Who will be crowned Kings in 2025?

The Regional Championships celebrate their 80th anniversary this year. 

Like a parade of old comrades proudly displaying their campaign medals, the annual events from Stevenage to Perth, Torquay to Durham elicit a sense of communal admiration in the resolute, stoic stubbornness they have shown in defying nine decades of change around them.

The battle honours of late though have not been won through conflict like their forefathers who regrouped after two World Wars, de-industrialisation or the aftermath of the Miners’ Strike, but through a different kind of adversity, and losses inflicted by community disengagement, Covid-19, austerity and multiple education cuts. 

Like a parade of old comrades proudly displaying their campaign medals, the annual events from Stevenage to Perth, Torquay to Durham elicit a sense of communal admiration in the resolute, stoic stubbornness they have shown in defying nine decades of change around them.

Impervious

Any changes that have been made have been absorbed into structures that still seem impervious to modernisation. The last, the setting up of the First Section over 30 years ago promised much, but simply led to an even more imbalanced top-heavy pyramid. Last year we had the same number of competitors in the Championship Section as we did in the Fourth.

It can be seen everywhere. Open an old programme from the competitions of the immediate post-war years and you are greeted with a familiar text of sections and test-pieces, small prize pots and local adverts. Open one in 2025 and what do you find? 

Pride in the uniform never changes...

Falling numbers

And all the while the numbers keep falling. 

It is not just the names of some of the early Area Championship Section winners in 1945 and 1946 such as Luton Silver, Hanwell, Parkead Forge, Blackhall Colliery and North Seaton Workmen’s that are now only seen engraved on Area trophies. 

Neither is it Furniture Industries Ltd (Ercol), City of Edinburgh, Varteg Silver, Hazell’s Aylesbury Printing Works, Cheetham Hill Public, Phoenix Works, Bournville Works, Mynddygarreg Silver, and Bristol NFS (17th Area) – all Area section winners either. They too have long departed to the banding graveyard.

It is not just the names of some of the first Area Championship Section winners such as Luton Silver, Hanwell, Parkead Forge, Blackhall Colliery and North Seaton Workmen’s that are now only seen engraved on Area trophies. 

Terminal decline

Last year 476 bands took to the stage (although up 4 from the previous year) but a far cry from 1992 when the First Section came into being. Then it was 577.

At the risk of repeating ourselves (and we have said this time and time again) – there is no future in taking pride in handing out medals for managing terminal decline.  

An attraction?

Cost and attraction

It will be interesting to see if the latest changes in the reduction in pre-qualifying bands for the Royal Albert Hall (from four to three this year), tweaks to the qualification thresholds in the First to Fourth Sections, and player borrowing rules will change anything let alone the increasingly ingrained views about the cost implications of a weekend in London or the attraction of playing in The Centaur auditorium at Cheltenham.

It will be interesting to see if the latest changes in the reduction in pre-qualifying bands for the Royal Albert Hall, tweaks to the qualification thresholds in the First to Fourth Sections, and player borrowing rules will change anything let alone the increasingly ingrained views about the cost implications of a weekend in London or the attraction of playing in The Centaur auditorium at Cheltenham.

Much to admire

However, there is still so much to admire in the commitment of the indefatigable volunteers who put on the various Area events – starting in Blackpool this weekend and ending in Durham in a month’s time, as well as that of the eternal optimism of every player who dons their uniform to take to the stage.

Thankfully those things will never change.

This year's test-pieces

Well chosen test-pieces

So too the debate over the choice of set-works made by the Kapitol Music Panel – although this year you sense that many of the grumbles are bring made with more than a pinch of trepidation from MDs and players who will find unfamiliar challenges to overcome in each of the well-chosen works from Derek Bourgeois, Morley Calvert, Oliver Waespi, Jacob de Haan and Andrea Price.  

 this year you sense that many of the grumbles are bring made with more than a pinch of trepidation from MDs and players who will find unfamiliar challenges to overcome in each of the well-chosen works from Derek Bourgeois, Morley Calvert, Oliver Waespi, Jacob de Haan and Andrea Price.  

Blackpool kick-off

Plenty to look forward to then as it kicks off in Blackpool when 75 bands (down 1 from 2024) descend on the Winter Garden for a Sunday packed with competitive music making.  

Some things haven’t changed much here over the past 80 years either, with Foden’s looking to secure a ninth consecutive top section title. They, plus two others will head to the Albert Hall, whilst 3 bands will qualify for Cheltenham in the First, Second and Third Sections, and two in the Fourth.  

2024 Yorkshire Champion - Black Dyke

Yorkshire pride

The following weekend (1st & 2nd March) Yorkshire pride is at stake when 54 bands compete at Huddersfield Town Hall.  Black Dyke (Area winners in 1945) will look to extend their unbeaten modern day run to five in a row, with two others joining them in Kensington in October. Two bands in each of the other sections will head to Cheltenham. 

 Black Dyke (Area winners in 1945) will look to extend their unbeaten modern day run to five in a row,

Trio

Three events take place on the weekend of 8th & 9th March, with contests in the Midlands (Bedworth Town Hall – 73 bands with the Second Section held on 15th March), Perth (Perth Concert Hall – 52 bands) and Torquay (Riviera Centre).

The National Champion - Flowers

National Champion

The defending champions are Desford, the cooperation band (also a 1945 winner) and Flowers respectively - all of whom are looking to make it two in a row, with Flowers sure to attract extra interest as the defending National Champion.

with Flowers sure to attract extra interest as the defending National Champion.

In Scotland there is the added interest of European qualification to Linz in 2026 for the winning  band (two go to London) with two bands in each of the other sections invited to head to Cheltenham.

The Midlands also send two to Kensington and to Cheltenham in the Second Section, with three each in the First, Third and Fourth. No details have yet been confirmed for the West of England.

2024 Fourth Section National Champion - Betteshanger Colliery

Wales and London & SC 

The following weekend (15th & 16th March) it is the turn of Wales (no details of competing bands as yet), London & Southern Counties (78 bands) and the Second Section in the Midlands. 

Cory defends its title in Swansea with European qualification to Linz also up for battle alongside two Albert Hall places, whilst in Stevenage the top two bands make the trip to Kensington with the First Section sending 2 to Cheltenham with 3 gaining the invitation in the Second, Third and Fourth (with Betteshanger going on to win the National title in 2024 - above).

2024 North of England champion - Easington Colliery

North of England conclusion

The 2025 series concludes in Durham with Easington Colliery (above) looking to defend their title and head back to London with a fellow qualifier in their wake, whilst two bands from each of the other sections will make the equally long trip to Cheltenham in September.

As always, 4BR will be in attendance at each Regional Championship event but will not be providing band by band coverage. After 25 years, its time for change ourselves, although we will still be providing the draws, results and full news reports as soon as we get them.

Iwan Fox