it was more than a century ago. We still have the cup.

“And I’ve never won three competitions in a row at national level before and it’s fantastic.”

Their 15-minute programmed included an arrangement of the Robbie Williams song Let Me Entertain You. Cerys Hughes was the soloist in a piece called Dimitri and they concluded their programme with Bach’s Tocata.

In Section 2 the Deiniolen Silver Band, conducted by Lois Eifion, successfully competed against three bands from South Wales, taking the trophy home.

Osian Trefor Hughes, from Deiniolen, third on the Folk singing under 12 with Rhys Meirion and Robin o Fon

Oakley Silver Band

● Math Roberts, from Cwm y Glo, won on the acoustic instrumental

Archdruid Geraint Llifon

● Ela Haf Williams, from Bontnewydd, won the brass solo under 16

● Twm Herd, from Penisarwaun, competing in the brass solo under 16 in the pagoda

● Ann Jones, from Pwllheli, enjoying the new eisteddfod pavilion