*
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    


Thonrotn and Raisbeck

Iles and Mortimer Medal honours for Thornton and Raisbeck

February 14 • David Thornton and Ian Raisbeck are the recipients of the 2026 Iles Medal and Mortimer Medal.


RBC

Brass Band Day at RBC

February 13 • Spend Valentine's Day exploring your love of brass at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire — alongside Thomas Fountain, Ian Porthouse, Eric Ball and Gordon Langford.


rncm

BBC Radio 3 to feature RNCM Festival highlights

February 13 • Performances from Black Dyke, Foden's and Cory are to be featured on BBC Radio 3.


Durham Miners

Fishburn offer musical solidarity for Big Meeting

February 13 • RMT Fishburn Band will support the fund raising efforts of the famous Durham Miners Gala.


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 1 March • St. Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street. London SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 7 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Hall Band of the Salvation Army

Tuesday 10 March • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Cambrian Brass

February 11 • We are an inclusive and hard-working brass band seeking a Percussionist on a project basis to join us for the Welsh Regional Brass Band Championships on Saturday 14 March. This is a great opportunity to perform as part of a focused and supportive team.


Cambrian Brass

February 11 • We are a friendly, inclusive and hard-working brass band, welcoming players of all ages and abilities. We are particularly keen to fill our Soprano Cornet, Flugelhorn and EEb Bass positions.


Thornton Cleveleys Band

February 10 • MD POSITION AVAILABLE AFTER NW AREA CONTEST.. A full and happy band awaits. Currently 3rd section. Confirmed entry to Fleetwood Contest. . Based in the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde area.


Ian Holmes

BA (hons), PGDip (RCM), ARCM, ALCM
Conductor, piano accompanist and educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd