BABS Convention 2002

BABS Convention 2002 - Bournemouth

What a weekend for Anvil Chorus!

In our new polo shirts sponsored by RAC we really created some interest among fellow barbershoppers at the BIC. Following a superb contest we scored 63.7% and achieved 9th place. Compare this with 60.2% and 13th place at prelims and 19th place at the Glasgow convention in 2001.

	Thanks go to Phil Mobsby for sourcing our new shirts.

Quotes from convention

Here are some words from Anvil Chorus members about the convention:

"There are good days and great days but how does one describe Saturday? It was a superb day and one which I shall remember for many years. I know we were all one team but I must single out one member who had the faith and trust in our ability and was able to spread that faith and trust to the extent that we all had faith. That person, of course, was our Liz and to her I must express my sincere thanks" John Ellis

"To see the two new lads, Victor and Craig, turn up to give us their support was brilliant" John Eardley
Polo shirt sleeve logo

"...waiting for the curtains to open and hearing those screams coming from the Anvil supporters club. Wow! What a lift that was for me and must have been for others too. Also those magical moments of silence in the songs that were simply crammed full to bursting with anticipation"   George Badland

"Thank you for giving us such a wonderful weekend in Bournemouth. We loved every minute of it - meeting your friends, watching and listening to Anvil Chorus and all the other choruses and quartets"   Vivien and Robin Smith (Jonathan's Mum & Dad)

"The future is Orange"  Chris Cherry

"My wife is tone-deaf. She thoroughly enjoyed it all"  Pablo Downton

My First Convention

Kieran Handley, 10 year old grandson of John Brough, performed with Anvil Chorus in his very first convention this year.

He is pictured here with John Baker, who's first convention was in 1974.

Kieran has written this special report on his experience at Bournemouth:

Kieran receiving his BABS certificate from BABS chairman Ron Willis

Kieran receiving his BABS certificate from BABS chairman Ron Willis

My memories of Convention

I felt nervous and excited as the days were drawing nearer, memorising the two songs nearly every day after school. When I woke up in the hotel on the morning of convention, I was very nervous. When we were up on that stage was I nervous or what! My teeth were shaking, I was hot and I had a dried-up throat.

But when we got off the stage everyone was looking at me. Later I got a certificate for being a member of BABS, and I felt great as ever.

A spectacular weekend for us all.

In harmony,

Kieran Handley, June 2002

...and dont miss the percussion section of Rod Butcher and the guild of judges perform with Matrix

Other Chorus Results

First place
CAMBRIDGE CHORD COMPANY
from Cambridge
83.6% (1504 marks)

Second place
The COTTON TOWN CHORUS
from Bolton
77.5% (1395 marks)

Third place
GREAT WESTERN CHORUS
from Bristol
72.4% (1304 marks)

Photos are from the clubs own websites - credits to whoever!

Quartet Results

Gold
The Light Industrial Choral Society
from Cambridge & Peterborough
76.9% (2769 marks)

Silver
Sound Crew
from Telford
76.6% (2757 marks)

Bronze
Prime Time
from Cambridge & Portsmouth
72.4% (2605 marks)

Matrix will be representing BABS at Portland in July for the 2002 international competition. They were also competing at Bournemouth to attain the necessary score to represent BABS at the International convention 2003 in Montreal. They achieved this!

International Qualification
Matrix
from Cambridge, Bolton and Mold

In the break after the quartet competition, while the scores were being collated, Matrix sang their final set as reigning quartet champs. They involved the entire judging panel for 'let there be love' with each judge being handed some kind of percussion instrument (triangle, cymbal, bell, etc) to be played only when given the nod from Martin Ford the bass. Rod Butcher was given a fairy wand to direct with, and the song was dedicated to its arranger, Steve Hall.
Rod Butcher and the judges

For the complete score sheets go to the BABS Guild of Judges webpage

Barry Clinton, Mike Lofthouse and Liz Garnett

Barry Clinton, from Hallmark of Harmony, Sheffield, and our director Liz Garnett have been awarded BABS scholarships to attend the SPEBSQSA Directors College, in St. Joseph's, Missouri this summer. They are pictured here with Mike Lofthouse (centre) who is the BABS Education and Music Services director.