Countdown to Preston - 3 days to go

Countdown to Preston — 3 days to go

You have to go a long way back to find the last time a National competition took place with just the nine bands in the field.

Wednesday, 23 June 2010

With the English National Championship taking place at Preston’s Guild Hall on the weekend with just nine competing bands, 4BR has delved back in the record books to find the last time a national contest took place with such a low turn out.

Varied numbers

Numbers at the English National itself have varied from 14 to 16 competitors since it started in 2006.

The All England Masters started off with 16 bands in 1989 but this year saw 22 bands take to the stage.

Just the 9

The European Championships started in 1978 with 13 bands, has had as many as 14 taking part. However, in 1999 in Munich and in 2005 in Groningen just the 9 bands took to the stage.

Brass in Concert stared in 1977 with 12 bands and has deliberately pegged itself between 10 and 14 ever since.

Meanwhile at the National Finals, the first contest in 1900 saw 14 bands take part, and it has never been anything less – even straight after the two World Wars and the ill fated World Championships.

Disaster struck in 1859 however when the contest was cancelled after only 3 bands — Black Dyke, Dewsbury and Holmfirth entered4BR

Record

However, the record for the least number of bands surely lies with the British Open – although you have to go back to its earliest days to find a time when entry levels were on the very, very, low side.

The first contest in 1853 saw 8 bands compete, but that fell to just 5 in 1857.

Disaster struck in 1859 however when the contest was cancelled after only 3 bands — Black Dyke, Dewsbury and Holmfirth entered, although it did take place the following year with just 5 bands.

Thankfully, we haven’t quite reached that point at Preston – yet…

4BR Preview coverage:

4BRs preview coverage of the 2010 English National Championships can be found at:

Introduction & Prediction:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2010/1151d.asp

Runners & Riders
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2010/1151c.asp

Test piece review:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2010/1151b.asp

More about John Milton and Paradise Lost:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2005/art505d.asp

The composer:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2010/1151a.asp

The adjudicators:
http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2010/1151.asp

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