The 70th Annual South West Brass Band Association Championships will take place on Saturday 5th November at the Riviera International Conference Centre in Torquay.

Delighted

30 bands will compete in six sections, with bands and supporters coming from Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset. The organisers have told 4BR that they are also delighted that two Youth Bands and four Training Bands will compete.

The action kicks off at 10.00am continuing through until mid-evening. The adjudicators are Stan Lippeatt and Steve Sykes and the presentation of awards will be made by the Association President, Sue Richards.

Sue will also present richly deserved Long Service Awards, marking 70 continuous years with one band to Geoff Pedlar (Bugle Silver), Colston Isaac (Holsworthy Town) and Harold Curtis (Sidmouth Town).

End of an era

The day will also mark the end of an era with the Championships heralding the final involvement of the SWBBA's Secretary of 23 years and Treasurer of 27 years respectively of Brian Elliott and Keith Gibbs, before their retirement in March 2017.

The Championships are rare in the brass band movement, as no monetary awards have ever been made to the winning bands, with the Association extremely proud that its member and guest bands continue to show such loyalty to the event.

An all-day ticket is available on the day priced £8 (with concessions).

The day will also mark the end of an era with SWBBA's Secretary of 23 years and Treasurer of 27 years respectively of Brian Elliott and Keith Gibbs leading the way for the last time4BR

Competing bands:

Open Section:

Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie)
Chalford (Steve Tubb)
Helston Town (John Berryman)
Hyde (Jonathan Lush-Camps)
Lanner & District Silver (Matthew Rowe)
Lydbrook (Glyn Williams)
Pendennis Brass (Falmouth) (Christopher Bond)
St Keverne (Gareth Churcher)
Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)

Second Section:

Cinderford (Chris Howley)
Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
South West Comms (Chris Spreadbury)

Third Section:

Bratton Silver (David Hayward)
Cinderford (Chris Howley)
Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett)
South Molton Town (Gil Taylor)
Weston Brass (Bryn James)

Fourth Section:

Bideford Town (Mark Durham)
City of Exeter Railway (UnG) (Graham Eaton)
Hatherleigh Silver (Matt Green)
Launceston Town (Colin Gay)
Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Richard Beardon)
Pendeen Silver (Darren Jenkin)
Totnes (Alan Wilmott)

Youth Section:

St Dennis Youth (Rachael Sargent)
St Keverne Youth (Kelvin Retallack)

Training Band:

Appledore Training (Neil Hamilton)
Plymouth Soundhouse Youth (Gary Thompson)
Saltash Town Training (Lauren Rossiter-Thomas)
St Keverne Training (Sara Munns)