With the dust barely settled on the various Area championships around the country, Dukinfield Town Hall once again host the popular Tameside Open Championships on Sunday 27th March.

Healthy field

It is the 15th occasion that the vent has been run and with the help of the local Tameside Metropolitan Council one of the most important regional events has been able to carry on attracting a healthy field of contenders thanks to the promise of a generous pot of prize money, worth £4,600.

The event marks the start of the 2011 competition calendar and comes ahead of the Whit Friday contests on June 17th.

Proud

Councillor John Sullivan, assistant executive member for music, culture, performing arts and town-twinning development, told 4BR:

"I’m very proud of the brass band tradition that flourishes in the borough. The banding movement has long been associated with the cultural development of working people and their communities here in Tameside, and I am delighted that so many bands are returning to take part."

30 bands

Around 30 bands are expected to take part, with the promise of a number flexing their muscles after their good returns at the regional contests against bands from other areas on their own choice selections.

The first band, in the Fourth Section will take to the stage at 10.00am with music continuing throughout the day until early evening.

Around 30 bands are expected to take part, with the promise of a number flexing their muscles after their good returns at the regional contests against bands from other areas on their own choice selections4BR

Cross border interest

There is sure to be a great deal of interest in the as Championship Section as recently crowned Yorkshire First Section Champion Hammonds Saltaire makes the trip over the M62 to battle against four strong North West challengers.

Mix and match

In the Second Section it’s a mix and match domestic battle with North West Third Section champion, Hoover (Bolton) testing their strength against a competitive batch of Second AND Third Section rivals.

Challenge from the East

There is a champion challenge from the East in the Third Section, as York Railway Institute tests its credentials against the strong mix of Third and Fourth Section North West bands.

Strong contenders

Finally, in the Fourth Section there is a battle to enjoy between two of the regions strongest bands, as Cheltenham qualifiers Boarshurst Silver and Golborne lock horns once again against a field that welcomes two competitors that didn’t take part in the Regionals in Deeside Silver and St John’s (Mossley)

This year’s two adjudicators have been announced as Mike Kilroy and Paul Andrews.

Tickets for the championships will be on sale on the door, priced at £5 for adults and £4 for concessions.

Championship Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews

Draw: 3.30pm
Start: 4.00pm
Own Choice Selection:

Prizes:
1st: £550
2nd: £350
3rd: £250

Ashton Under Lyne (Martyn Evans)
Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Poulton Le Fylde (Gareth Westwood)
Wardle Anderson Brass (Sean Conway)

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews

Draw: 1.00pm
Start: 2.00pm
Own Choice Selection:

Prizes:
1st: £550
2nd: £350
3rd: £250

1. Dobcross Silver (Grenville Moore)
2. Greenalls (Karl Stott)
3. Hoover (Bolton) (Trevor Halliwell)
4. Middleton (Matt Stringer)
5. Mossley (Duncan Byers)
6. Old Hall (John North)
7. Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
8. Uppermill (Alan Widdop)

Third Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

Draw: 11.15am
Start: 12.15pm
Own Choice Selection:

Prizes:
1st: £550
2nd: £350
3rd: £250

1. Coppull & Standish (Graham Martin)
2. Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
3. Eagley (Neil Parkinson)
4. Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley)
5. Trinity Girls (Stuart Barton)
6. Yorks Railway Institute (Gordon Eddison)

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

Draw: 9.00am
Start: 10.00pm
Own Choice Selection:

Prizes:
1st: £550
2nd: £350
3rd: £250

1. Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth)
2. Deeside Silver (Christopher Barnes)
3. Denton Brass (Colin Myers)
4. Golborne (Jason Smith)
5. Nelson (Steve Brodie)
6. Parr St Helens (John Ludden)
7. St Johns (Mossley) (Stephen Corbett)