With the European and Spring Festival out of the way there has been a great deal of movement on the old 4BR Money List.

Exhausting

It has been an exhausting few weeks once again for bands, MD’s and 4BR, as the 2009 contesting season has moved its bandwagon from New Zealand and Australia via Belgium, USA, Ireland, Scotland, Buxton and Blackpool…

Big money

Strangely, only the European Championships paid out bigger money than a Labour MP's second mortgage, although there was decent dosh on offer at Buxton and Blackpool.

Number 1

As a result there has been some movement in the 4BR Money List with Cory, the number 1 ranked band in the world, now the number one money maker too (although 7,000 Euro of their total 9,500 Euro prize for winning in Ostend came in the form of a Besson Euphonium, which given they play on York instruments, was a bit of a bummer).

Strangely, only the European Championships paid out bigger money than a Labour MP's second mortgage, although there was decent dosh on offer at Buxton and Blackpool4BR

Close behind

Close behind now come Eikanger from Norway following their 3rd place in Ostend with Redbridge still holding onto 3rd spot despite coming well out of the prizes at the Grand Shield.

Treize Etoile make it into the top five after their runners up spot in the Kursaal, with B Section European winners, 3ba Brass coming in 6th after their win there.

Riches?

Success doesn’t always bring riches it seems as Rothwell, one of the top form bands of the season so far have only bagged £1,000 in prize money for taking the Yorkshire and Grand Shield titles. Doesn’t seem fair does it now…

Next big money payout

The next raft of big money contest will be the All England Masters and the English Nationals – and the lottery bonanza that is the Whit Friday booze and bands outing.

If you think we have missed anyone out in the Money List, please let us know.

1. Cory — £8,703
(Welsh Area — £200; European Championship — £8,503)

2. Eikanger Bjorsvik — £7,714
(Norwegian Nationals — £5,029; European Championship — £2,685)

3. Redbridge — £7,200
(Butlins Mineworkers — £7,000; L&SC Areas — £200)

4. Brass Band Treize Etoile — £7,160
(European Championship — £7,160)

5. Hepworth (Cookson Homes) — £3,100
(Butlins Mineworkers — £3,000; Yorkshire Area — £100)

6. 3ba Brass — £2,685
(European Championship — £2,685)

7. Desford — £2,200
(Butlins Mineworkers — £2,000; Midlands Area — £200)

8. Tertnes Brass — £2,112
(Norwegian Nationals — £2,112)

9. Flowers — £2,100
(Yeovil — £2,000; West of England Area — £100)

10. Youth Brass 2000 — £1,950
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,000; Action Research — £950)

11. Tredegar — £1,900
(Yeovil — £1,000; Welsh Open — £500; Welsh Area — £100; Grand Shield — £300)

12=Brass Band Rijnmond — £1,790
(European Championship — £1,790)

12=Brass Band Wipptal — £1,790
(European Championship — £1,790)

14= BTM — £1,700
(Yeovil — £700; Welsh Open — £1,000)

14= Eccles Borough — £1,700
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,500; N/W Area — £200)

14= East London Brass — £1,700
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,500; L&SC Area- £200)

17= Blackburn & Darwen — £1,600
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,500; N/W Area — £100)

17= Virtuosi GUS — £1,600
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,000; Grand Shield — £600)

19. Shirebrook MW Unison — £1,575
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,500; Midlands Area — £75)

20. Grimethorpe Colliery — £1,417
(Yorkshire Area — £75; European Championship — £1,342)

21. Kleppe Musikklag — £1,408
(Norwegian Nationals — £1,408)

22. Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) — £1,100
(Butlins Mineworkers — £900; Buxton — £200)

23. Oldham Band (Lees) — £1,050
(Guild Hall — £300; N/W Area — £200; Tameside — £550)

24. Rothwell Temperance – £1,000
(Yorkshire Area- £200; Grand Shield — £800 )

25. Wingates — £1,000
(Butlins Mineworkers — £1,000)