*
banner

Small drop in Midlands Area entrants

69 bands will compete at the Midlands Regional Championships over two weekends in March.

Desford
  Desford went on to claim the National title in London

Although there is a small overall decrease in competing numbers for the 2026 Midlands Regional Championships, 69 bands will still take to the stage at Bedworth Civic Hall on the weekend of 7th & 8th March and Sunday 15th March.

The Third and First Sections will be held on Saturday 7th March (starting 10.00am), with the Fourth and Championship the following day (Sunday 8th March at 10.00am).

The Second Section will be held at the same venue the following weekend on Sunday 15th March (11.00am).

Qualifiers

Two bands plus the pre-qualified National Champion Desford Colliery will be invited to compete at the Royal Albert Hall in October. The defending champion is the GUS Band.

Three bands from the First and Third, and two bands from the Second and Fourth Section will head to Cheltenham in September.

Championship Section:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs; Andrea Price

Blidworth Welfare (Colum O'Shea)
Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)
Enderby (Gareth Westwood)
GUS Band (Christopher Bond)
Kibworth (Brendan Caddy)
Langley (Cliff Parker)
Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
Ratby Co-operative (Glyn Williams)
Sovereign Brass (David Maplestone)
Staffordshire (Lee Woodward)
Thoresby Colliery (Luke Pallister)

First Section:

Adjudicators: Mark Wilkinson; Paul Norley

Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)
Bedworth Brass (Jonathan Mott)
Bilton Silver (Rugby) (David Stowell)
Brass Band of Central England (Stephen Phillips)
City of Coventry (Lee Woodward)
Foss Dyke (Gareth Westwood)
Gresley Colliery (Richard Windle)
Hathern (Gary Wyatt)
Hucknall & Linby MC (Chris Ledger-Knapp)
Jackfield (Craig Stevens)
Oddfellows Brass (John Davis)
Raunds Temperance (Jonathan Pippen)
Rushden Town (Adele Hudson)
Shirland Welfare (Lynden Cooper)
Shirley (Kieron Howe)

Second Section:

Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt; Mark Wilkinson

Burbage Buxton (Steve Critchlow)
Carlton Brass (Matthew Ludford-King)
City of Birmingham (Saphran Ali)
Harborough (Ben Smith)
Leicestershire Co-op (Ben Hewlett-Davies)
Ratby Co-operative Mid (Nicholas Garman)
Rolls Royce (Derby) (Adrian Lacey)
Stamford Brass (Julian Bright)
Stourport on Severn (Oliver Wilson)
Thrapston Town (Nathan Waterman)
Tintwistle (Jim Henson)
Towcester Studio (Ian Knapton)
Wellington (Telford) (David Nicholson)

Third Section:

Adjudicators: Jack Capstaff; Stan Lippeatt

Amington (Chris Barker)
Avonbank (Evesham) (Micah Parsons)
Cleobury Mortimer Concert (Craig Willaims)
Ibstock Brick Brass (Jon Penton)
Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) (Sarah Fellowes)
Long Eaton Silver (James Dennis)
Market Rasen (Peter Richardson)
Newark Town (Gary Wyatt)
Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Geof Benson)
Shipston Town (Alex Bland)
Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Christopher Banks)
Syston (Alex Bland)
Wem Jubilee (Cathy Rutherford)
Whitwell Brass (Sam Fisher)
Wigston (Colin Jones)

Fourth Section:

Adjudicators: Paul Norley; Stan Lippeatt

Arrow Valley (Alex Bland)
Bilton Silver (Evolution) (Jodie Kelsall)
Brackley & District (Archie Batty)
Bretforton Silver (Paul Wood)
Corby Silver (Daniel Thompson)
Coventry Festival (Allan Wheelhouse)
Croft Silver (Henry Dunger)
Cubbington Silver (Mark Scott)
Dunchurch (Paul Whitmore)
Malvern Hills & District (Chris License)
Matlock (Chris Banks)
Moulton 77 Brass (Kirsty Woodhouse)
Newhall (Kevin Holdgate)
Trentham (Steve Churchill)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


lbrrt

Report & Result: 2026 National Championship of Great Britain

October 3 • Cory returns on the road to victory as Philip Harper's band reclaims National title honours at the Royal Albert Hall.


4BR Podcast

4BR Review — Episode 22

October 2 • A preview of the 2026 Championship Section National Final at the Royal Albert Hall and the issues that arise....


NYBBGB

NYBBGB launches Young Composer competition

October 2 • Young composers aged 30 and under are being asked to create a new work for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.


James Shepherd

New award to be presented at Royal Albert Hall

October 2 • A wonderful new award in memory of one of the greatest ever cornet players will be made at the Royal Albert Hall this weekend.


Regent Hall Concerts - Thundersley Brass Band

Tuesday 6 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Parlour Brass

Friday 9 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Chiswick Jazz Orchestra

Friday 9 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Brass

Saturday 10 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Autumn Concert

Saturday 10 October • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB


Rushden Town Band

October 6 • Bb bass - Following the relocation of our previous player, a Bb bass position has become available.


Rushden Town Band

October 6 • A tenor trombone position has become vacant following the relocation of the previous player.


Alder Valley Brass

October 6 • Seeking a Bb Bass player to join our friendly ambitious second section band under the direction of new MD Oliver Halstead - Brooks. Featuring a good variety of concerts and contests. . We rehearse each Monday and Thursday 8pm to 10pm in Farnham Surrey


Steve Pritchard-Jones

FTCL LTCL LDBBA DipMusEd GMus QTS NPQH
Conductor, Adjudicator, Teacher


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd