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Results in about 30 mins, but Redbridge for us today with Hepworth and Desford a little way behind. The overall title will be between these three for us.

What do we know though...

4.46
Wingates

'Overture' to 'Music to the Royal Fireworks' to start — complete with microphone bang from Frank Renton on the opening note! Certainly different this — very high brow, but effective.

'Love on the Rocks' is a bit hit and miss for cornet soloist Andy McDonald, but the hymn arrangement of 'In Love for Me' is a lovely change of contrast and of contemplation. A highlight of the day this.

Another contrast change with 'Wired!' by Lucy Pankhurst — played with real funky brio.

'The Circle of Life' rounds things off — a little disappointing this, as it amounts to some pretty tunes and a bit of stereotypical Africana accompaniment. Lightweight.

Typical Harper added 'bonus' of 'Wake me up before you Go-Go' is as cheesy as it comes — even by Wham's standards. Puts a smile on the face though.

Overall: Wingates travelled far and wide to search for contrasts. Well played, but with some obvious flaws in execution. Finale was a let down — a touch youth band inspired.

4.00
EYMS

'It had better be Tonight' is a bright and breezy opener played with stylish intent. Neil Day is a very classy soloist on 'Carrickfergus' -lyrically shaped with tender care.

'Jubilee' march is a little cracker, but 'Salsa tres Prado' is way out — and not just the accents and the Hawaian flower necklaces? Doesn't really hit the mark this. Strange.

What does though is 'Another Fine Mess' — with the two euph lads, Neil Johnson and Andrew Kennedy playing the parts to the hilt. As old as the Laurel and Hardy films but this is done with real humour and 100% effort to make it work.

'King of Kings' to round things off just sounds a tad tired, but it is effective.

Overall: One that made the most of resources and had 100% commitment to the cause. Not perfect in execution but bravura playing from start to finish. Could see them move up the prize list.

3.15
Powerfuel Hatfield

'Trumpet Blues' is as old as Harry James to open, and not as well played as the old boy could manage on one lung.

David Belshaw though is a class euphonium voice on 'Bring Him Home' — played with real emotive lyricism. Top notch playing. 'Sing, Sing, Sing' is a little past the sell by date and doesn't swing. Tired stuff this.

Another class soloist though in Miles Davison, as he reprises the old pot boiler 'Rondo' from Strauss. Age does not weary in some cases. 'Mid All the Traffic' is a oldie too but provides a decent contrast if a little insecure in places.

'Toccata in D Minor' to finish though. This is carbon dated stuff. Surely something better could have been played by the band. Even Bach himself played this Ray Farr version.

Overall: Two very fine soloists couldn't hide the fact this was a very dated programme. The band had the potential but the musical outlook was so limited.

2.36
Woodfalls

'Dove Descending...' to open. The opening and finale glued together. Inspired or foolhardy? Certainly a brave choice and different. Mark Pye delivers a slightly hit and miss 'Capriccio' on sop, but it is stylish playing.

'One Hand one Heart' sounds a very complicated and uninvolving take on the simple West Side Story tune. Didn't really work.

The old 'Sweet Georgia Brown' item is as dated as the questionable 'comedy' image and old Globetrotter film. Never sparkles.

'The Royal Hunt of the Sun' is less dated but has been heard a few times. Great old shouts and bravura playing to close.

Overall: A programme that played to strengths but never really thrilled, despite the brave choice to open. An odd mix and match that didn't really work.

1.50
Redbridge

At last — something really innovative and different to open: 'Got to get you into my Life' from those funky Earth, Wind and Fire guys, complete with electric guitars, trumpets and sun images. Classy and well played too.

'Moon River' is courtesy of Mancini via Mnozil. A small ensemble gem played with a neat sense of lazy style. The 'Scherzo' from the Shostokovich 10th Symphony is played with steely resolve and menace. Impressive stuff.

A question mark over the vocal feature. Tuning between band and soloist wasn't always spot on in 'The Perfect Year'. Different but is this X Factor stuff?

More quality in 'O Magnum Mysterium' (and use of lighting to create mood) is lovely — and shows ensemble class.

Highly effective, polished and brilliantly choreographed finale benefits from great playing in 'Bolero'. Top notch.

Overall: A different band. Classy, polished and very well played. They certainly enjoyed this one and it showed. The leader today by a margin so far, but will it make up the lost ground from yesterday? Close.

1.05
Flowers

A Brass in Concert reprise of Waespi's 'Festive Impression' is a lively and slick opener, and another Sage repeat in 'Feeling Good' has a lazy pulse and the right 'dirty girl' Joan Collins in 'The Stud' type of feel. Rob Marsh on trom instead of the flugel feature at The Sage though — different then...

We get the feeling this is going to sound very familiar — and 'Belford's Carnival March' confirms as much. Well played but this has been around since Barnum was a lad.

'Wondrous Cross' by Wilby is a neat contrast (if another repeat) and is played with a touch of overdue reserve.

'Salsa Pagoza' is another rather desperate attempt today to try and go all Cuban — even the comedy sounds dated and it's harsh playing. It's not a Sage repeat though.

No 'Peel Park' finisher and a decently played 'Finale' from 'Swan Lake' instead. Saved their best until last here and it sounded half fresh too if not inspired.

Overall: A rather safety first Flowers this — the repeats were on a par with Gateshead but there was nothing of real innovation on disaply from a band that usually gives us something to stick in the memory banks. Not bad though.

12.22
5. Thoresby Colliery

'Bolero' to start. All that was missing was Torvill & Dean. Choreographed but not quite worthy of a full set of perfect marks from the judges on this occassion. Skating on thin ice?

'Spain' is neatly done — full of verve and pulse, whilst Peter Collins proves to be a nonchalent Rapheal Mendez inspired lead on 'Hungarian Dance'.

'Mother of God here I Stand' is lovely playing. A real gem this even if it was really a flugel solo and not a quartet with ensemble accompaniment.

The clip from Shostokovich's 10th Symphony is a throw away but the Handel 'Halleluia Chorus' U Tube inspired classic of the priests and nuns with the instuction cards is really brilliant.

Overall: An inventive mix and match with a brilliant ending. The playing won't win it them, but the Entertainment prize will take some shifting from their grasp.

11.42
4. Virtuosi GUS

It's an uncomfortably slow and laboured start for GUS with 'Festival de Rittler(?) jazzy opener. Ragged and lacking pace.

More like it with 'The Spanish Dance', which sounds like an Iberian 'Laudate' take. So much better and classier. Unsure with the Nelson Riddle/Frank Sinatra 'I've got you under my Skin' — which never really swings freely despite the efforts of wandering flugel player Cliff Pask.

'Tea for Two' — come on. As old as Earl Grey himself this and played in the same manner with weak humour too.

The original version of 'Coventry Variations' (with images of death and destruction) by Bram Tovey to end, is more recycling than can be found on an episode of the 'Good Life'.

Well played by not really inspired stuff.

Overall: A programme to keep the green voters happy — recycled brass band repertoire and all a little staid and too conservative.

11.03
3. Desford

Russell Gray nicks a touch of Manger magic with 'Delacorte Theatre' to open in free jazz New York mode and Richard Evans is a very fine soprano voice with Mark Bentham's arrangement of 'La Califfa' — tasteful.

'Black Bottommed Stomp' is good but is a lazy repeat from last year and we get a Brass in Concert reprise with 'Das Butterbrot'. Effective and funny a second time — if scrappy. Crowd liked it.

'Firebird' to finish. This is a repeat of a repeat of a repeat...

Overall: A UK Gold television version of a brass band programme. Effective and enjoyable but full of the type of stuff old people without a Sky dish lap up every day. Far too many repeats for us.

10.20am
2. Co-operative Milnrow

'Music for Epcot' to open and the 'Chaos' is well handled. Pat Methany 'Letter from Home' is a nice contrast and given a relaxed feel and flow.

Euph solo 'Whirlwind' is played with facile ease by Adam Snape and 'Hunting Wabbits' is nearly a hit — just missing that surreal Elmer Fudd shot gun desperation and is a tad overlong in this arrangement.

'I Dream a Dream' is a vocal solo item. Nice singing. Is this X Factor though? May tickle the fancy, but band accompaniment not that great.

Finale is new work 'My Heart is nigh mad with Rejoicing' — a mix of the Beethoven hymn tune, Moonlight Sonata and Ezra Pound? Different that.

Overall: A much better Milnrow today with an effective programme that encompassed different genres and styles, but it never quite thrilled you.

9.35
1. Hepworth (Cookson Homes)

'Dance Fever' opens with polish and real precision, whilst James Fieldhouse is lovely melancholic solo voice on 'On the Seashore' if not quite always 100% secure.

Cuban salsa to follow with 'Paceto' which is full of right sultry feel of old cigars and lusty women, and the contrasting 'The Smile' is a neat touch of Werther's Original granddad nostalgia. Not a dry eye in the house for the over 60's.

'Danse Macabre Variations' for the finale — with violin soloist. It's all Jonathan Creek and skeletons. Certainly innovative and very effective.

'Get Happy' is classy codetta ender — short, spick and span. Smiles all round for Hepworth.

Overall: A quality one this from start to finish. Innovative and very effective.