The countdown is ticking away until noon this Sunday (2nd May) when entries will open for the inaugural Doctor Martin Trust Contest.

The contest is open to championship section bands and will be held on Saturday 17th July at the Gala Theatre, Durham City.

Website entries

It may be a first in the brass band world, but for this contest, which is worth £4,000 to the winning band, entries will, initially, only be accepted via the contest's website; www.doctormartintrust.com < http://www.doctormartintrust.com>

The entry portal will open at noon on 2nd May and the first 15 championship section bands will secure a place.

The Trust's benefactor, Dr Ian Martin, an eminent consultant psychiatrist based in Darlington, wanted international interest, and if possible participation4BR

Format

Successful entrants will be required to perform a championship section test piece, a solo and a march within a maximum programme of 30 minutes.

The entry fee is £75 per band, but upon appearance, each performing band will receve a £200 gratuity and 4 auditorium passes worth £40 in total.

Spectator tickets will be £10 for the day with concessions at £8.

Phenomenal

Trustee, John Steel told 4BR: "Interest in the contest has been phenomenal. Looking at the statistics from the website's 'hits' data there's been interest from the US, Germany, Japan, Australia and Norway, amongst other countries, but by far the greatest number of 'hits' has come from the UK."

First come, first served

The Trust's benefactor, Dr Ian Martin, an eminent consultant psychiatrist based in Darlington, wanted international interest, and if possible participation. It remains to be seen just how far and wide interest in this competition will range when entries begin to come in next Sunday.

Entries will be accepted on a 'first come — first served' basis, via the website www.doctormartintrust.com in the meantime any queries should be directed to john.steel@darlington.gov.uk or 07970087057