John Doyle is the repiano cornet with the Balck Dyke Band. He won the Stanley Wainwright Memorial Award at the 2001 British Open on ‘Les Preludes’ with the band on flugel horn.

Highs

"The undoubted highs have been the wins at the contest in 2005 and 2006.

However, one little highlight came in 2001 the day after the contest. We didn’t win, but we had a nice ‘wind down’ so to speak after the results on the Saturday night. The next day we had to play in the concert at the hall and a few of us were still feeling the after effects.

Brett Baker was a star though – more than a little green around the gills, he stood up and performed a brilliant trombone solo, even though his complexion was as green as a Yorkshire Building Society band jacket. I’ve never seen a player so relieved to have got a solo over!"

I’ve never played in such an electrifying performance on the Open stage – it really was something specialJohn Doyle

On the flip side

"Montage in 2004 with Dyke. We came off stage elated; everyone we spoke to had us as winners.

I’ve never played in such an electrifying performance on the Open stage – it really was something special.

In the end we came 6th and we were only judged to be the third best ‘Montage’ on the day. Love it or hate it, that’s contesting for you."