British corps the Company took first place at the Drum Corps Europe Championship Finals on Saturday.
Drum Corps United Kingdom member corps, The Company, is the 2014 Drum Corps Europe (DCE) Champion after a come-from-behind victory last weekend in Kerkrade, Netherlands. As nearly 15 drum corps representing three different countries took the field at Parkstad Limburg Stadium during the preliminary competition the morning and afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 27, the top spot looked to be up for grabs with just a quarter of a point separating the three highest scoring corps. Members of England's Kidsgrove Scouts—after a decisive victory at the Drum Corps United Kingdom Championship the previous weekend—found themselves in first place after the Prelims with a score of 87.00 out of 100 points. Just two tenths behind was the 2013 DCE Champion Jubal from the Netherlands with the Company trailing closely in third. When the top 10 corps advancing from the Prelims performed again during Saturday evening's Finals competition, the Company managed to vault ahead of the Kidsgrove Scouts (2nd, 89.10) and Jubal (3rd, 87.85) to finish first. The corps from Barnsley, United Kingdom was just shy of surpassing 90 points with a score of 89.95, which is something that hasn't been done at the DCE Championship since 2009.

After taking first place in the DCE Prelims Saturday, the Kidsgrove Scouts fell to second in the Finals.
This is the Company's third DCE Championship after winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. "Yes we worked hard, but we partied hard too, and we never gave up as we believed in this show and the people performing it," the Company posted on its Facebook page following its victory Saturday night. In addition to the Championship trophy, Drum Corps Europe gave out caption awards that were won by the Company (Percussion, Field Music, Music, Effect, Front Ensemble), Jubal (Visual), Beatrix (Auxiliary), and the Kidsgrove Scouts (Effect). Other corps advancing to the DCE Championship Finals included Juliana (Netherlands – 4th, 84.55), Beatrix (Netherlands – 5th, 82.85), Black Knights (United Kingdom – 6th, 80.50), Starriders (Germany – 7th, 76.30), Spirit of 52 (Germany – 8th, 73.50), the Vikings (Ireland – 9th, 69.60) and Heartliner (Germany – 10th, 68.00).

Dutch corps Beatrix finished in fifth place at the Drum Corps Europe Finals.
Drum Corps Europe reports that 2,500 were in the audience at Saturday's event and that those in attendance were treated to a display of innovative performances unlike anything seen from European drum corps in previous years. "Corps even used singers and DJs to make the show all the more spectacular," Drum Corps Europe President Marcel Matthijsse said. "Participants have a strong urge to innovate, making the activity increasingly attractive." Also competing at Saturday's event were corps in DCE's Junior Class division. Jong Jubal, a performance ensemble of Jubal from Dordrecht, Netherlands, pulled off a three-peat after winning its third-straight Championship since 2012. View all scores and results from the 2014 DCE Championships.

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