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About the Rankings

Since the world rankings were first established on 4barsrest and then British Bandsman, they have become one of the biggest talking points in banding. So how do they work?

Naturally, they haven't been met with universal approval, but we are delighted with the overall response to them and that they are now considered the 'Official' World Rankings in many quarters, including with some high-profile contest organisers.

How it started

The system was initially developed using contest results between 1994 and 2001, with the major contests from 1990 being used as the reference point to help us establish an initial top 50, upon which subsequent rankings would be based. Without going into too much mathematical detail, at the heart of the system are the results of the following contests with the approximate current (May 2015) value of the prizes in brackets.

  • National Championships of Great Britain (500 for 1st, 333 for 2nd, 222 for 3rd down to around 0.25 for 20th)
  • British Open (450 for 1st, 300 for 2nd, 200 for 3rd down to around 0.7 for 17th)
  • European Championships (450 to around 5 for 12th)
  • All-England Masters International (60 to around 0.2 for 15th)
  • Brass in Concert (350 to around 6 for 11th)
  • Scottish Open (80 to around 0.3 for 16th)
  • Grand Shield (100 to around 0.05 for 20th)
  • Regionals (Championship section 1st prizes range between 12 and 120 depending on the relative strength of each area. Prizes awarded to all sections)
  • National Championships outside UK (Championship section 1st prizes range between 3 and 60 depending on the relative strength of each nation, prizes awarded to all sections)
  • Other contests reward up to 7 prizes ranging from 0.3 to around 20 points for the winners, again depending on the relative strength of the field.

Generally...

As a general rule, there is a relationship between the overall strength of the competing bands at any contest and the value of points available there. These are calculated as that event's proportion of the overall strength of the strongest contest, currently the National Final at the Royal Albert Hall. The points awarded always diminish through time with today's points being worth exactly double last year's, 4 times the year before last, 8 times the year before that etc…

It is a dynamic system and we admit that it may not be easy to understand the workings of it, but we hope that the inclusion of the World Rankings in 4barsrest.com enhances your enjoyment of the site and that it provides your band with encouragement and motivation to compete at as high a level as possible.

We look forward to continuing to receive your comments/criticism on the system, which will always attempt to answer, eventually.



Contest: North of England Regional Championships

Sunday 23 March • 1 Millennium Place, Durham DH1 1WA


The Hepworth Band - Glossop Band Club

Sunday 23 March • Glossop Band Club, Derby Street, Glossop SK13 8LP


Longridge Band - Longridge Youth Band Concert

Sunday 23 March • St. Lawrence's Church, Chapel Hill, Longridge PR3 2YD


Dobcross Silver Band - Ashton Band

Sunday 23 March • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards

Friday 28 March • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Ocean Brass

March 23 • Ocean Brass (2nd section) are seeking a new Musical Director, due to a change in personal circumstances of our previous MD. We rehearse on Thursdays 8-10pm, at Banister Park Bowls Club, Stoneham Lane, Southampton SO50 9HT.


Chinnor Silver

March 22 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meets on a Monday and would welcome players of all abilities to join us for a relaxed rehearsal with coffee and cake.Its just a chance for an extra blow that doesn't affect you affiliation to your existing bands.


Hebden Bridge Brass Band

March 21 • Hebden Bridge Band require the following to complete our line for 2025.. PRINCIPAL CORNET, BACKROW CORNET, TENOR TROMBONE & PERCUSSION. We have an exciting line up planned, including Buxton contest, Whit Friday and local concert series, plus a good local!


Kevin Wadsworth


Conductor, adjudicator, teacher (ABBA)


               

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