The schedules, line-ups and adjudication panels for 2025 North West Regional Championships have been announced.
The event takes place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Sunday 23rd February and has attracted 75 entries in its five sections.
Qualifiers
12 bands will compete in the Championship Section, with two bands, plus defending champion Foden's (pre-qualified) representing the region at the Royal Albert Hall in October. They will be adjudicated by Dr Robert Childs and Andrea Price.
17 bands will compete in the First Section where 3 bands will make it through to Cheltenham courtesy of Leigh Baker and Anne Crookston. Three bands will also qualify in the Second Section by impressing Martin Heartfield and Stan Lippeatt.
The Spanish Hall is being used this year to host the Third Section where three bands will make it to the National Final by catching the ears of Nicholas Garman and Andrew Warriner. Two bands will qualify in the Fourth Section courtesy of adjudicators, Andrea Price and Gavin Saynor.
Championship Section:
Opera House
Commencing: 2.45pm
Draw: 1.45pm
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs and Andrea Price
1. Acceler8 (Jef Sparkes)
2. Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)
3. Foden's (Russell Gray)
4. KNDS Fairey (Phil Chalk)
5. Leyland (Daniel Brooks)
6. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
7. Milnrow (Chris Binns)
8. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
9. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ryan Watkins)
10. Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
11. Wardle Anderson Brass (Brad McCulloch)
12. Wingates (Matt Ryan)
First Section:
Pavilion Theatre
Commencing: 11.00am
Draw 1: 10.00am
Draw 2: Noon
Adjudicators: Leigh Baker and Anne Crookston
1. Ashton under Lyne (Paul Lovatt Cooper)
2. Blackburn & Darwen (Daniel Thomas)
3. Diggle (Sean Conway)
4. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
5. Flixton (Adie Smith)
6. Freckleton (Adam D. J. Taylor)
7. Haydock (Mark Quinn)
8. Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
9. Manx Concert Brass (Ian Clague MBE)
10. Mossley (Duncan Byers)
11. Pemberton Old Wigan DW B (Ryan Breen)
12. Roberts Bakery (Mike Jones)
13. Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt)
14. Skelmersdale (Benjamin Coulson)
15. Tyldesley (Neil Samuel)
16. Valley Brass (Haydock) (David Chadwick)
17. Whitworth Vale & Healey (Mike Golding)
Second Section:
Opera House
Commencing: 9.30am
Draw 1: 8.30am
Draw 2: 10.30am
Adjudicators: Martin Heartfield and Stan Lippeatt
1. Allerton Brass (Jamie Duncan)
2. Besses Boys (James Holt)
3. Bollington Brass (Craig Mann)
4. City of Chester Bluecoat (Ewan Easton)
5. Delph (Phil Goodwin)
6. Eagley (Christopher Wormald)
7. Golborne Brass (Les Webb)
8. Haslingden & Helmshore (Kevin Gibbs)
9. Hawk Green (Neil Hewson)
10. Liverpool (David McGlynn)
11. Lostock Hall Memorial (John Atkinson)
12. Marple (Nick Birch)
13. Middleton (Jamie Cooper)
14. Morecambe (Andrew W. Porter)
15. Old Hall Brass (Trevor Halliwell)
16. Poulton-le-Fylde (Brett Baker)
17. Uppermill (James Garlick)
18. VBS Poynton (Tom Hillary)
Third Section:
Spanish Hall
Commencing: 2.45pm
Draw: 1.15pm
Adjudicators: Nicholas Garman and Andrew Warriner
1. Besses o'th' Barn (Phil Shaw)
2. Blackpool Brass (TBC)
3. Clock Face Miners Heritage (Will Haw)
4. Dobcross Silver (Jason M. Smith)
5. Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
6. Farnworth & Walkden (S. Jones)
7. Goodshaw (BMP Europe) (Dean Redfern)
8. Hoover Bolton (Joe Murtagh)
9. Pilling Jubilee Silver (Joshua Hughes)
10. Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson)
11. Rode Hall Silver (Ken Mackintosh)
12. Sale Brass (Andrew Mallon)
13. Stalybridge Old (Nigel Lawless)
14. Thornton Cleveleys (Steve Tarry)
15. Trinity Girls (Craig Mann)
Fourth Section:
Spanish Hall
Commencing: 9.45am
Draw: 8.45am
Adjudicators: Andrea Price and Gavin Saynor
1. Blackley (Karl Stott)
2. Brindle (Stephen Hartley)
3. Cadishead Public (David Holland)
4. Crewe Brass (Adam Shilton)
5. Darwen Brass (Matt Balson)
6. Dobcross Youth (James Atkins)
7. Littleborough (Ash Higgins)
8. Onchan Silver (David Karran)
9. Manx Youth Band (Ian Clague MBE)
10. Ramsey Town (Huw Thomas)
11. Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton)
12. St. John's Mossley (Ben Hill-Wilson)
13. Stacksteads (Matthew Speight)
