The North West Regional Committee has announced that due to a player registration infringement, they have undertaken the process of disqualification of Darwen Brass from the Fourth Section Area contest held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on the weekend.

Eligibility

4BR has been informed that the status and eligibility of the player was checked and confirmed with the Brass Band Players Registry and the band was informed of the potential course of action prior to them taking to the stage.

Darwen Band was placed first by the adjudicators at the contest, but have now been disqualified from the results.

In a statement posted on the regional championship website it stated: "The committee are satisfied that this was a genuine error by the band but they were informed before taking to the stage that if the player in question was found to be ineligible they would be disqualified.

Regional secretary Richard Milton will be contacting bands awarded trophies to arrange the transfer of these to their new bands in due course."

Appeal procedure

According to the current 2025 Kapitol Promotions National Rule Book, a band has 14 days from the date of the contest to lodge an appeal with the Contest Controller. It must provide a £200 fee which is returned only if the appeal is upheld.

If the band is not satisfied with the decision of the Contest Controller they may appeal in the first instance to the Contest Management within 14 days of the contest.

If the band is not satisfied with the decision of the Contest Management it may appeal to the National Appeals Panel withing 1 month of that decision being made. The Appeals Panel is appointed by Kapitol and that decision is final.

Updates

Further details and updates concerning this matter will be published as soon as possible. Darwen Brass has been contacted for comment.

The official results have been amended accordingly on 4BR.

Fourth Section:

Adjudicators: Andrea Price & Gavin Saynor

1. Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton)*
2. Littleborough Public (Ashley Higgins)*
3. Onchan Silver (David Karran)
4. Cadishead Public (David Holland)
5. Manx Youth Band (Ian Clague MBE)
6. Ramsey Town (Huw Thomas)
7. Stacksteads (Matthew Speight)
8. Brindle (Stephen Hartley)
9. Dobcross Youth (James Atkins)
10. Blackley (Karl Stott)
11. St. John's Mossley (Ben Hill-Wilson)
12. Crewe Brass (Adam Shilton)

*Qualify for National Final

Disqualified: Darwen Brass (Matt Balsom)
Due to player ineligibility