*
banner

2010 Open racks ups QI trivia

Stephen Fry will enjoy the amount of 'Quite Interesting' facts to come out of the 2010 British Open...

Symphony Hall
 

4BR provided a host of British Open trivia for this year 's coverage, so what else did the 2010 contest throw up, apart from Tredegar being the first band ever to win the Grand Shield and British Open in the same year and Munn & Felton being the last band to win off the number 1 draw in 1954.

Malcolm Wood has been trawling through the record books to provide the QI facts about the 2010 event...

1. 1984 was the last time the Open was won off the number 8 draw, when Grimethorpe won on 'Comedy'.

2. In addition to 1984, 1987, 1989, 2009, 2010 – are the four years that bands have won off single digit draw in recent times.

3. Horn player Debra Batt is believed to be the first female to have won the British Open with City of Coventry in 1981, but Tredegar's Eb Bass, Michelle Hocking is believed to be the first female bass player to be part of the winning band.

4. 1916 – the last time the records show Brighouse & Rastrick drew number 2 at the Open.

Black Dyke have been tipped by 4BR to win their last four contests before the results are announced and have won none of them4BR

5. 2010 is the fourth time David King has finished 10th when conducting at this contest – 1991, 1994 and 1998 are the others.

6. 1996 was the last time the defending champion drew number 1 before this weekend – Black Dyke at Bridgewater Hall when they finished 14th.

7. Cory will have known when they came off stage and read 4BR that it was 1954 since no band has won off number one.

8. Ian Porthouse now joins the club of individuals who have won the contest as a player and conductor. Ian also won the ‘Best Soloist’ prize with YBS in 1997.

9. Prior to Ian's success at the weekend, Robert Childs was the last person to win the Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy for ‘Best Soloist’ and then the Mortimer Maestro Trophy as the winning conductor.

10. Cory's 5th placed finish was the highest finish off the number 1 draw since Yorkshire Imps finished in the same position in 1994.

11. Desford (placed 7th,in 2009) and Black Dyke (placed 6th in 2008) were the highest places from number 1 prior to Cory's position this year.

12. Tredegar currently join Ransome & Marles, the National Band of New Zealand, Ferodo Works, City of Coventry Kennedy Swinton, Sun Life, BNFL and Marple on one win at the Open since the end of the Seocnd World War.

13. Both Cory and Foden's maintain their records of at least one of them not finishing outside the top six since 1997.

14. Prior to the Grand Shield next year, the make up of the 2011 contest shows bands from Yorkshire, North West, Midlands, Wales and Scotland. As it stands there are no representatives from the North East, West Country and London & Southern Counties.

15. Should no other Scottish contender not qualify at next year's Grand Shield, Co-op Funeralcare will be the only representative from North of the Border since 1994.

16. Whitburn's relegation means they'll be returning to the Grand Shield for the first time since 1995.

17. Kirkintilloch have now had the unfortunate honour of finishing in last place twice in four years.

18. Black Dyke have been tipped by 4BR to win their last four contests before the results are announced and have won none of them.

19. Placings for all bands were introduced in 1991. This year was Garry Cutt's lowest position at the contest for the four times winner.

20. At the draw this year there were two numbers left in the velvet bag – number 1 & 5, with just Hepworth and Cory left to take their pick. Hepworth were up first and bagged number 5.

21. Grimethorpe have now finished 9th three times since 2004.

22. Stephen Sykes became the first trombonist to take the Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy for the 'Best Soloist' in over two decades.

23. The contest will be held on 3rd September next year – the last time it was held on that date was in 1966.

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


wychavon

Results: 2025 Wychavon Festival of Brass

November 2 • Ratby Co-operative leads the entertainment winners at Evesham with section victories for Lydbrook, Harborough, Lydney Town and University of Warwick Brass.


SBBA

Result: 2025 Borders Entertainment Contest

November 2 • Renfrew Burgh tops the entertainment in Jedburgh.


stavanger

Results: 2025 Siddis Championship

November 2 • Eikanger claims a fourth consecutive title as they lead the Nordic entertainment in Stavanger.


utrecht

Results: 2025 Dutch National Championships

November 2 • De Bazuin Oenkerk leads the title winners in Utrecht.


Regent Hall Concerts - Paddington Brass

Friday 31 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Sunday 2 November • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 2 November • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street. SE10 9BJ SE10 9BJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Elland Silver Band

Sunday 2 November • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 7 November • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Croy Silver Band

November 1 • Croy Silver Band currently has contest vacancies on Cornet and Percussion, but is always happy to accommodate enthusiastic new players in any section of the band.


Epping Forest Band

November 1 • We have a solo horn vacancy to join our friendly 3rd section band. We have a sensible calendar of contests and concerts. Situated with close links to the M11/M25 and Central line tube station, with our own band room. Rehearsals Monday night 8-10pm


Rainford Band

November 1 • NW Championship Section Rainford Band are inviting applications for a 2nd Euphonium player. We are a forward thinking and hard working band, with excellent links to M6 and M62. . We rehearse on Mon and Thurs 19.45 - 21.45 in Rainford


Ian Holmes

BA (hons), PGDip (RCM), ARCM, ALCM
Conductor, piano accompanist and educator


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd