Carlton Main Frickley Colliery is the latest top English band to pull out of the forthcoming English National Championships in Preston in June.

Financial priorities

Band Secretary Jason Barlow told 4BR: "We told the organisers last Tuesday of our intention, and whilst it has been a difficult decision to make, the financial priorities for this season are very much focussed on the Masters, British Open and National Finals in London.2

We would have loved to have been able to take part in the contest, but following our qualification for London we have had to look at our priorities and our budgetsSecretary, Jason Barlow

Budgets

Jason told 4BR that at present financial considerations do have to take precedent over musical ones. "We would have loved to have been able to take part in the contest, but following our qualification for London we have had to look at our priorities and our budgets. Unfortunately that has meant that we have had to make the decision to pull out of the contest. We just cannot afford to compete in them all."

Replacement

There is no news at present if the contest organisers, the British Federation of Brass Bands has another band lined up to take Carlton Main’s place, although it was stated at the recent BFBB AGM in Barnsley that there is a healthy interest from bands to take part in the contest.