The British Open Championship has announced a competitive link with the Fife Charities Band Association Open Contest in Scotland.

It sees the event join the raft of official 'qualification routes' to the annual Spring Festival in Blackpool, giving bands a defined contest pathway that links to the British Open itself.

Starting routes

The contest now joins Brass at the Guild Hall, the Wychavon Festival of Brass and the Bolsover Festival of Brass in offering an automatic invitation to compete in the Senior Trophy contest to the highest placed Championship or First Section Band that is not already participating in the Spring Festival series.

A Fife Charities Band Association spokesperson told 4BR: "We are delighted that we can now offer our 2017 competing bands a wonderful opportunity to secure a place at the 2018 Spring Festival — just three steps away from competing at the most prestigious brass band contest in the world.

We are also very grateful to Martin and Karyn Mortimer for enabling our contest to become part of the qualification route, which shows that the British Open continues to reach out to ambitious bands who wish to compete at the Spring Festival."

Delighted

A British Open spokesperson added: "We are also delighted to make this official connection with a Scottish contest that is both popular with competitors and audiences alike. We look forward to offering a warm welcome to the successful band in the Senior Trophy."

We are delighted that we can now offer our 2017 competing bands a wonderful opportunity to secure a place at the 2018 Spring FestivalFife Charities Band Association spokesperson

Contest details

The 72nd FCBA Open Contest takes place on Saturday, 30th September at the Adam Smith Theatre in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Each band performs an own choice march, hymn and test piece.

The closing date for entries is 2nd September, with enquiries addressed to: secretary@fcba.org.uk

For further information on the Spring Festival, go to: www.thebritishopen.net