With just a few weeks to go to the Sir Allan Stanfordeque winner takes all showdown at The Sage, there was big money to won at both ends of the globe on the weekend.

Seaside pounds and dollars

The big British payouts were to be found at Prestatyn and the Pontins Championships, where wins for Uppermill in the Fourth Section and Haslingden & Helmshore in the Second, pushed the bands into the top 10 money earners for the year – a fantastic achievment.

Not far behind

Not far behind them after a fine Pontins experience comes Bactiguard Wire Brass in joint 13th place after picking up £1,300 as runner up in the Championship Section, with Oldham (Lees) just a couple of places further back in 15th after their win in the Third Section.

Rainford come in at 18th and Point of Ayr at 20th – ahead of some pretty famous banding names.

Just under the mark

Pontins winners Sovereign are now one of a clutch of bands just below the £3,000 mark after their top section victory gave them a payout of £2,500, whilst others close to making a late entry are the likes of Skelmanthorpe and Lostock Hall, both winning £2,900 so far this year in prize money.

At the same times the bands were wrapping up warm against the cold in North Wales some of the best Australian and New Zealand bands were battling it out at the Australian Open – in much warmer weather4BR

Down under

At the same times the bands were wrapping up warm against the cold in North Wales some of the best Australian and New Zealand bands were battling it out at the Australian Open – in much warmer weather.

Woolston Brass won both sections of the two legged contest, picking up $10,000, which at immediate conversion prices was worth just on £4,110.

More to come

There are still plenty of opportunities to come for bands to make a final burst into the £3,000+club with SIDDIS, Treorchy and the Scottish Open still to come. The really big dosh though will be on hand at The Sage.

If you think your band has won more than these top 20 rivals then let us know...

Current Table:

1. Grimethorpe Colliery — £12,350
(Yorkshire Regional — £100; European Championship — £6,250; English National — £4,000; British Open — £2,000)

2. Fodens — £11,100
(North West Regional — £200; Masters — £250; Whit Friday — £6,150; British Open – £3,000; National Finals — £1,500)

3. Desford Colliery — £10,200
(Butlins — £6,000; Midlands Regional — £200; Masters £4,000)

4. Cory — £9,997
(Welsh Regional — £75; European Championship — £7,422; British Open — £1,500; National Finals — £1,000)

5. Brighouse & Rastrick — £9,150
(English National — £2000; Whit Friday — £7,150)

6. Tredegar — £7,230
(Miners Eisteddfod — £2,000; Welsh Regional – £200; Masters — £2,000; SEWBBA — £230; Grand Shield — £400; Welsh Eisteddfod — £900; Wychavon — £1,500)

7. Black Dyke — £5,600
(Yorkshire Regional — £200; English National — £3,000; British Open — £400; National Finals — £2,000)

8. Haslingden & Helmshore — £4,800
(Butlins — £1,500; Guild Hall — £300; North West Regional — £100; Tameside Open — £300; Whit Friday — £300; Buxton — £500; Pontins — £1,800)

9. Uppermill — £4,145
(Buxton — £400; North West Regional — £200; Whit Friday — £445; Holmfirth — £200; Marsden — £150; Hebden Bridge — £200; National Finals — £750; Pontins — £1,800)

10. Woolston Brass — £4,110
(FABB Austraiasian Open — £4,110)

11. Fairey — £4,075
(North West Regional — £75; Whit Friday — £4,075)

12. Rothwell Temperance — £3,925
(Whit Friday — £3,925)

13= Bactiguard Wire Brass — £3,900
(Butlins — £1,000; Fleetwood — £400; St Helens — £800; Senior Cup — £400; Pontins — £1,300)

13= Whitburn — £3,900
(Scottish Regional — £200; Brass in the Park — £500; Land O’ Burns — £2,500; West Lothian — £700)

15. Oldham (Lees) — £3,715
(Guild Hall — £700; North West Regional — £200; Tameside Open — £600; Whit Friday — £415; Pontins — £1,800)

16. Eikanger Bjorsvik — £3,705
(Norwegian National — £3,705)

17. Marsden (Ossett Brewery) — £3,700
(Morley Hymn — £500; Brighouse March — £500; Easingwold — £500; Whit Friday £1,900; Senior Trophy — £300)

18. Rainford — £3,525
(Guild Hall — £700; St Helens — £1,500; Whit Friday — £325; Pontins — £1,000)

19. Leyland — £3,458
(North West Regional — £100; Whit Friday — £1,200; Grand Shield — £800; Grenland Festival — £358; British Open — £1,000)

20. Point of Ayr – £3,300
(Welsh Regional — £200; Tameside Open — £600; St Helens — £800; National Finals — £1,000; Pontins — £700)

21. Wingates — £3,000
(Butlins — £2,500; Whit Friday — £500)