THERE was celebration for Okehampton?s Battle of the Bands this week. As the second heat of the annual musical talent competition took place, organiser Richard Appleby was over the moon to learn that the charity had won a National Lottery ?Award for All? of £5,000. But his euphoria was dampened by the news that some anti-social bevaviour was targeted at those attending the heats in the Charter Hall, resulting in one girl being taken to hospital. Ohehampton mayor Tony Leech was swift to condemn the bad behaviour. And police say they will have a higher presence at the next heat of the competition. The trouble was not caused by those attending the event, but by a group of around half a dozen teenagers who threw eggs and insults at concert-goers as they arrived at the gig, left, or stepped outside for fresh air. It is understood that a gang of 13 to 15 year olds, outside the Charter Hall, threw eggs indiscriminately. A young girl from Torrington, who was there supporting friends, was struck by an egg in the eye from 40 yards and was later taken to hospital. Mayor Tony Leech, in a letter to the Times, described the trouble as a ?serious situation? and appealed: ?Anyone who knows who these youngsters are, please try to make them understand that they should be responsible for their actions and this type of stupidity can cause very serious injury.? And Sgt Mark Hoar, of Okehampton Police, warned: ?The police are going to have a high visibility at the next heat and at the final. ?This is a community event and anyone who thinks they can spoil it for the majority will be dealt with immediately and robustly.? Richard added: ?It?s playground nonsense, but it becomes more serious when someone gets hurt. It sounds funny to throw eggs, until it?s an egg that?s been travelling forty yards down Fore Street and hits someone in the eye, then it?s no joke at all.? Richard said he was very sorry that the youths in question did not want to be part of the event itself. ?If there?s something similar they want to do or if there?s some activity they?d like to see organised, why don?t they come and speak to me?? he said. Cllr Leech was quick to defend the Battle of the Bands: ?Some will say that events like the Battle of the Bands cause these problems. ?We say that they are exactly the opposite; they are part of the solution to anti-social behaviour, especially if we can get those who feel that they have been forgotten by the local community involved.? But the incidents did not detract from the excitement during the second heat. Packed to capacity, the event was forced to adopt a one-out one-in policy to control numbers. Dirty Magic opened the evening with a good performance, and among other bands competing were Okehampton locals Things on Fire who played some emotive numbers. First place went to Exeter band The Pyrates, who amazed everybody by turning up in full pirate costume to play ?pirate folk? on mandolin, violin and other acoustic instruments. In second place were the young Torrington band, Subliminal Army, whose heavy funk metal sound attracted a large group of supporters. Both of those bands go though to the final in Simmons Park on Saturday August 11. Should either be unable to make it, then runner-up band Le Chat Noir, with its impressive girl drummer ? praised by Mr Appleby as ?one of the heaviest drummers I have ever seen in my life? ? could also be in with a chance of appearing in Simmons Park. A third and final heat to decide on the last two bands who will compete in the park will take place tonight (Thursday), and will showcase the talents of metal band Requiescent, rock groups Midnight Ascend, Catalyst and The Strides, and alternative Rock band Goodbye Girl, alongside psychedelic rock maestros Zeronix, beatbox band Racial Evolution, and the Conrad Harpham Band.
