MUSICIANS from South East Cornwall were among bandsmen and women marching proudly into Cornwall’s biggest brass band contest at the weekend.

Indifferent weather at the start of the open air Festival did not mar the traditional march through the village, nor the start of the competitive sections on the contest field at the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival at Bugle on Saturday.

The usual large audience gathered for the seven different Sections, which culminated in St Dennis, conducted by Darren Hawken, winning the Royal Trophy, presented to the Festival in 1913 by the Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, in the Championship Section.

Verwood Concert Brass from Dorset gained Second place with the lively Spijkerpakkenband (Blue Denim Jeans Suits Band) from the northern Dutch province of Friesland coming third.

Lostwithiel Town Band finished second to Okehampton Excelsior in the fourth section, and claimed a third place in the training section.