*
banner

Bands ready for Northern Open

There is a healthy turn out of bands ready to round off their season with one last bit of contesting rivalry in St Helens.

 

As previously reported on 4BR there is a healthy turn out of bands for the Northern Open Championships, which are due to take place on Sunday 20th November at St. Helens Theatre Royal.

Popular

The popular event is sponsored by R. Banks & Son (Funerals Ltd), whose proprietor, Brian Halliwell has been a generous supporter of grass roots banding in the North West for many years.

It all kicks off at 9.00am, with tickets reasonably priced at £6.00 and £4.00 for concessions.

Championship/First Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Brownbill
Draw: 4.00pm
Start: 5.00pm

Drighlington (Jim Davies)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Shepherd Group Brass (Richard Wilton)

Second Section:
Adjudicator: Ian Brownbill
Draw: 1.45pm
Start: 2.45pm

Dobcross Silver (Kenny Pain)
Flixton (Steve Curtis)
Haslingden & Helmshore (David Holland)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell)
Middleton (Carl Whiteoak)
Morcambe (Andrew Warriner)
South Milford Brass (Martin Hall)


Third Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews
Draw: 10.45am
Start: 11.45pm

City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
Farnworth & Walkden ( Peter Ashley)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Holywell (David Roberts)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW ‘B’ (Peter Ashley)
Skelmanthorpe ‘B’ (Phil Garlic)
Skelmersdale Prize (David Chapman)
Trinity Girls (Stuart Barton)

Fourth Section:
Adjudicator: Paul Andrews
Pre Draw:
Start: 9.00am

Besses Boys (James Holt)
Blackley (Dan Price)
City of Chester Brass (Philip Mottershead)
Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
Dobcross Youth (James Garlick)
Fairfield (Buxton) (Charles W. Kitchen)
Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
Keele University Brass (John Watson)
Lees (John Collins)
Parr Band St Helens (John Ludden)
Port Sunlight Lyceum Brass (Cyril H .Dare)
Wirral Brass (Peter Smith)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Gray

Tributes for Gray as conductor announces Eccles departure

March 31 • Thanks and best wishes as 16 year partnership between Mareika Gray and Eccles Borough comes to an end.


Brass Band Week

Banding campaigns return this summer

March 31 • Brass Band Week and Proms in the Park return this Summer — so make sure you reach out and connect with your local communities.


gALASHILS

Report & Results: 2026 SBBA Solo & Ensemble Championships

March 31 • There was a fantastic day of competitive solo and ensemble action to enjoy at Bellshill Salvation Army Centre.


BBW

March Edition of Brass Band World magazine out now

March 31 • The latest edition of the leading brass band magazine is now out — packed with interviews, articles, reviews and news...


The Hepworth Band - Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday 18 April • Huddersfield Town Hall HD1 2TA


Regent Brass - Woodbridge Excelsior Band and Russell Gray

Saturday 9 May • The Salvation Army (Regent Hall), Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ


Contest: Whit Friday March Contests

Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3


The Hepworth Band - Brassband Burgermusik Luzern

Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD


Regent Brass - Living Lines

Sunday 5 July • St Saviour's, Pimlico, St.George's Square, Pimlico, London SW1V 3QW


Thornton Cleveleys Band

March 31 • MD VACANCY. Are you the missing piece to our FULL BAND?. We are a NW 3rd section band looking for our new MD. We are based just outside of Blackpool close to the M55 motorway. Mon+Thurs rehearsals.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 29 • BBb BASS player required following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


St John's Band (Mossley)

March 29 • SOLO CORNET players required (position negotiable) following our 4th place at the North West regionals. We are a friendly, welcoming 4th section band based in Tameside, Greater Manchester and we rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Mossley.


Michael Bennett

BSc, RNCM (Perf)
Performer, Composer, Arranger, Teacher


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd