One of the beigest prizes in the brass band contesting calendar is up for grabs this weekend with the second running of the Doctor Martin Charitable Trust Wainstones Cup contest in Middlesborough.
11 bands
11 bands will battle it out for the impressive £4,000 top prize at Middlesborough Town Hall on Sunday 11th September, with Championship contenders from as far afield as Scotland and London hoping to get their hands on a share of the £8,000 prize money pot.
Each band will have to perform a 30-minute programme that must feature an own choice test piece together with a solo item and march.
Skills opportunity
Trustee, Steve Goodwin told 4BR: "The competition gives bands the opportunity to show off their skills on a variety of music genres — relieving the monotony for the audience and the adjudicator."
The man charged with the difficult task of picking out the winner is Kevin Wadsworth.
11 bands will battle it out for the impressive £4,000 top prize at Middlesborough Town Hall on Sunday 11th September, with Championship contenders from as far afield as Scotland and London4BR
Extra interest
The extra interest in this year’s event has meant a change of venue, something Steve Goodwin feels shows that there is a real appetite for high class band contesting in the north east.
He added: "There’s a great passion for brass band music in the North East and it will be something of a spectacle to be able to hear 11 first rate bands in the same place on the same day.
It’s going to be quite a contest and the quality of entrants that the competition has attracted has exceeded our wildest expectations. I’m very excited and I hope that we can fill Middlesborough Town Hall with brass band fans … they’re certainly in for a treat."
Defending champion
The reigning champion is the Reg Vardy Band, who will look to defend their title under the baton of Ray Farr, whilst there is sure to be a strong challenge from fellow British Open contenders Rothwell Temperance under David Roberts and Scottish Champion Exchange Communications Whirtburn led by Ian Porthouse.
Local favourites
London bound Pemberton Old Wigan DW make the trip over the Pennines under Mark Bentham’s command to see of they can go one better than last year’s runner up spot, whilst local favourites Fishburn and Felling will want to make a mark.
Yorkshire sends some strong First Section challengers in Cheltenham finalists Yorkshire Imperial and Butlins Champion, City of Sheffield as well as championship outfit Drighlington.
Lure of prize money
The lure of the prize money has also meant journey up from the south for Milton Keynes Brass and Friary Guildford.
The contest begins at 11.00am with the Academy Section of the NASUWT Riverside Band playing a short concert before the announcement of the results.
Tickets
Admission, with tickets available at the door, is £12 for adults (£8 concessions for senior citizens).
To encourage the many young musicians in the brass band world, organisers have decided that young people under 16 will be admitted free.
Competitors
City of Sheffield
Drighlington
Exchange Communications Whitburn
Felling
Fishburn
Friary Guildford
Milton Keynes (MK) Brass
Pemberton Old Wigan DW
Reg Vardy
Rothwell Band
Yorkshire Imperial Urquart Travel
