GOODWICK Brass Band returned to winning ways on Saturday with a stunning victory in the West Wales Festival of Brass at Burry Port.

The band's second title at championship level was achieved with a new-look line-up, including a fresh crop of young players new to competition at this level.

Even so, Matthew Jenkins guided them to an outstanding performance of A King's Lie by Stan Nieuwenhuis which drew warm praise from Adjudicator Ian Porthouse.

"This was a performance of real quality from start to finish," said Mr Porthouse. "You play as a real team and this was a really good job by your musical director."

In beating Ebbw Valley and Llwydcoed plus five other Championship bands, Goodwick not only won the W.Islwyn Davies Memorial Challenge Cup with prize money of £200 but also its youthful percussionists won the Paton and Doreen Memorial Trophy as best percussion section.

It was a doubly successful trip to Burry Port because earlier in the day, Pembrokeshire's Phoenix Brass, conducted by Luke Jenkins, gained runners-up spot in the Third Section competition with their rendition of Oregon.

Phoenix were just pipped for top spot by Oakdale Silver Band but Adjudicator Dean Wright still felt they had produced a great sound and had a good sense of drama throughout after a nice opening.

"I was delighted how Phoenix performed. They did everything I asked of them but it just wasn't meant to be," said Luke Jenkins afterwards.

The Goodwick and Phoenix band plus their Community and Youth bands can be heard in a celebration concert at St David's Cathedral on Saturday, October 28.