Introduction and preview:



Roy Roe is set to adjudicate the 3rd section regional championships in the North West. The band's will be performing "Entertainments" by Gilbert Vinter. The piece will certainly be a challenge for all the bands, featuring difficult solo's and extensive techincial areas, especially in the first and last movements.

The regional competition sees a number of bands come together to battle it out to represent the North West at the national finals in September. For many bands this is the only competition where they do meet due to the local grading system. In the NW all contests except the area are run under local rules. A band's local grading is worked out by their best 3 results at either Brass at the Guild (Preston) in Feburary, Tameside (April/May), Fleetwood (Oct) and St Helens in November. A number of bands in this contest are regular competitors in local contests. BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw), Eccleston and Wardle and District Anderson Brass compete in the 3rd section whilst Middleton, Rainford and Valley Brass and Flixton have secured enough success to compete in the 2nd section. This makes the regional competition very interesting as many of the band's only meet at this time of year.

The last 12 months have been a fantastic time for Flixton band. The band took 1st prize at Buxton (May) and Pontins (Nov) competing in the 3rd section and also 1st prize at at Wilkinsons St Helens (2nd Sc) and recently at Brass at the Guild (Preston) (2nd Sc) in Feburary. But, we are not the only band that has had a successful period:

BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw), under their conductor David Ashworth, met success at both the Wilkinsons St Helens Contest in October and the Butlins Mineworkers Contest in Janurary. The band competes in the 3rd section both nationally and locally where they took the 1st prize at Wilkinsons and the 2nd prize at Butlins

Eccleston have achieved some excellent results in the local contests achieving 1st place at both Brass at the Guild (Preston) and Fleetwood in the 3rd Section. The band also qualified for the national finals this time last year.

Middleton took honours at Tameside in May last year in the 3rd section. This saw promotion locally to the 2nd section from September.

Rainford, under Neil Sammuel, had a strong period in October last year taking 1st place at Fleetwood in the 2nd section and following this by 2nd place at Pontins in the 3rd section.

Valley Brass qualified for the 4th section national finals where they brought the title back home to the North West. This result has seen them promoted to the 3rd section for this year's regional competition.

Wardle and District Anderson Brass have taken home 3 trophies in the last 12 months - 2nd place in the 3rd section at Buxton (May) and 3rd place at Pontins (Oct). The band also competes in the local 3rd section competitions and achieved 2nd place at Tameside (May).

Whitworth Vale and Healey recently took the 2nd place trophy at Butlins, competing in the 3rd section.

Flixton band would like to offer all the bands competing next week the best of luck!!

Results and Retrospective



After battling through 3 inches of snow to rehearse in St Annes the band finally took the stage as band number 8. In a field of 15 the band secured qualification to the national finals with 2nd place. The performance went down well with the audience and the adjudicator, Roy Roe. In particular the 2nd movement, where Mr Roe stated "Nice Cornet sounds to open, Euph/Bari support well, music has good style, and rubato is used to good effect, (14) Some good sounds along here, good lead to TRANQUILLO, this is very well presented in all Sections. 4/4 lovely Sop and generally sounds are well balanced (40) fine style here, final section well controlled and tuneful close". The band came off stage feeling it wasn't the best performance we could have achieved but were pleased with the result and the invitation to the nationals. The band would like to congratulate Rainford Band and wish them success for the future. The national finals will be held in Harrogate in September where the band shall battle it out with representives of all regional qualifiers for the title of "National Champions of Great Britain". This is the first year since 1998 that the band has qualified and we look forward to the experience.

See Photogallery for images of the day

Full Results:

1. Rainford Silver, Neil Samuel, 11, 186
2. Flixton, Kevin Gibbs, 8, 185
3. Whitworth Vale and Healey, John Binns, 4, 184
4. Wardle and District Anderson Brass, S. Conway, 13, 182
5. Middleton, C. Whiteoak, 1, 180
6. City of Chester, P. Mottershead, 5, 179
7. Pemberton Old Wigan JJB B, Peter Ashley, 6, 178
8. Eccleston Brass, Ian Bateson, 9, 177
9. BMP Europe Ltd. Goodshaw, Dave Ashworth, 2, 176
10.Morecambe, C. Larder, 14, 175
11.Douglas Town, Gordon Higginbottom, 3, 174
12.Nelson Brass, John Roberts, 12, 173
13.Friezland, Lana Clough, 10, 172
14.Hazel Grove, Neil Bowden, 7, 171
15.Valley Brass (Haydock), Dave Chadwick, 15, 170

Eccles Borough - Withdrawn

Courtesy of www.4barsrest.com

16 band's entered, top 2 qualfy for national finals