The 2016 British Open Spring Festival broke records in Blackpool this year, with audience numbers up at new levels thanks to the combination of attractive test-pieces and high quality contest line-ups trying to claim a place either at, or at least one step closer, to the British Open itself.

Highly encouraging

"It has been a highly encouraging contest weekend,"Martin Mortimer told the audience before the announcement of the results on Saturday evening in the Winter Gardens Opera House. "It's excellent news and shows how popular the Spring Festival continues to be."

He later told 4BR: "Receipts and audience numbers are up on last year's record despite losing a couple of bands; the test-pieces, although challenging, have been universally popular, and the running of the event by the excellent team led by Frank Hodges has meant that it finished in plenty of time for people to go and enjoy a night out in Blackpool."

Listening

Martin told 4BR that he was particularly encouraged by the response to changes that have been put in place to help bands at the event, and to the line-up of judges chosen. "It's always good to hear from people that they feel the bands have been listened to.

Small, but important changes have been made to the event over the last few years, and with the support of the bands the Spring Festival is moving towards its 100th anniversary, we hope, stronger than ever."

Small, but important changes have been made to the event over the last few years, and with the support of the bands the Spring Festival is moving towards its 100th anniversary, we hope, stronger than everMartin Mortimer

Relegation

It was also confirmed to 4BR that four bands will be relegated from the Senior Cup to the Senior Trophy, with the bottom six bands having to seek re-qualification from the Senior Trophy.