In winning the British Open at Symphony Hall on the weekend, Tredegar became the first band to hold both the Grand Shield and British Open titles in the same year.

Podium finishes

It is a remarkable fact given that since the re-organisation of the Spring Festival in 1952 to include the new Grand Shield contest, only three other winning bands have been able to claim a podium finish at the British Open at their first attempt.

Before the Grand Shield became the official qualification contest in 1952, Belle Vue hosted both a May and July contest with Brighouse & Rastrick being the last band to win the July event and go on to win the then ‘September’ contest as the British Open was known, in 1929.

since the re-organisation of the Spring Festival in 1952, only three other winning bands have been able to claim a podium finish at the British Open at their first attempt4BR

Leyland first

Leyland was the first band to win the Grand Shield in 1952, but came nowhere at the Open, and it wasn’t until 1981 when a Grand Shield winner first came in the prizes, when Leyland went on to come runner up at the British Open under Richard Evans on 'Variations on a Ninth'.

Hammonds Sauce repeated the feat in 1989, coming runner up under Geoff Whitham, whilst the same band but under a different name (YBS) came 3rd on their debut in 1995 under David King.

Leyland near misses

Since then, Cwmaman Institute came 5th directed by John Hudson on their first appearance in 2002, Sellers International notched up 5th under Philip McCann in 2004, Leyland made it three near misses in 2008 when they were 4th with Jason Katsikaris, before Tredegar finally broke the hoodoo this year in winning under Ian Porthouse.

Congratulations

Meanwhile, Tredegar has been inundated with congratulations on their achievement from around the banding world.

MD Ian Porthouse told 4BR: "I would just like to thank everyone who took the time to pass on their congratulations to the band both on the day and since. We’ve been swamped with telephone calls, e-mails and cards and requests from the media in Wales too. It’s been amazing."

Ian wasn’t aware of the bit of history Tredegar had created though. "I was sure someone else had done it, so it’s great that we can make our own mark in the British Open history books."

Grand Shield winners at the British Open

1981: Leyland — 2nd
1989: Hammonds Sauce — 2nd
1995: Yorkshire Building Society — 3rd
2002: Cwmaman Institute — 5th
2004: Sellers International — 5th
2008: Leyland — 4th
2010: Tredegar — Winners