*15/03/10*

The band performed well at the Northwest Regional Championships yesterday in Blackpool. The mid-table finish (9th) was not enough to secure promotion, but leaves Flixton well-placed in the grading table for next year's contest. Our congratulations to the winners and runners-up, Diggle and Rainford respectively, who will go on to represent the Northwest at this year's National Championships.

The band would particularly like to thank the registered deps and new players who stepped in to fill vacant positions or switched instruments to cover the parts.

Just a note for regular attenders that the Northwest Championships will be moving next year from their traditional 'second Sunday in March' to a new slot on the last Sunday in February. Now's a good time to put this in your diaries!

*23/02/10*

Musical Chairs! With the Areas only a couple of weeks away the positions have been finalised to cover all the parts.

Cornets. Congratulations to Ed Hill who has landed a position as MD with the BMP Europe Goodshaw band for the contest. He and his wife Nicola have moved on after a few years with Flixton and we wish them all the best. We welcome David Maplestone (formerly of Grimethorpe) onto soprano cornet. Long-standing member Tom Hylgaard returns to contesting to fill our front row vacancy, and we welcome a new face to the back row with Emily McDaid joining Flixton on 3rd cornet.

Horns. With Nicola Hill's departure Andy Vail returns to 2nd horn and Hannah Myers completes the line-up on 1st horn.

Euphonium. We welcome back Andy Tyson to the solo euphonium chair. Mike Rowley has moved to explore the depths of BBb bass.

Basses. Alongside Mike on BBb we welcome back Andy Myers. Scott LLoyd, formerly of Wrexham Brass, joins us to play Eb alongside Paul Goddard. Paul is a former principal cornet with Flixton who must hold some sort of record for the most different parts played since first joining in 1969.

Percussion. Regular percussionist Ian Baguley is joined by Dave Insua Cao and Mike Gilborne to complete the team.