*
banner

North West to kick start National qualification

81 bands will head to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool at the end of February to start the National Finals qualification process.

Nationals
  The first round of National qualification contests takes place in Blackpool in February

81 bands will travel to the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday 26th February to kick start the opening round of the 2017 Regional Championships.

Busy day

As always it promises to be a busy day (with three extra competitors this year) for the excellent Regional Committee team lead by Peter Bates to administer in the Opera House, Arena and Pavilion Theatre, with the action starting promptly at 9.30am with the first of thirteen bands in the First Section.

A dozen bands will battle it out on 'Pageantry' to claim one of the three places on offer for the Royal Albert Hall (Fairey is pre-qualified), with two qualification places on offer in the First Section and three each in the Second, Third and Fourth.

As always it promises to be a busy day (with three extra competitors this year) for the excellent Regional Committee team lead by Peter Bates to administer in the Opera House, Arena and Pavilion Theatre4BR

Competing bands:

Championship Section:


Opera House
Draw 1.45pm
Commence after Fourth Section results
Adjudicators: David Lancaster & Roger Webster

Ashton-Under-Lyne (Phil Chalk)
Blackburn & Darwen (Neil Samuel)
Co-operative Funeralcare North West (Jeff Sparkes)
Diggle (Steven Walsh)
Fairey (Garry Cutt)
Foden's (Prof Nicholas Childs)
Leyland (Thomas Wyss)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Milnrow (Mark Bentham)
Roberts Bakery (Simon Stonehouse)
Vernon Building Society Poynton (TBC)
Wingates (Paul Andrews)


First Section:


The Arena
Draw: 8.30am
Commence: 9.30am
Adjudicators: Paul Holland & David Roberts

Bollington Brass (Peter Christian)
Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
Freckleton (Paul Dalton)
Haslingden & Helmshore (Simon Cowen)
Manx Concert Brass (Ian Clague MBE)
Mossley (Duncan Byers)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ben Dixon)
Poulton-Le-Fylde (Matthew Ryan)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle)
Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt)
Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
Wardle Anderson Brass (Sean Conway)


Second Section:


Pavilion Theatre
Split Draw: 10.00am & 12.15pm
Commence: 11.00am
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts & Kevin Wadsworth

Besses Boys (James Holt)
Besses o'th' Barn (Mark Wildie)
Blackpool Brass (John Pearson)
Boarshurst Silver (James Garlick)
Cheshire Constabulary (TBC)
Crewe Brass (Jamie Meredith)
Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
Delph (Philip Goodwin)
Flixton (Jason M. Smith)
Golborne (Mark Harrison)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Hoover Bolton (Craig Mann)
Horwich RMI (Matt Ryan)
Marple (Stephen Curtis)
Middleton (Kevin Gibbs)
Old Hall Brass (John North)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW 'B' (Michael Golding)
Uppermill (Dean Redfern)
Valley Brass (Haydock) (David Chapman)
Whitworth Vale & Healey (Christopher Binns)


Third Section:


The Arena
Split Draw: 1.00pm & 3.00pm
Commence: After results of First Section
Adjudicators: Steve Pritchard-Jones & Glyn Williams

City of Chester (Ewan Easton)
Coppull & Standish (Matt Stringer)
Dobcross Silver (Grenville Moore)
Douglas Town (Ken Mitchell)
Eagley (Chris Wormald)
Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
Farnworth & Walkden (Matt Shaw)
Formby (Louise Hough MBE)
Greenalls (Phil Boardman)
Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
Hawk Green (Neil Hewson)
Littleborough (Adrian Woodhead)
Pilling Jubilee Silver (Len Charnock)
Rivington & Adlington (Matt Whitfield)
Skelmersdale Prize (James Hall)
Stacksteads (Fred Bowker)
Stalybridge Old (David Ashworth)
Trinity Girls (Ryan Watkins)


Fourth Section:


Opera House
Split Draw: 9.00am & 11.00am
Commence: 10.00 a.m.
Adjudicators: Gary Davies & Simone Rebello

Allerton Brass (Adam Taylor)
Blackley (John Atkinson)
BMP Europe Goodshaw (Joshua Hughes)
Brindle (Keith Richmond)
Cadishead Public (Craig McFarland)
Denton Brass (Matthew Bailey)
Dobcross Youth (Matt Hindle)
Heyrod Brass (Lee Dunkley)
Lees (Adam Nield)
Lostock Hall Memorial (Phil Edwards)
Parr St. Helens (John Ludden)
Ramsey Town (Robert Quane)
Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
Sale Brass (Alan Seymour)
Stockport Silver (Ian Colwell)
Tarleton Brass (Gillian Bould)
Thornton Cleveleys (Stephen Craig)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Nationals

Churcher steps down from MD role at Camborne

September 8 • Dr Gareth Churcher has taken the decision to step down as Musical Director at Camborne


Milnrow

Milnrow to replace Tredegar at Brass in Concert

September 8 • Grand Shield champion takes place of Welsh contender at Brass in Concert.


yOUTH

Brass Bands England unable to offer BOPA service from 2027

September 8 • The Department for Education confirms BBE's National Body of Personal Approval will end in April 2027.


walkers

Poetry, brass and recovery...

September 8 • A wonderful joint venture of poetry, brass band music and wonderful countryside will help people at stages of different personal recoveries.


The Hepworth Band - Public Rehearsal ahead of the 2026 British Open

Tuesday 8 September • Ossett Town Hall, Market Place, Ossett WF5 8BE


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 13 September • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Thursday 17 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Duchess of Edinburgh String Orchestra

Friday 18 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Irish Guards

Thursday 1 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Barnsley Brass

September 6 • We are looking to recruit a Flugel Horn and Back Row Cornet players. We are based in Worsbrough Bridge by the A61 south of Barnsley. S70 5LJ. Rehearsals are Mondays / Thursdays at 8pm in our purpose-built band room..


Enderby Band

September 5 • Championship section band seeking CORNETS (positions negotiable), Eb BASS, and PERCUSSIONISTS to join our committed, hard-working and friendly team, performing a balanced diary of concerts and contests.


Harrogate Band

September 4 • The Harrogate Band are looking for a 1st Baritone and Soprano player to complete our team. Forward thinking and exciting band with a wide range of engagements and contests. Rehearsals are Wednesday 8pm in our own bandroom with great transport links.


Duncan Wilson

Bmus(hons), LGSMD
Conductor, Adjudicator (member AoBBA)


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd