News Report by Rob Howard who attended the event:  The 19th Northern Ireland Open Accordion Championships, held in the Belfast Loughshore Hotel, Carrickfergus, on Saturday February 20th 2016, were another huge success with reaction from spectators and competitors alike being very favourable towards the festival, which ran like clockwork in a very relaxed and friendly spirit.Organised by Clyde Johnston (picture right), it is the largest accordion festival held in Northern Ireland and attracted a record 245 entries. The Championships are recognised by the National Accordion Organisation of the United Kingdom as a qualifier for the UK Championships, held from April April 22nd to 24th at The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. Clyde was delighted to again welcome competitors from the Chilton School of Music in County Cavan and Gerry Kelly’s Accordion School from County Meath, as well as the Keith Dickson Accordion School from Scotland coming across for the first time. They certainly enriched the Championships. There were also other entries from Co. Meath, Co. Dublin, Southern England and Glasgow in addition to the local competitors and trade stands by Alan Shute, Roy Hendrie, Rob Howard, Glitterbug Bagz, and Scotland Accordions, which all added great interest and atmosphere. The adjudicators, Ivan Black, Audrey Gillian and Graham Laurie were greatly impressed not only by the high standard of playing but also with the smooth and efficient manner in which the Championships were run. Polka and the Senior Musette Sections whilst Katie Bell (Ballycarry) picked up two second prizes in the Polka Solo 16 & Under and the Musette Solo 15 & Under.  Picture left: Advanced Own Choice Champion Nicole Doherty.In the Group Sections East Antrim Accordion Ensemble won the Advanced Group Section as well as being awarded Gold in the Entertainment, The Eazy Skweezers were also awarded gold in this category as well as being placed 2nd in Percussion with Castletown Red Ensemble (Co Cavan) winning the Intermediate Group and CMS Junior Ensemble (Co Meath) being victorious in the Elementary. Two new Group sections which caused a lot of interest were the Scottish & Irish Traditional Groups. These were won by Scottish groups The Shand Family and the Biggar Accordion Group respectively.  Picture right: Louise Boomer at the displays, tries out a new Bugari.Once again the Orchestral Sections drew the largest audience of the day and they were not disappointed with the musical feast that was served. In the Marching Band Sections Lily of the Valley Accordion Band from Comber won the Senior Own Choice, the Intermediate Test Piece and the Sacred as well as the Marching Band Drum Corp prize and the Junior Orchestral March Section whilst Aughafatten Accordion Band from Broughshane won the Intermediate Marching Band Own Choice and were placed second in the Sacred Marching Band Section and Drum Corp Section.  Picture left: Emma Dickson - Best Overall Performance of the Day being presented her awards.The Sacred Orchestra section was won by East Antrim Seniors Accordion Orchestra who were also awarded gold for their Entertainment programme as well as winning the Intermediate March and Club Band Sections and taking first place in the Orchestral Percussion. Third prize in the Orchestral Percussion went to who also won the Entertainment Section. In the graded Orchestra Sections top prize went to St Johns Accordion Orchestra from Portadown ahead of Killyglen Accordion Orchestra from Larne with the Castletown Accordion Orchestras from Co Cavan winning the Preparatory and Intermediate Sections whilst the K&S Junior Accordion Orchestra won the Elementary category and were also placed third in the Orchestral Percussion.  Picture right: India Smith - winner of the Scorrish Traditional 13-15 and the 15 & Under Frosini.At the Prize Presentation and Gala Dance that night the prizes were presented by Graham Laurie and the Major of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Councillor Billy Ashe. All in all it was a splendid day’s competition and music-making greatly enriched by the competitors from the Republic of Ireland and Scotland with plans already afoot for next year’s competition which shall be on Saturday 25th February 2017. Special thanks are due to the management and staff of the Belfast Loughshore Hotel for providing the excellent facilities and their professionalism and helpfulness throughout the day which contributed greatly to the smooth running of the festival, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council and the Souvenir Programme Advertisers for sponsoring the Championships and to the Stage Managers;Ruth Campbell, John McFarlane, Elaine Brennan, Russell Ramage and Evelyn Moore; Competitions co-ordinator Mark Johnston, as well as Ian Campbell, Bill McCartney and Gary Brennan who manned the Information Desk. Picture below is the youngest competitor 7 year old Beth Jamison being presented her prize by adjudicator Graham Laurie.  |
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