The Northern Open Brass Band Championships, sponsored by R. Banks & Son, are due to take place at the Theatre Royal in St Helen’s on November 20th – and have attracted a fine line up of 37 bands.

Waiting list

The welcome increase in interest means that interested bands can be placed on a waiting list.

Those wishing to be placed on the list should contact Frank Hodges on: 01942 703217

Plenty of attractions

With a generous prize fund on offer there is plenty of good music making to be found on show.

The top section is likely to see a fair old scrap between seven well matched bands – including Longridge last year’s runner up and recent fourth placed finisher at the Cheltenham National Finals up against the in form Oldham (Lees) Band who won last weekend’s Fleetwood contest amongst others.

First post National appearance

Flixton will be looking to go one better than last year, when they came runner up, as they head an eight band field on the Second Section, whilst the draw card in the Third Section will surely be the first appearance of recently crowned National Champions, City of Bradford.

There is a healthy 11 band field in the Fourth Section too, headed by last year’s winners and runners-up, Parr and Fairfield (Buxton).

The adjudicators are Ian Brownbill and Paul Andrews.

It all kicks off at 9.00am.

the draw card in the Third Section will surely be the first appearance of recently crowned National Champions, City of Bradford4BR

Competing Bands:

Championship/First Section:
Ashton under Lyne (Martyn Evans)
Drighlington (Jim Davies)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Northop Silver (Thomas Wyss)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Shepherd Group Brass (Richard Wilton)
Wardle Anderson Brass (Sean Conway)

Second Section:
Dobcross Silver (Kenny Pain)
Flixton (Steve Curtis)
Haslingden & Helmshore (David Holland)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell)
Knottingley Silver (Dr Owen Wedgwood)
Lindley (Neil Jowett)
Middleton (Carl Whiteoak)
South Milford Brass (Martin Hall)

Third Section:
City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
Crofton Silver (Tim Sidwell)
Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley)
Hawk Green (Neil Hewson)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Holywell (David Roberts)
Nelson Brass (Steven Brodie)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW B (Peter Ashley)
Skelmanthorpe B (Phil Garlick)
Trinity Girls Brass (Stuart Barton)

Fourth Section:
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Blackley (Adrian Smith)
City of Chester (Philip Mottershead)
Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
Dobcross Youth (James Garlick)
Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles Kitchen)
Golborne (Jason Smith)
Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
Lees (John Collins)
Parr Band (John Ludden)
Wirral Brass (Peter Smith)