Articles /2010
2010 Regional Championships — Success or failure?
March 30, 2010
Was the series of 2010 Regional Championships a success? 4BR takes a final look back over the highs and lows of the qualification contests.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Championship Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
A surge of musical power saw Reg Vardy regain their title on the weekend.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — First Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Richard Evans was in his element on Saturday leading Barton Town to glory on a reminder of a bygone era.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Second Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
The Dolphin Centre was certainly Cockerton's Kingdom on Saturday morning.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Third Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Not even a fire alarm going off could stop Ferryhill's performance winning off the number one draw.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Fourth Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
The joy of qualification for Harrogate was there for all to see on Sunday as the music of Saint-Saens was a hit once more.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Championship Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Something moved in Swansea on Sunday - about 25 miles east from its usual epi-centre to the Sirhowy Valley and the home of the new Welsh champion.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — First Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
There were the usual problems on the moors in Wales, but two bands showed a mastery of Holst to get to Harrogate.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Second Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Familiar ground for the competitors here, but it was two bands from outside Dragon country that booked their tickets to Harrogate.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Third Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
The operatic tradition is alive and well in Wales - thanks to some brilliant youngsters from Goodwick...
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Fourth Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
They are still dancing in the streets of Crwbin after a splendid French inspired victory in the Fourth Section.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Championship Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
It was a bit of a one horse race at Stevenage as Redbridge did a passable impression of Shergar to win their Area at a canter.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — First Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Everyone was in need of a break in the First Section as Friary Guildford set an early marker that few others had any hope of matching.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Second Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Four contrasting movements brought 17 different takes on Philip Harper's test piece, with a cracker from East London slaying the Welsh dragon to take yet another title.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Third Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
A refreshing bit of 'Labour & Love' tested the bands in the Third Section, with some pretty good efforts getting the nod for Harrogate from Derek Broadbent.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Fourth Section: retrospective
March 25, 2010
Some French style came in handy in the Fourth Section where a trio of chic performances headed to Harrogate.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Gallery
March 24, 2010
Selection of photographs from year's Yorkshire Regional Championships
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Championship Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
Six years of hurt was put behind them at the weekend as Virtuosi GUS once again claimed the bragging rights in the Midlands.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — First Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
Never believe the statistics they say as Langley upset the form book to take the First Section title.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Second Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
There was a model performance from Tintwistle to take the Second Section title on Philip Harper's exciting Welsh Dragon test piece.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Third Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
Somtimes the clue isn't in the title - athough for Porthywaen, being crowned Third Section winners is.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Fourth Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
24 bands produced a fine contest, despite the occassional queries on volume from the box. Shipston Town though pushed out all the right organ stops to become champion.
2010 North West Regional Championship — Championship Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
Foden's as Mike Tyson? They certainly knocked out the opposition like him in his prime at the Winter Gardens on Sunday to claim a fifth consecutive North West title.
2010 North West Regional Championship — First Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
Freckleton proved to be a bit of a myth buster as they took the First Section title from the number 1 draw on Sunday.
2010 North West Regional Championship — Second Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
There were more important things to concern people on Sunday, but eventually there was good news both on health and banding issues as Diggle took the title.
2010 North West Regional Championship — Third Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
There was a quite outstanding winning performance in the Third Section as Delph delivered a first class bit of labour with a wonderful love interest to take the title.
2010 North West Regional Championship — Fourth Section: retrospective
March 19, 2010
From last to first for Hazel Grove as Nigel Beasley's band take the Fourth Section homours at a boomy Spanish Hall.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Championship Section: retrospective
March 18, 2010
A first major win for Paul Holland and Flowers as the Torquay curse strikes yet again...
2010 West of England Regional Championship — First Section: retrospective
March 18, 2010
Two clear cut qualifers in the First Section as Gustav Holst's work did the bands no favours at all.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Second Section: retrospective
March 18, 2010
A proud Englishman with a Welsh name produced a cracking account to take the Second Section title and head to Harrogate as champion.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Third Section: retrospective
March 18, 2010
Listeners were sentenced to some hard labour and little love interest in the Third Section, but were rescued from their toil by two good quality qualifiers from Sidmouth and Bream.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Fourth Section: retrospective
March 18, 2010
A great atmosphere, a great piece and a great win for a cracking band as Test Valley head for Harrogate as champions.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 17, 2010
Forget the northern media attention one of the biggest brass band contests takes place in Stevenage this weekend.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Runners & Riders: Championship Secti
March 17, 2010
12 bands line up to see if they can produce an authentic bit of English Heritage to claim a place at the Royal Albert Hall.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Runners & Riders: First Section
March 17, 2010
Not much green and pleasant land inside the M25, so how will these bands get on with Holsts bucolic portrait of a long lost English countryside..
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Runners & Riders: Second Section
March 17, 2010
Which of these 17 bands will be able to be inspired by the weird and wonderful world to be found at the other end of the M4 motorway?
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Runners & Riders: Third Section
March 17, 2010
14 bands will look to get just the right mix between hard graft and that loving feeling to get to Harrogate.
2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship — Runners & Riders: Fourth Section
March 17, 2010
There will be plenty of great music to enjoy from the 17 bands as they look to tickle a French fancy to get to Harrogate.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 17, 2010
A warm welcome, bungee jumps and open air markets - and the bands are doing rather well too. No wonder people are smiling a lot more up here in Darlington.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Championship Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
There is the prospect of a real ding dong battle at the Dolphin Centre to round off the weekend, as Reg Vardy looks to reclaim its domestic bragging rights over its rivals.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — First Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
Just the seven bands here to battle it on an old classic, but a few tasty morsels of Moorside could be on the menu.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Second Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
Plenty of similarities between South Wales and the North East, so what will the bands here make of the Kingdom of Dragons?
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Third Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
Its back to the yellow pages of history in here as the bands shed hard labour perspiration in search of loving inspiration to get to Harrogate.
2010 North of England Regional Championship — Fourth Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
The welcome sight of a dozen bands taking to the stage here shows that Philip Sparkes test piece has been a cracker.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 17, 2010
There may be a thin veneer of polish covering Welsh banding, but it is buffed up well from success of late.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Championship Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
Can anyone challenge Cory for the title on English Heritage? If they do, they can claim to be unofficial World Champions...
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — First Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
Plenty of valleys and vales to take inspiration from in Wales, as seven bands look to take a trip to Harrogate via a tricky Moorside test.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Second Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
No excuses that the bands won't know what this piece is about. So which of these 12 will be breathing contesting winning fire then?
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Third Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
It used to be a real Labour heartland in South Wales before Tony Blair messed things up. So which one of these bands can fly the old red flag and get to Harrogate.
2010 Welsh Regional Championship — Fourth Section: Runners & Riders
March 17, 2010
The Welsh quite like all things French even though they beat them at the rugby this year
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Championship Section retrospective
March 11, 2010
Subjective opinions and hard nosed decisions - whichever way you look at it, Brighouse were Kings of Bradford.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — First Section retrospective
March 11, 2010
There was plenty to talk about in the First Section as Meltham & Meltham Mills found a walk on Moorside very much to their liking.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Second Section retrospective
March 11, 2010
Knottingley enjoy their bit of Dragon slaying to gain a trip to Harrogate with a Police escort in tow...
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Third Section retrospective
March 11, 2010
Two fine performances took the chance to show off their Labour & Love skills to book their places at Harrogate in September.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Fourth Section retrospective
March 11, 2010
A great test piece and some great playing made for a highly entertaining 4th Section contest - won by a French fancy of a band.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 9, 2010
The Midlands has plenty to offer this weekend for players and supporters alike although we all miss the dodgy burger van at the back of the old Burton Town Hall dont we?
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Championship Section: Runners & Riders
March 9, 2010
There is no place in the UK quite as full of English Heritage as the Midlands...
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — First Section: Runners & Riders
March 9, 2010
Its never good to try and second guess an adjudicator but after Bradford a few will be wondering just how they go about it here...
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Second Section: Runners & Riders
March 9, 2010
A well matched field of bands should enjoy a bit of Dragon slaying on the weekend.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Third Section: Runners & Riders
March 9, 2010
An excellent venue plays host to an old time classic on Saturday morning.
2010 Midlands Regional Championship — Fourth Section: Runners & Riders
March 9, 2010
Its like a return to the good old days - a Fourth Section packed with bands and a piece of porcine magic to play too.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 5, 2010
As always there is always a warm and friendly atmosphere down in Torquay - and they have plenty to smile about too...
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Championship Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
Can Camborne overcome the never ending curse of the defending champion and become the first band in well over a decade to retain their West of England title?
2010 West of England Regional Championship — First Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
A strong line up of 14 bands all aiming to make the most of a very difficult classic work and gain a long coach trip to Harrogate.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Second Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
15 bands will set their musical sights on Harrogate by finding inspiration from over the Severn Estuary.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Third Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
A big field of 15 bands and a big old test of musical character on Labour & Love to overcome if they are to get to Harrogate.
2010 West of England Regional Championship — Fourth Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
As always there is a fantastic turn out of contenders all looking to book a place in Harrogate courtesy of some tasty French variations.
2010 North West Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 5, 2010
The one thing bands in these parts enjoy doing is competing against each other so Sunday should be a great day of domestic battles then
2010 North West Regional Championship — Championship Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
Can Foden's retain their title and create even more history of their own at the Winter Gardens?
2010 North West Regional Championship — First Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
Which pair of bands here will really get to grips with a classic test piece to head to Harrogate in September?
2010 North West Regional Championship — Second Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
The North West has plenty of strength in depth at this level, so which one of these bands can gain a bit of inspiration from the music of the Principality and win through to Harrogate on Sunday?
2010 North West Regional Championship — Third Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
Whoever gets through here could well be one of the favourites come Harrogate itself, but they first have to work out the winning formula from a bit of Labour & Love.
2010 North West Regional Championship — Fourth Section: Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
A great line up of bands on the Sunday all set for a real battle on a French fancy to get to Harrogate.
2010 Scottish Regional Championship — Introduction and preview
March 5, 2010
Scotland is a world leader when it comes to organising brass bands - all it needs now is for the bands themselves to come up with the right results too.
2010 Scottish Regional Championship — Championship Section - Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
An appreciation of English Heritage should go down well here in Scotland
2010 Scottish Regional Championship — First Section - Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
A Downland Suite may not evoke images of the Scottish Highlands, but if played well by any of these bands it can be just as beautiful.
2010 Scottish Regional Championship — Second Section - Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
The Scots need to put one over the Welsh and this is their chance to do just that if they are to get to Harrogate.
2010 Scottish Regional Championship — Third Section - Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
They know a thing or two about hard work and even love in these parts and they need to be experts at both if they are to get through to Harrogate.
2010 Scottish Regional Championship — Fourth Section - Runners & Riders
March 5, 2010
Just six bands make it to the starting blocks here looking to improve their French inspired variations to get to Harrogate.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championships — Introduction and preview
March 1, 2010
The 2010 National Championships of Great Britain kicks off in Bradford on the weekend - just 140 days since Black Dyke became 2009 champions at the Royal Albert Hall.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Championship Section: Runners & Riders
March 1, 2010
A great contest in prospect as Rothwell Temperance look to defend their title on 'English Heritage'.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — First Section: Runners & Riders
March 1, 2010
The bands that want to try and make it to Harrogate will have to overcome one heck of a test with the classic 'A Moorside Suite'.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Second Section: Runners & Riders
March 1, 2010
Which of the 11 bands here can find a bit of Celtic inspiration to get them to Harrogate?
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Third Section: Runners & Riders
March 1, 2010
12 bands will look for a bit of love interest amid the hard labour in Percy Fletchers testing old work.
2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship — Fourth Section: Runners & Riders
March 1, 2010
A healthy turn out of bands this year attracted by a fine work from Philip Sparke and the chance to be on the BBC?
2010 Regional Championships of Great Britain — Test piece reviews
March 1, 2010
4BR has a closer look at the five regional test pieces - covering close to 100 years of compositional history.
