It’s been a busy start to the 2010 season, but already nearly £60,000 of prize money has been paid out in contests from Skegness to Bergen, Gloucester to the Guild Hall.

Butlins

Of those, Butlins dipped into their coffers with over £33,000 paid out to the successful bands at the Mineworkers Championship.

Desford left £7,000 better off after taking the Championship title, whilst a number of lower section champions put a smile on their bank manager’s face too – the Dronfield Band putting £2,000 in the current account for winning the Fourth Section title.

Over the North Sea, the Norwegian’s surprisingly don’t pay out huge sums to their winning National Champion bands4BR

Norway

Over the North Sea, the Norwegian’s surprisingly don’t pay out huge sums to their winning National Champion bands – although Manger Musikklag pocketed Kr 50,000 (over £5,000) – three grand more than Black Dyke picked up for their troubles at the Royal Albert Hall last October.

Yeovil

Tredegar gave themselves a tasty monetary boost by winning the £2,000 top prize on offer at Yeovil, whilst each of the winners at Preston’s Guild Hall pocketed £700 a piece.

Early leaders

The early leaders who have won £1,000 or more then are as follows, with more money to be won in the bnext few weeks before the glory rather than the cash takes over at the Area contests.

Current Leader Board:

1. Desford Colliery — £7,000

2. Manger Musikklag — £5,300

3. Hepworth (Cookson Homes) — £3,000

4. Sandefjord Brass Symposium — £2,226

5= Delph — £2,000
5= Dronfield Colliery — £2,000
5= East London Brass – £2,000
5= Jackfield Elcock Reisen — £2,000
5= Redbridge Brass — £2,000
5= Tredegar – £2,000

11. Orskog Brass — £1,484

12= BestwoOd Black Diamonds — £1,000
12= BTM = £1,000
12= Haslingden & Helmshore — £1,000
12= Hitchin — £1,000
12= Meltham & Meltham Mills — £1,000
12= Thoresby Colliery — £1,000
12= Virtuosi GUS — £1,000
12= Youth Brass 2000 — £1,000