LAUNCESTON Town Band left Cornwall for the West of England Regional Brass Band Championships at the Riviera Centre, Torquay on Saturday, March 10.

After weeks of hard work and preparation by musical director Dave Dobson, the band emerged onto the stage after drawing to play number five out of a large entry of 25 groups in the fourth section. The band performed the test piece, 'English Folk Song Suite' by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

After many hours of apprehensive waiting the adjudicators, Alan Morrison and Tony Swainson take to the stage for the results. It is with great delight the band placed third, qualifying for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, which take place on September 22 at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Mr Dobson was overcome with emotion as screams of delight rang around the Riviera Centre: "A big thank you to all the wonderful players. You worked as a great team on stage, did what I asked — what more can a musical director want? Well done! We all deserve the result and the trip to the finals for all our hard work and steady building over the last five years."

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.