Area Countdown - 2 days to go

Some pretty famous names in the banding world have come away from the Winter Gardens as victors over the years.

The best around

Ever since the championship was started in 1945, it has attracted the best around, although some of these bands and conductors won't be making another appearance in the limelight.

Fodens lead

Top Section winners are currently led by Fodens with 15 wins to their name.

Some of the conductors who have led them to victory include, Fred Mortimer, Harry Mortimer, Howard Snell, Nicholas Childs, Russell Gray and Garry Cutt.

David King

At the other end of the scale there has been one victory for Kennedy Swinton Concert in 1987, conducted by...David King.

No more

A few bands won't be returning to add to their victory laurels however.

Barrow Shipyard won in 1946 conducted by Herbert Sutcliffe, whilst Cammell Laird took the title in 1964, 1965 and 1970, conducted twice by James Scott and once by Rex Mortimer.

CWS (Manchester) have 14 titles - the last in 1976 under Derek Garside, whilst Fairey have 13 (the last under James Gourlay in 2001).

Leyland have 8, the last in 2005, Wingates, 6 (the last in 1995 under John Hudson) and Besses have 3 - the last in 1981 under Roy Newsome.

Conducting wins

Some conductors who have tasted success here include, Eric Ball (1952), Harold Moss (1945), Jack Ekersley (1948), Leonard Lamb (1959, 1963) and Walter Hargreaves (1978, 1980), whilst one of the judges here this year, Malcolm Brownbill, led Wingates to success in 1977.

Others

Other bands who have come in the top 3 frame, but will never return are Mirrlees Works, Edge Hill British Rail, Marple, Clayton Aniline, Rochdale, Hoggarths, Horwich, Prescott Cables, Greenway Moor and British Telecom.

Even two Welsh bands have even got in on the act too - Point of Ayr and Rhyl both notched up a third place finish.

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