3 prizes at Kirkby Lonsdale...[more]

Regionals result secures promotion for Flixton...[more]

Quadruple Victory marked by Pontins...[more]



May 07: The band returns to Buxton to take top honours...[more]



Pictured above : 2nd Baritone Player Dave Mitten collects the tropy




Pictured above is the band librarian Alison Rowley collecting the trophy "NWCBBA 2nd Section Champions 2006" at Fleetwood 2006


Contesting is an important part of the Brass Banding calendar. Bands are ranked in Championship, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sections. The most important contest of the year is the National Regional Championships (or "the Areas" as they are often known). For the regionals bands all over the country work hard for weeks (and often months) on a set piece of music. It is from this contest that the rankings of the band are calculated. Bands work hard to get those top few places that qualify for the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.

Throughout the year many other contests are held. Some of them are set test piece contests like the regionals and others you can choose your own test piece. At some contests bands play a concert-like program, these are known as entertainments contests, and at others, hymns or marches can be used. The Whit Fridays is a famous march contest where the villages of Saddleworth and Oldham host their own mini contests all in one evening. Bands travel around as many villages as possible!

Flixton Band has had much success over the last 15 years on the contesting scene working it's way from the 4th to the 1st section. The band competes in the North West Region and is currently ranked in the 3rd section of the National Brass Band Championships. For all local contests (contests that run under NW area rules) the band competes in the Second Section.

The Contest Reports archive features provisional information, contest results and adjudicators remarks. The first contest to be featured is Fleetwood 2003.