The Yorkshire Area led the list of featured race winners at Cheltenham on the weekend, as the county's White Rose flag was raised in triumph in the winner's enclosure for Stannington in the Second Section and Crofton in the Third.

Meanwhile, Wales maintained its excellent record as the remarkable Phoenix (Goodwick) claimed the Fourth Section honours, whilst the West of England rounded things off with victory for St Dennis in the First.

None happier

There could have been no happier Yorkshire supporter than Regional Secretary Peggy Tomlinson, who saw her famous flag taken out of her handbag in triumph for the first time since 2014 as the delighted players and supporters of Stannington and Crofton (above) revelled in their victory celebrations — the first time since the introduction of the four lower sections in 1992 that the Area has won two titles at the Finals.

It meant that there was to be no crushing display of title winning supremacy for Wales in 2016, although Phoenix (Goodwick) ensured that a National trophy stayed at home by emulating their senior Goodwick counterparts who won the First Section last year.

There was also good news for the West of England as the First Section title headed back to the Area for the second time in three years as a youth packed St Dennis delivered a fine winning performance of 'Ballet for Band'.

Spread out

The titles and the main podium places were more evenly spread out this year (every Area with the exception of Scotland getting at least one top-three mention off the stage), with the North West challengers showing their strength to head home with six, top-six finishes from their 10 representatives.

Bands from London & Southern Counties were not far behind either, as five of their nine challengers got a mention from the stage.

There could have been no happier Yorkshire supporter than Regional Secretary Peggy Tomlinson, who saw her famous flag taken out of her handbag in triumph for the first time since 20144BR

Other end of scale

However, at the other end of the scale, the North of England couldn't quite repeat last year's fine showing and just got the one top-six finish (coming runner-up in the Third Section), whilst Scottish bands once again failed to break their National title winning hoodoo (which now stretches back to 2000) as the best they could do was a best of eighth place.

Full news reports from each section will start to appear on 4BR later today.