How much is winning a top line contest actually worth nowadays?

Not as much as it was its seems, given the real value of prize money on offer today at the major banding contests in the UK.

4BR has had a look back through the history books to find out how much prize money was on offer at the major contests to find out what they should really be paying out in this day and age...

Retail Price Index

We have used the Retail Price Index as our guide – a consistent measure of relative value over the years.

For the prize to retain its 1980 value, Dyke should have picked up £6,4504BR

National Finals:

In 1980 Brighouse & Rastrick became the first band ever to pick up a £2,000 first prize at the National Finals.

In 2009, Black Dyke also picked up £2,000 for its victory.

For the prize to retain its 1980 value, Dyke should have picked up £6,450.

British Open:

In 1989 the first £3,000 was award at the British Open, won by Kennedy’s Swinton.

In 2009, Cory picked up the same amount.

It should really be £5,600.

Granada/Brass in Concert:

The first Granada Band of the Year Contest in 1971 gave £500 to its winning band.

In 2009, Foden’s picked up £4,000 for winning at The Sage.

It should perhaps be closer to £5,300.

Regional Championships:

The first £200 first prize was awarded in 1982.

Today that should be more like £530.

Grand Shield:

Getting out the Grand Shield is an expensive business – but helped by winning £75 in 1969.

Today, the winning band gets £800.

That value 40 years later is now around £925.

European Championships:

The first winner of the European title received £1,000 in 1978.

The 2009 winners, Cory picked up 2,500 Euro or £2,270 in cash.

It should be around £4,300.

Pontins Championships:

Pontins were the first brass band championships to offer a £1,000 top prize in 1977.

This year Tongwynlais Temperance picked up £2,500.

It should be £4,660.

Bucked the trend

One contest though has bucked the trend – the Butlins Mineworkers Championship.

In 1962 the winning band took home 200 Guineas for their efforts.

In 2009 the winners Redbridge picked up £7,000

The real value of 200 Guineas today – around about £3,600