4BR has been informed by the British Federation of Brass Bands that 16 bands have accepted the invitation to compete at the English National Brass Band Championships in Preston on June 26th.

Invitations

Invitations were issued to the six 2009 regional winners plus the top 10 ranked bands as at April 2009. In accordance with BFBB contest rules if a regional winner declined the invitation their place was offered to the band that came second at the Area contest.

Area winners

Area winners Redbridge and EYMS declined their invitation, and were replaced by Zone One Brass and Reg Vardy respectively, whilst Newstead Brass were unable to accept their invitation after Midlands champion Desford decided not to take up their winners slot.

Grimethorpe Colliery also declined their invitation to compete at the contest.

at the time of the April 2009 rankings, Mount Charles from the West of England were ranked 24th, five places above the North West outfit in the World of Brass/4BR Rankings4BR

Higher ranked

However, 4BR understands that the inclusion of Pemberton Old Wigan DW has raised a few eyebrows, after it was confirmed that at the time of the April 2009 rankings, Mount Charles from the West of England were ranked 24th, five places above the North West outfit in the World of Brass/4BR Rankings.

A spokesperson for Mount Charles told 4BR that the band had not received an invitation to compete at the contest and would be keen to find out why they had been possibly overlooked.

Competing bands

Black Dyke
Brighouse & Rastrick
Camborne
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
Fairey (Geneva) Band
Flowers
Foden’s
Hammonds Saltaire
Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
Leyland
Pemberton Old Wigan DW
Reg Vardy
Rothwell Temperance
Virtuosi GUS
Wingates
Zone One Brass