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Symphony Hall 2008 British Open Championships
Saturday 13 September 2008, Symphony Hall, Birmingham

2008 IN RETROSPECT:
Contest retrospectivePostcard from BirminghamThe Crying of the Celts

USEFUL LINKS:
Symphony HallBe In Birmingham
RELATED LINKS: Spring Festival
RESULTS ARCHIVE

Comprehensive results dating back to the inaugural contest held in 1853.

RESULTS:
[summary]
ARTICLES & FEATURES

William HalliwellWilliam Halliwell
17 times he was a winner over a 26 year period

British Open programme coverThe top ten
The most successful MDs at the British Open since the first contest in 1853

Lottery BallThe Lottery Draw
Who came where off what draw?

SEE ALSO:
Belle Vue - Thanks for the memoryThe Open and the war yearsBe My Strength and Shield156 Useless facts and figures

2008 PRE-CONTEST COVERAGE:
Introduction and predictionsRunners and ridersConductors recordsComposer: Edward GregsonTest piece review

2007 IN RETROSPECT:
Contest retrospectiveTop 6 adjudicationsPostcard from BirminghamBrass on Sunday concert

2006 IN RETROSPECT:
Contest retrospectiveTop 6 adjudicationsPostcard from BirminghamBrass on Sunday concert

2005 IN RETROSPECT:
Contest retrospectiveTop 6 adjudicationsPostcard from BirminghamBrass on Sunday concert

OTHER YEARS:
2004 retrospective 2003 retrospective 2002 retrospective [missing] 2001 retrospective

 

IN THE NEWS:
ABBA dismiss Mead 'rhetoric' Broadbent defends ABBA position Roberts shrugs off Open disappointment Only 50 weeks to go... Time to talk for Mead Mead offers apology Opinions intensify over Mead article ABBA issue support for Open judges ABBA respond to Mead Mead blazes at Open decision making Six of the best for winners Read impressed by Open standards Composer delight at Titan hit Gay enjoys Mahler inspired Open What the judges thought about the top three Results: 2009 British Open Championships Live comments: 157th British Open Brass Band Championships British Open Countdown - 1 day to go Langley host Aussies British Open Countdown - 2 days to go Soprano progress at Open? British Open Countdown - 3 days to go British Open results to your mobile British Open Countdown - 4 days to go Whitburn run into form GUS opens Titan door Whitburn enlists Euro help for Open British Open Countdown - 5 days to go Main doors open British Open countdown - 6 days to go British Open countdown - 7 days to go British Open countdown - 8 days to go British Open countdown - 9 days to go British Open countdown - 10 days to go Bands and MDs set for Open test Dyke open Titan doors Fodens snap up duo Open Gala Concert details released Gourlay to Open for Desford Titan tells us more... Titanic test for British Open New Year changes at Brisbane Death of Jean Frost Fodens thanks Fodens impress the judges Rothwell and Flowers relegated from Open Gregson enjoys terrific accolade Judges praise Gregson test piece Williams emulates new wife Scots set to query registration rules Organisers delight at Open triumph Rococo gets the thumbs up. Results: 2008 British Open Live comments: 2008 British Open Open Champs to showcase defence PLC to sign on Whitburn to open up Dyke open up for Birmingham Brighouse prepare for Open battle Baritone bonus for Leyland Flowers are back in bloom! Westwood departs Fodens Flower power returns to Open Boddice & Harper team up at BTM Hirst takes Open berth at PolySteel Duncan set for Scottish Co-op British Open Gala Concert I should Rococo No Sellers replacement at Open

4BR SHOPPING

DVD cover - A Celebration in Brass: Highlights of the Eric Ball Centenary Concert Highlights of the 2004 British Open Championships

WOB: DVD 108

4BR price: DVD: £19.95

» BUY DVD

 
Did you know?

The oldest Brass Band Championships in the World were initiated on the 5th September 1853 when eight bands competed for the first prize of £16 worth of gold sovereigns.

The first winners were Mossley Temperance conducted by William Taylor.

The contest was cancelled in 1859, but has been a huge success ever since. The first hat trick of wins was posted by the Meltham Mills Band in the years 1876-78, but they were barred for the following two years! In 1867, the formula of own choice test piece and set work was dropped in favour of one set work.

In 1924, the first overseas band to take the title were the Newcastle Steel Works Band from Australia, whilst in 1953, the National Band of New Zealand took the title to the southern hemisphere for the second, and to this day, the last time.

The contest had been held since it’s inception at Belle Vue, Manchester, but with it’s demise in 1982, the contest moved to the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, until in 1996 the contest was held at the Bridgewater Hall and in 1997 it moved to it’s present home at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham.

All but two bands each year are invited to compete for the British Open Trophy – the two not invited, qualify through the grand Shield Contest held earlier in the year. The bottom two bands in terms of results over the previous two years are demoted from the contest to make way for them.

© 4BarsRest with thanks to Allan Littlemore


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