The Foden’s Band created their own unique piece of national history at Blackpool in the weekend, where they won the North-West Regional title for an unprecedented fifth year in succession.

Eight wins

Conducted by Garry Cutt, they surpassed the 4 wins in a row mark they shared with the great CWS (Manchester) Band of the 1960’s, as they secured their 17th Area title and their eighth in the last decade.

The win also gave the MD his fifth win in a row at the Winter Gardens, and sees the Brass in Concert Champion joined at the Royal Albert Hall by the only other bands to have upset their Millennium hegemony, Fairey (Geneva) and Leyland.

Adjudicator C. Brian Buckley praised the winners as well as the qualifiers for their performances of ‘English Heritage’. Fairey’s runner up placing was their 22nd at the contest since 1945, whilst Leyland return to London after missing out in 2009.

...the win sees the Brass in Concert Champion joined at the Royal Albert Hall by the only other bands to have upset their Millennium hegemony, Fairey (Geneva) and Leyland4BR

First Section

In the First Section it was Freckleton who produced an unbeatable mark on ‘A Moorside Suite’ off the number 1 draw to take the title. They will head to Harrogate joined by Silk Brass (Macclesfield). Freckleton repeated their 2005 win under the baton of conductor Paul Dalton.

Second Section

In the Opera House earlier in the day, the Second Section contest was over shadowed by a medical emergency, which saw a baritone player of Old Hall taken ill on stage during their performance.

Thankfully, Sarah Neal was attended to quickly and taken to Wigan Infirmary as the hall was evacuated, and although the band understandably decided not to return to play, it is reported that she has made a welcome recovery.

It was Diggle Band conducted by James Shepherd that was eventually crowned champion – their first North West title since 2003, whilst they will be joined at Harrogate in September by Rainford.

Third Section

There was also a spectacular number 1 win in the Third Section, where Butlins champion Delph continued their rich vein of form to take the title under Black Dyke’s Phil Goodwin, to give them their first Area title since 1994.

They will be joined at the International Conference Centre by Hoover (Bolton) and Cheshire Constabulary.

Fourth Section

In the 23 band Fourth Section, it was Hazel Grove who completed reversed their fortunes from 2009, as they jumped up the table from last to first under the baton of former Fairey's baritone star Nigel Beasley.

They will be joined at Harrogate by fellow qualifiers Besses Boys and Farnworth & Walkden.

Championship Section:
Sunday 14th March

Opera House
Draw: 1.45pm
Commence: 2.45pm approx after Second Section
Adjudicator: C. Brian Buckley

Result:
1. Foden's (Garry Cutt), 9**
2. Fairey (Geneva) (Philip Chalk), 8*
3. Leyland (Howard Evans), 4*
4. Wingates (Alan Morrison), 12
5. Ashton-Under-Lyne (Martyn Evans), 3
6. Co-operative Milnrow (John Ward), 11
7. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Mark Bentham), 2
8. Blackburn & Darwen (Nick Sheppard), 5
9. Co-operative (Crewe) (Jef Sparkes), 6
10. (Bactiguard) Wire Brass (Paul Andrews), 1
11. Roberts Bakery (Colin Cranson), 7
12. Poulton-Le-Fylde (Gareth Westwood), 10

**Winners automatically qualify for Finals
* 2nd & 3rd placed bands qualify for Finals

First Section:
Sunday 14th March

Empress Ballroom
Draw: 1.30pm
Commence: 3.00pm approx after Third Section
Adjudicator: Barry Thompson

Result:
1. Freckleton (Paul Dalton), 1*
2. Silk Brass Macclesfield (David Holling), 9*
3. Bollington Brass (Peter Christian), 11
4. Vernon Building Society Poynton (Kevin Gibbs), 10
5. Manx Concert Brass (Ian Clague MBE), 8
6. Longridge (Mark Peacock), 6
7. Oldham (Lees) (John Collins), 4
8. Wardle Anderson Brass (Sean Conway), 2
9. Timperley (Alan Hobbins), 3
10. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor), 7
11. Mossley (Duncan Byers), 5

*Top 2 bands qualify for Harrogate

Second Section:
Sunday 14th March

Opera House
Draw: 9.30am
Commence: 10.30am
Adjudicator: Roy Roe

Result:
1. Diggle (James Shepherd), 7*
2. Rainford (Neil Samuel), 6*
3. Haydock (Mark Quinn), 5
4. Morecambe (Andrew Warriner), 10
5. Haslingden & Helmshore (David Holland), 11
6. Dobcross Silver (Grenville Moore), 4
7. Eccleston Brass (Ian Bateson), 8
8. Middleton (Matt Stringer), 9
9. Flixton (Stephen Curtis), 12
10. Co-opertaive 2000 Brass (Jamie Meredith), 13
11. Besses o' th' Barn (Jonathan Lo), 1
12. Blackpool Brass (Chris Larder), 2

Not Placed: Old Hall Brass (John North), 3

*Top 2 bands quallify for Harrogate

Third Section:
Sunday 14th March

Empress Ballroom
Split Draw: 9.00am and 11.15am
Commence: 10.00am
Adjudicator: Ian Brownbill

Result:
1. Delph (Philip Goodwin), 1*
2. Hoover (Bolton) (Trevor Halliwell), 16*
3. Cheshire Constabulary (David Woollam), 10*
4. Uppermill (Alan Widdop), 14
5. Stalybridge Old (Eric Landon), 3
6. Greenall's (Karl Stott), 12
7. Eagley (Peter Denton), 11
8. Pemberton Old Wigan JJB 'B' (Peter Ashley), 6
9. Douglas Town (Gordon Higginbottom), 7
10. Skelmersdale Prize (Charles Dickinson), 8
11. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray), 17
12. Ramsey Town (Robert Quane), 9
13. Whitworth Vale & Healey (Geoff Bradley), 2
14. Trinity Girls (Stuart Barton), 15
15. BMP Europe Goodshaw (Eddie Hill), 13
16. Formby (Louise Hough), 4
17. Lostock Hall Memorial (John Wood), 19
18. Valley Brass (Haydock) (Bob Wyatt), 5
19. Hawk Green (Marple) (Neil Hewson), 18

*Top 3 bands qualify for Harrogate

Fourth Section:
Sunday 14th March

Spanish Hall
Split Draw: 10.30am and 1.15pm
Commence: 11.30am
Adjudicator: Steve Pritchard-Jones

Result:
1. Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley), 15*
2. Besses Boys (James Holt), 6*
3. Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley), 16*
4. Nelson Brass (Steve Brodie), 3
5. Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth), 17
6. Dobcross Youth (James Garlick), 14
7. Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson), 7
8. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley), 12
9. Golborne (David Houghton), 8
10. Littleborough Public (Adrian Woodhead), 23
11. Parr (Richardson Ltd) St. Helens (John Ludden), 2
12. Tarleton Brass (Barry Taylor), 13
13. Coppull & Standish (TBC), 18
14. Pilling Jubilee Silver (Billy Porter), 21
15. City of Chester (Philip Mottershead), 1
16. Brindle (John Smith), 4
17. Sale Brass (John Dickinson), 20
18. Greenfield (Stuart Black), 22
19. Friezland (Chris Partington), 11
20. Blackley (Adrian Smith), 19
21. Ellenbrook & Boothstown (Craig Mann), 5
22. Denton Brass (Colin Myers), 9
23. Tottington Public (Daniel Price), 10

*3 bands qualify for Harrogate