Interesting choices, but I seem to think we've gone into a bit of a Vinter overload at the moment, what with JC for the 1st section Areas this year and Salute to Youth for the top section in 2009. My band, having been promoted, have got Vinter 2 years running. If they had to pick a Vinter piece, perhaps Variations on a 9th or Triumphant Rhapsody would have been a tougher test. Spectrum is a great piece, but it's so often played by 1st and 2nd section bands, leaving the top section bands wanting more to do.
Can't argue with the Heaton and Howells, though. Certainly in most people's top ten of all-time greats. The Spring Festival has always been an audience-friendly contest, so I think the selection of these two pieces is a great choice.
More's to the point, I didn't play at Blackpool last year, for the 1st time in a number of years and I missed the weekend terribly. If anybody's short of a trombone, PM me!