Report: DCUK Championships

"After going into DCUK finals from an undefeated season, the current European champions Senators, from Eastleigh, Hampshire won a record breaking eighth DCUK title with a clean sweep of caption awards." A report by Jayson Brinkler.

"The senators with their show 'The Seven Deadly Sins' had been dominate all season and despite defending champion Kidsgrove Scouts pulling out a performance of their lives in a bid to retain their title, it was not enough to stop Senators re-writing the history books.

The event started with each corps in exhibition. This format replaced having Semi Finals in previous years, and although the corps were not judged, each corps still treated this performance as a warm up and dress rehearsal for finals. The proceedings of the evening started with a fanfare by Concord Ceremonial Fanfare Party followed by an exhibition performed by the Commodores Cadets.  

First on the field to compete in National Junior Class was the Kidsgrove Scouts Juniors from Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, who have gone from last years championship guest 'act' to this year's competitive unit. With their 2008 program titled "The Junior Medley" the corps displayed a tremendous show of colour and impressive skill in music and marching ability, and with such talent at such a young age, I am sure these Juniors will progress nicely into the senior corps in years to come. NJC champions.

First to compete in National Open Class was Concord, with their show 'The Gangster Chronicles'. The Drum Major, Andrew Wright before indicating that his corps was ready gunned down everybody with a wooden machine gun with sound effects coming from a snare drummer. The effect caught everyone by surprise and almost had the judges ducking for cover. The corps was by far a different level from mid season with small changes from all sections. Concord did what it does best - entertain, to give the crowd an emotional last performance as the corps is leaving the competitive field to pursue other areas of the performing arts. The activity will miss this entertaining corps that once came within a tenth of a point of winning the DCUK title. We wish them well for their 25th Anniversary in 2009.

Next to take the field was Staffordshire Knights. The corps looked stunning under the floodlights with their new uniforms but their show of recognised classics 'Nessun Dorma', 'In The Hall of the Mountain King', 'Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini' and 'the planets' failed to make the head way they expected and trailed in second place by a margin of nine points.

Last to take the field in NOC was the reigning National Open Class champions Poynton Commodores with their 2008 program 'Tapestry of Life'. The tonality and execution of its brass and percussion was poetry as the corps took the audience on a visual journey telling the story of the worlds creation with colorful orbs, which were beautifully complimented with intricacy, colour and precision from a strong guard. Poynton was on fire as they stepped up a gear to successfully defend their title with style taking all captions and ending the season undefeated.

Next came the defending DCUK champions Kidsgrove Scouts in the International Open Class. Kidsgrove added some nice touches for finals adding more mystique and illusion from the guard. Kidsgrove executed the performance of their lives, which made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end from their electrically charged show. The guard and percussion were the sections of note which spell bounded the audience with 'ghost' type figures that intertwined with the corps, which created the imagination and fantasy of a surreal world. The Guard with face paint and elasticated fabrics created the perception of distortion. A magical performance.

Last to take the field for competition was the undefeated European champions the Senators, which had new uniforms and jet-black drums. The corps came out with a ton of added extras to their show 'The Seven Deadly Sins' with the corps verbalizing with movements the sins throughout the show of Wrath, Envy, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Greed and Pride as they once again excited and entertained the crowd with a duel of envy within the snare line. The power of the horn line almost blew the roof off the stadium as they explored the emotions and temptations of everyday life under the floodlights of Victoria Stadium. Their performance was awesome and was enough to land them a well-deserved eighth DCUK crown with all captions."

Jayson Brinkler