The list of bands that will compete at the 2020 North West Regional Championships at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday 23rd February has been announced.

78 will take part in the five different sections will the competitions taking place in the Opera House, Pavilion Theatre and Empress Ballroom.

Only two

Foden's will defend its Championship Section title — although for the first time since 2014 only two bands will make it through to the Royal Albert Hall. Two bands will also go through to Cheltenham in the First and Fourth Sections, with three from the Second and Third.

As usual the contest will be held on one day with three halls being used in the Winter Gardens complex.

Tickets for the full day with entry to all competitions are priced at £12 with under 16s getting free entry if accompanied by a paying adult. This are only available on the day at the Winter Gardens Box Office.

Championship Section:

Opera House
After First Section results
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill and Alan Morrison

Boarshurst Silver (James Garlick)
Fairey (Garry Cutt)
Foden's (Russell Gray)
Leyland (Thomas Wyss)
Milnrow (Chris Binns)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ben Dixon)
Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
TCTC Group (Jef Sparkes)
VBS Poynton (Stig Maersk)
Wardle Anderson Brass (Sean Conway)
Wingates (Paul Andrew)

First Section:

Opera House
Commencing: 9.45am
Adjudicators: Andrea Price and Andrew Warriner

Ashton-Under-Lyne (Jamie Prophet)
Blackburn & Darwen (Daniel Thomas)
Bollington Brass (Peter Christian)
Diggle (Alan Widdop)
Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
Flixton (Matthew Ryan)
Freckleton (Matt Shaw)
Haslingden & Helmshore (John Binns)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Manx Concert Brass (Ian Clague MBE)
Marple (Stephen Curtis)
Middleton (Kevin Gibbs)
Mossley (Duncan Byers)
Roberts Bakery (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt)

Second Section:

Pavilion Theatre
Commencing: 11.00am
Adjudicators: Annie Crookston and Howard Evans

Allerton Brass (Adam Taylor)
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Besses o'th' Barn (Trevor Halliwell)
Blackpool Brass (Max Stannard)
Cheshire Constabulary (David Woolam)
Crewe Brass (Matt Pithers)
Delph (Phil Goodwin)
Eagley (Chris Wormald)
Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
Farnworth & Walkden (Dan Price)
Greenfield (Phil Goodwin)
Old Hall Brass (John North)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW 'B' (Alistair Burrows)
Poulton-Le-Fylde (A. Webb)
Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
Uppermill (Dean Redfern)
Valley Brass (Haydock) (David Chadwick)

Third Section:

Empress Ballroom
Commencing after Fourth Section results
Adjudicators: Nicholas Garman and Mike Kilroy

City of Chester (Ewan Easton)
Darwen Brass (Len Charnock)
Douglas Town (Ken Mitchell)
Formby (Louise Hough MBE)
Greenhall's ( J. Hall)
Hawk Green (Neil Hewson)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Hoover Bolton (Craig Mann)
Lostock Hall Memorial (Ryan Broad)
Parr St. Helens (John Ludden)
Pilling Jubilee Silver (Steve Hartley)
Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson)
Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
Sale Brass (Matthew Hindle)
Thornton Cleveleys (Dave Houghton)
Trinity Girls (Richard Evans)
Whitworth Vale & Healey (John Binns)

Fourth Section:

Empress Ballroom
Commencing at 9.30am
Adjudicators: John Doyle and David Roberts

Blackley (Adrian Smith)
BMP Europe Ltd. Goodshaw (David W. Ashworth)
Brindle (Matthew Balson)
Cadishead Public (David Holland)
Denton Brass (Robert Yates)
Dobcross Silver (Jason M. Smith)
Dobcross Youth (Seth Livingstone)
Golborne Brass (Joshua Hughes)
Littleborough (Sam Fisher)
Morecambe (Andrew Porter)
Ramsey Town (Robert Quane)
Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton)
St. John's Mossley (Paul Taule)
Skelmersdale Prize (Ben Coulson)
Stacksteads (Fred Bowker)
Stalybridge (James Atkins)