The recent European Championships in Stavanger saw defending champion Brass Band Treize Etoiles drawn number 1 in both the set-work and own-choice disciplines.

Although not unique in the contest's history (it was the fifth time since 2003) it did maintain an unwanted record of resulting in the champion failing to retain their title since the format was expanded over two days.

Hard going

According to band statistician Gordon Simpson (who provides 4BR with all the stats for major championship events), that in the contest's 46 events to date, it has resulted in just 3 three individual winning performances — twice on the set piece and once on the own-choice.

However, being drawn number 1 at the European may not be a statistically bad as that at the British Open, where only one band has won off a number 1 draw in the last 122 contests dating back to 1901 (Munn and Felton's Works in 1954) — or at the National Championship of Great Britain, when nobody has ever won.

To find even more starts and ranking go to: www.brassstats.com

Double 1

Drawn 'double' number 1 at Europeans since 2003:

2003: Brighouse & Rastrick (4th overall)
2013: Paris Brass Band (8th overall)
2014: Cory (5th overall)
2017: Brass Band Buizingen (11th overall)
2025: Brass Band Treize Etoiles (6th overall)