Brass Bands England has announced a retrospective change in the qualification process to help enable English bands to participate in future European Brass Band Championships.

Following detailed consultation it is hoped that the new process will bring the English qualification process into comparable line with that currently undertaken in Wales and Scotland.

2015 & 2016

Black Dyke’s 2014 National Championship win will now see the band qualify to compete as English representatives at the 2016 European Championship, although it has been confirmed by BBE that the band has also agreed to accept the existing invitation to compete at the 2015 event in Freiburg.

The decision also means that if Black Dyke should win the 2015 European title, an additional invitation to compete in 2016 will be offered to Brighouse & Rastrick, who were the second highest placed English band at the recent 2014 National Finals.

Detrimental

BBE Chairman Mike Kilroy told 4BR: "It came to our notice that giving the qualifying band just over six months to prepare for the European Championships could be detrimental both to the band and its chances of success at the event.

Using the £5,000 commission offered by BBE to its best advantage could also be problematic within this time frame.

Following consultations with other interested parties, we therefore wish to clarify that from now on the band qualifying to represent England will do so 18 months later and not six."

It came to our notice that giving the qualifying band just over six months to prepare for the European Championships could be detrimental both to the band and its chances of success at the eventMike Kilroy

Agreed

He continued: "We are therefore delighted that Black Dyke has agreed to represent England at both the 2015 and 2016 European events. The 2015 English Champion will then receive an invitation to the 2017 European Championship and so on.

Should an English band win the European title and therefore receive a direct invitation the following year, the second placed English band at the previous year’s National Final will receive an invitation.

Brighouse & Rastrick will therefore be eligible for the 2016 contest in the event of Black Dyke becoming European Champion in 2015."