The list of competing bands that will take part in the 2020 Butlins Mineworkers Championships on the weekend of the 11th & 12th January have been announced.

Big payouts

There will be plenty to play for in terms of cash payouts too — with the newly crowned top flight winner picking up a potential £12,000 for their efforts.

Six bands will compete in the Championship Section, led by defending champion Desford Colliery, whilst twelve contenders will take to the stage in the First Section, including Dublin Silver Band from the USA.

There is a strong list of 18 competitors in the Second Section led by defending champion Shirland Welfare and also welcoming an overseas visitor in CWA Brass from Northern Ireland, whilst 14 bands take part in the Third Section, led by 2019 champion Raunds Temperance. Six bands will compete in the Fourth Section.

There will be plenty of great music making to enjoy on the Sunday — with the top section bands displaying their entertainment talents at the Centre Stage venue and the Unregistered and Youth Sections taking place at Reds.

Once again there will be a warm welcome for defending Youth Section champion 3BA Academy Brass from Germany whilst Shirland Welfare Training defends its Unregistered Section crown.

Details of the solo and quartet events will be released as soon as possible.

Championship Section:

Venue: Centre Stage
Saturday 11th January
Draw: 12.00am (commences after the First Section)
Test-Pieces: Songs of Ascent (Jonathan Bates)
Adjudicators: Russell Gray & Dr David Thornton

Sunday 12th January (Entertainment)
Venue: Centre Stage
Draw: Saturday Evening
Commences: Noon
Adjudicators: Russell Gray & Dr David Thornton
Entertainment: Leigh Baker & David Roberts

Prizes:
First: £10,000
Second: £5,000
Third: £2,500
Fourth: £1,000
Test Piece winner: £1,000
Most Entertaining Band: £1,000

1. Desford Colliery (LMTF) (Michael Fowles)
2. Flowers (Paul Holland)
3. GUS (Chris Jeans)
4. Redbridge Brass (Chris Bearman)
5. Wantage (Jonathan Bates)
6. Woodfalls (Dr Robert Childs)

First Section:

Venue: Centre Stage
Saturday 11th January
Commences: 9.30am
Test Pieces: Symphonic Episodes for Brass Band (Brian Balmages arr. Mike Kilmartin)
Adjudicators: Leigh Baker & Gary Davies

Prizes:
First: £2,000
Second: £1,000
Third: £700
Fourth: £500

1. Dublin Silver (Tim Jameson)
2. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
3. Harborough (Brad Turnbull)
4. Haydock Band (Mark Quinn)
5. Marsden Silver (Andrew Lofthouse)
6. Middleton (Kevin Gibbs)
7. Milton Keynes Brass (Jonathan Mott)
8. Sandhurst Silver David Johnson)
9. Soham Comrades (Mark Ager)
10. Staffordshire (Craig Williams)
11. Stannington (Derek Renshaw)
12. Unite the Union (John Davis)

Second Section:

Venue: Reds
Saturday 11th January
Commences: After Fourth Section
Test Pieces: Galdhoppigen (Simon Kerwin)
Adjudicators: Anne Crookston & Sheona White

Prizes:
First: £2,000
Second: £1,000
Third: £700
Fourth: £500

1. BAE Systems (David Chapman)
2. Bedford Town (Martin Hurrell)
3. Besses Boys (James Holt)
4. Chinnor Silver (David Pegram)
5. City of Coventry Brass (Jonathan Fearn)
6. CWA Brass (Paul Hamilton)
7. Eagley (Chris Wormald)
8. Epping Forest (Keith Schroeter)
9. Greenfield (TBA)
10. Gresley Colliery (Craig Stevens)
11. Hade Edge (TBA)
12. Hebden Bridge (David Hamilton)
13. Ibstock Brick Brass (Stephen Cooper)
14. Ifton Colliery (Scott Lloyd)
15. Leicestershire Coop SMW (TBA)
16. Meltham & Meltham Mills (Tom Haslam)
17. Shirland Welfare (Lynden Cooper)
18. Waterbeach Brass (Andrew Kershaw)

Third Section:

Venue: Crazy Horse
Saturday 11th January
Commences: 10.30am
Test Pieces: Gothic Dances (Alan Fernie)
Adjudicators: Dave Lea & Sam Fisher

Prizes:
First: £2,000
Second: £1,000
Third: £700
Fourth: £500

1. Crystal Palace (Michael Gray)
2. Cubbington Silver (Mark Phillips)
3. Emley Brass (Gary Hallas)
4. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
5. Hoover (Bolton) (Craig Mann)
6. Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Geof Benson)
7. Raunds Temperance (Jonathan Pippen)
8. Sale Brass (Matthew Hindle)
9. Stamford Brass (Julian Bright)
10. Syston (Colin Jones)
11. Tadley Concert Band (Paul Chapman)
12. Tewit Silver (Martin Hall)
13. Towcester Studio (Peter Wain)
14. Whitworth Vale & Healey (Christopher Binns)

Fourth Section:

Venue: Reds
Saturday 11th January
Draw: 8.30am
Commences: 9.30am
Test Pieces: A Bournemouth Suite (Benjamin Tubb)
Adjudicators: David Roberts & Alan Widdop

Prizes:
First: £2,000
Second: £1,000
Third: £700
Fourth: £500

1. Amington (Alan Gifford)
2. Dodworth Colliery MW (Eliot Darwin)
3. Sherwood Forest Brass (Christine Lippeatt)
4. Spennymoor Town (Fiona Casewell)
5. Whitwell Brass (Adrian Wood)
6. Woodbridge Excelsior (Chris Lewis-Garnham)

Unregistered Section:

Venue: Reds
Sunday 12th January
Own Choice
Commences: 10.30am

Prizes:
First: £200
Second: £150
Third: £100
Adjudicator: Mareika Gray

Draw to play:
1. Shirland Welfare Training (Dave Hill)
2. Wigston Enterprise (Matthew Davis)
3. Gresley Colliery Youth (Duncan Jackson)

Youth Section:

Venue: Reds
Sunday 12th January
Pre-drawn
Commences: Following Ensemble Section
Set Work: Own Choice
Adjudicator: Mareika Gray

Prizes:
First: £1,000
Second: £600
Third: £200

Draw to play:
1. 3BA Academy Brass (Birgit Trinkl)
2. Enderby Youth (Trevor Hounsome)
3. Shirland Welfare Youth (Dave Hill)
4. Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)