*
banner

Last touches being put in place for Torquay

There is sure to be a great weekend of contesting in Torquay this weekend as the West of England Regional Championships take place.

west of England
  The Championships take place in Torquay this weekend.

The West of England Regional Championships over the weekend of the 14th & 15th March at The Riviera International Centre and Upton Vale Baptist Church, Torquay, with 75 bands taking part — up two from last year.

Qualifiers

Two bands in addition to the pre-qualified Flowers, will gain an invitation to the Royal Albert Hall National Final. The defending champion is Aldbourne Band.

Three bands in the First, Second and Third Sections, plus 2 bands in the Fourth Section will qualify for an invitation to compete at the York National Finals.

The Second Section takes place at Upton Vale Baptist Church on Saturday 14th March (12.30pm start), all other sections take place at the Riviera Centre (starting both days at 9.00am).

Recordings of all the performances on the weekend will be made by World of Brass and will be made available as soon as possible.

Championship Section:

Test Piece: Elgar Variations (Martin Ellerby)
Adjudicators: Leigh Baker; Alan Morrison
Sunday 15th March (following Third Section)

A W Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck)
Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)
Camborne (Dr Gareth Churcher)
Chalford (Steve Tubb)
City of Bristol Brass (Craig Roberts)
Filton Concert Brass (Michael Fowles)
Flowers (Paul Holland)
Lydbrook (David Barringer)
Michelmersh Silver (Kevin Smith)
St Dennis (Darren R Hawken)
Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
Woodfalls (Russell Gray)

First Section:


Test Piece: Variations on 'Was Lebet' (Andrew Wainwright)
Adjudicators: Anne Crookston; Leigh Baker
Saturday 14th March following Fourth Section

Andover Town (Ben Halstead)
Bodmin Town (Simon Badge)
Bournemouth Concert Brass (Lloyd Bartlett)
Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
Forest of Dean Brass (Martyn Patterson)
Glastonbury Brass (Liam Grunsell)
Gosport Solent Brass (Phillip Littlemore)
Helston Town (Andrew Berryman)
Hyde (Kyle Blake)
Lympstone (Chris Spreadbury)
Nailsworth Silver (Anri Adachi)
Plymouth City Brass (David Ponsford)
Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett)
Roche Brass (Matt Green)
Sherborne Town (David Shead)
Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
St Austell Town (Steve Sykes)

Second Section:

Test Piece: 20,000 Leagues under the Sea (Philip Harper)
Adjudicators: Stephanie Binns; Alan Morrison
Upton Vale Baptist Church
Saturday 14th March

Bratton Silver (Colin Hogg)
Camborne Brass (Alan Pope BEM)
Cinderford (Steve Kane)
Denmead Brass (Estelle Flood)
Hatherleigh Silver (Ed Keeley)
Lanner & District Silver (Stuart Chappell)
Lydney Town (Dr Thomas Dunne)
Mount Charles (Jeremy Taylor)
Ocean Brass (Chris Davis)
Poole Borough (Andrew Elliott)
Shrewton Silver (Emily Wilson)
St Keverne (Karl Long)
Verwood Town (Kevin Smith)
Weston Brass (Stephen Sykes)
Wotton under Edge & District (Jim Bennett)
Wroughton Silver (Neil Webb)

Third Section:

Three Haworth Impressions (Gordon Langford)
Adjudicators: Michael Alcorn; Stephanie Binns
Sunday 15th March

Bideford Town (Mark Durham)
Bream Silver (Hugh Bamford)
Brunel Brass Academy (Daniel Hall)
Cheltenham Silver (Neil Brownless)
City of Bath Brass (Jason Andrews)
Crewkerne Silver (Paul Denegri)
Downton (Lloyd Bartlett)
Exeter Railway (Ben Elliott)
Illogan Sparnon Silver (Shaun Marsden)
Midsomer Norton & Radstock Silver (Harry Chambers)
New Forest Brass (Ian Luxford)
Redruth Town (Mark Wilson)
Saltash Town (Joshua Green)
Shanklin Town Brass (IOW) (Ashley Wicks)
St Pinnock (Helen Varley)
St Stythians (James Burns)
Swindon Brass (Steve Yorke)

Fourth Section:

Test Piece: Indian Summer (Eric Ball)
Adjudicators: Michael Alcorn; Alan Duguid
Saturday 14th March:

Bugle Silver (Aaron Harvey)
Chalford Academy (Steve Tubb)
Cheltenham Silver Academy (Colin Forster)
Indian Queens (George J Barnes-Collier)
Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Paul Pennicotte-Henri)
Pendennis Brass (Harry Weir)
Pillowell Silver (Ian Whitburn)
Plymouth City Brass Academy (Paul Norley)
Shaftesbury Town Silver (Martin Hill)
South Molton Town (Chris Willis MBE)
Test Valley Brass (Edward March)
Tewkesbury Town (Will Norman)
Weymouth Concert Brass (David Ansell)

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    


Paul Holland

Holland takes temporary lead at Elgar International Brass Band Summer School

July 17 • Flowers MD, Paul Holland will take the main reins at the 2027 Summer School as Philip Harper takes a temporary break for NYBBGB duties.


Dobcross Training

Dobcross Youth Training Band grab attention at Symphony Hall

July 17 • The young players of Dobcross Youth Training Band recently wowed the audience and music mentors at Symphony Hall in Birmingham


Tonga

Tongan celebration of music, culture and friendship

July 17 • The Music for Peace Festival in Tonga has been a demonstration of the growing strength of brass banding in the Kingdom.


Filton

Filton not at all Brassed Off

July 17 • An inventive collaboration has seen Filton Concert Brass take to the boards for a special sold out run of the Brassed Off play.


Regent Brass - Brass on the Grass

Wednesday 22 July • The College Garden, Westminster Abbey, Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA


Sherborne Town Band - Free Music in the park

Sunday 26 July • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Sherborne Town Band - Free Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park

Sunday 9 August • Summer Concert- Trowbridge Park BA14 8AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Cross Bones Trombone Quintet

Friday 21 August • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Sherborne Town Band - Free-Music in the park

Sunday 23 August • Sherborne, Dorset-Pageant Gardens DT9 3NP


Tintwistle Band

July 16 • We have a vacancy for soprano cornet, and with lots of exciting engagements coming up would love to get this seat filled! As a second section band,we rehearse every Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our bandroom in Tintwistle under the baton of MD Jim Henson.


City of Norwich Brass

July 16 • City of Norwich Brass seeks Front & Back Row Cornets, Solo Euphonium and EEb/BBb Basses. Join a friendly, ambitious band with a varied programme of concerts, contests and community performances. Rehearsals in Hethersett, Norwich.


Chinnor Silver

July 14 • Our COMMUNITY BAND are meeting again on MONDAY 20th at 11 am in our bandroom.. We would welcome players of all ages and abilities to join us for a friendly relaxed rehearsal.. Of course there is tea and cake !!!. And you can even choose a piece to play


Nicholas B. Hudson

FTCL LGSMD (Hons)
Musician | Trombonist | Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd