There is an excellent line-up of bands hoping to kick start their season off in winning ways at the Brass at the Guild Championship in Preston today.

The popular event gives competitors the opportunity to showcase either their preparation on the forthcoming Area test pieces or the work they have just completed by competing at the Butlins Mineworkers Festival.

Bands will need to take into account that there are roadworks and building work that has been undertaken in and around the hall at the present time. The multi-story car park is open but access from it the hall area is closed.

Prizes, awards, trade stands and more

And with generous prize money, numerous individual awards, excellent sponsorship support and the qualifying link to the British Open Spring Festival, there should be plenty of keen competition on show.

There will also be trade stands from the likes of Pennine Music, Trevada Music, Centre Stage Uniforms, Your Logo Here, BBIS Insurance, Hercules Stands, The King's Regiment and R&P Photographic Services, whilst there is an opportunity for bands to have a rehearsal blow-through at the Stanley Arms public house next door to the Guild Hall.

Hard workers remembered

The organisers have also taken the opportunity to remember some of the hard working people who have contributed so much to the banding movement in the North West in particular, with prizes to be given in honour of the late David Bratt and Barbara Littler.

Seven bands will compete in the Championship Section where Wingates MD Paul Andrews will decide the fates of those looking to lift the Stanley Winter trophy and the £400 first prize.

Six bands will take to the stage in the First Section, eight in the Second, 13 in the Third and six in the Fourth, with six youth bands also competing for the British Open Youth at the Guild Festival title and its £400 first prize.

Bands will need to take into account that there are roadworks and building work that has been undertaken in and around the hall at the present time. The multi-story car park is open but access from it the hall area is closed4BR

Championship Section:

The Guild Hall
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews
Test Pieces: Odyssey (Norbury) or Contest Music (Heaton), The Year of the Dragon (Sparke), Concerto No 1 (Venables)

Prizes: £400, £200, £150
Appropriate highest placed band invited to compete at Senior Trophy at Spring Festival
Start: 4.00pm approx

1. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
2. Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths)
3. Hatfield (Stan Lippeatt)
4. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
5. Milnrow (Christopher Binns)
6. Newstead Brass (TBA)
7. Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligott)

First Section:

The Guild Hall
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews
Test Pieces: Brass Metamorphosis (Curnow) or Renaissance (Graham)

Prizes: £400, £200, £150
Start: 2.00pm approx

1. Blackburn & Darwen (Tariq Ahmed)
2. Boarshurst Silver (James Garlick)
3. Haslingden & Helmshore (Simon Cowen)
4. Johnstone (Martyn Ramsay)
5. Lindley (Robert Westacott)
6. Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)

Second Section:

Charter Theatre
Adjudicator: Thomas Wyss
Test Pieces: Ex Terra Lucem (Bates) or Variations for Brass Band (Vaughan Williams)

Prizes: £400, £200, £150
Start: 4.00pm approx

1. Bakewell Silver (Jim Henson)
2. BD1 (Lee Skipsey)
3. Blackpool Brass (John Pearson)
4. Farnworth & Walkden (Luke Pallister)
5. Flixton (Ian Brownbill)
6. Haydock (Mark Quinn)
7. Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
8. Slaithwaite (Ryan Watkins)

Third Section:

The Guild Hall
Adjudicator: Chris King
Test Pieces: Napoleon on the Alps (Harper) or Overture to Henry V (Vaughan Williams)

Prizes: £400, £200, £150
Start: 10.00am approx

1. Allerton Brass (Adam Taylor)
2. Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)
3. City of Chester (Ewan Easton)
4. Dobcross Silver (Grenville Moore)
5. Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
6. Golbourne Brass (Matthew Shaw)
7. Greenalls (Phil Boardman)
8. Huddrsfield & Ripponden Brass (Adam Bell)
9. Oughtibridge Brass (Gavin Somerset)
10. Pilling Jubilee Silver (Steve Hartley)
11. Skelmersdale (James Hall)
12. Thornton Cleveleys (Stephen Craig)
13. Littleborough (Adrian Woodhead)

Fourth Section:

Charter Theatre
Adjudicator: John Doyle
Test Pieces: World Tour (Rodney Newton) or Second Suite in F (Gustav Holst)

Prizes: £400, £200, £150
Start: 10.30am

1. Blackley (Adrian Smith)
2. BMP Europe Goodshaw (Alan Seymour)
3. Brindle (Keith Richmond)
4. Lostock Hall Memorial (Joshua Hughes)
5. Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
6. Stacksteads (Fred Bowker)

The British Open Youth at the Guild Festival:

The Charter Theatre
Adjudicators: John Doyle & Helen Varley

Prizes: £400, £200, £150
Start: 12.30pm approx

1. Enderby Youth (Trevor Hounsome)
2. Macclesfield Youth Brass (Louise Renshaw)
3. Oldham Music Centre (Jonathan Leesdale)
4. Poynton Youth (Mike Eccles)
5. St Helens Youth Brass (James Hall)
6. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)