With the damaging registry furore now a distant memory, the North West Regional Championships will see 77 bands (up 1) taking to the various stages at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday 9th March.
Leyland hat trick
In the top section, Leyland will be looking to claim their first ever hat trick of Area titles, with Foden’s looking to return to the winners enclosure for a record nineteenth time and Fairey hoping to claim their first Blackpool success since 2001.
With just two qualification places up for grabs for the first time since 2007 there is a great deal to play for as the likes of Grand Shield winners Milnrow look to return once more to the Albert Hall after last year’s qualification success.
Strength in depth
Despite the well recognised strength in depth in competitive quality in the lower sections, the North West came away with just two podium finishes in Cheltenham last year, although hopes should be higher this year after the fine start of many of regions bands at the Butlins Mineworkers Championship in Skegness.
With just two qualification places up for grabs for the first time since 2007 there is a great deal to play for4BR
Championship Section:
Opera House
Draw 1.45pm
Commence after Fourth Section results
Adjudicators: Jim Davies & Barry Thompson
Blackburn & Darwen (Nick Sheppard)
Bollington Brass (Peter Christian)
Co-operative Funeralcare North West (Jef Sparkes)
Fairey (Garry Cutt)
Foden’s (Allan Withington)
Freckleton (Paul Dalton)
Leyland (Michael Bach)
Milnrow (Mareika Gray)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Stig Maersk)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle)
Wardle Anderson Brass (Steven Walsh)
Wingates (Paul Andrews)
First Section:
Pavilion Theatre
Draw 1.15pm
Commence after Second Section results
Adjudicators: Simon Kerwin & Richard Marshall
Ashton-Under-Lyne (Phil Chalk)
Crewe Brass (Jamie Meredith)
Diggle (Johnathan Evans)
Flixton (Stephen Curtis)
Haslingden & Helmshore (David Holland)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Hoover Bolton (Trevor Halliwell)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Morecambe (Andrew Warriner)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Poulton-Le-Fylde (John Wood)
Roberts Bakery (Simon Stonehouse)
Uppermill (Alan Widdop)
Vernon Building Society Poynton (Neil Samuel)
Whitworth Vale & Healey (John Binns)
Second Section:
Pavilion Theatre
Split Draw 8.30am & 10.30am
Commence 9.30am
Adjudicators: Allan Holdsworth & Alan Morrison
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Besses o’th’Barn (Alan Wycherley)
Cheshire Constabulary (David Woollam)
Delph (Philip Goodwin)
Dobcross Silver (Tim Sidwell)
Eccles Borough (Andrew White)
Eccleston Brass (Daniel Brooks)
Farnworth & Walkden (Peter Ashley)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Manx Concert Brass (Ian Clague MBE)
Marple (Les Webb)
Middleton (Martyn Evans)
Mossley (Duncan Byers)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW “B” (Peter Ashley)
Silk Brass (David Holling)
Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
Third Section:
Empress Ballroom
Split Draw 10.00am & 12.15pm
Commence 11.00am
Adjudicators: Stephen Brodie & John Roberts
Backpool Brass (Tariq Ahmed)
BMP Europe Goodshaw (Mike Cotter)
Boarshurst Silver (David Ashworth)
City of Chester (Malcolm Peach)
Coppull & Stanish (Matt Stringer)
Darwen Brass (Steve Hartley)
Douglas Town (Robert Mitchell)
Eagley (Matthew Ryan)
Golborne (Matt Whitfield)
Greenalls (Phil Boardman)
Hawk Green (Marple) (Neil Hewson)
Littleborough (Adrian Woodhead)
Lostock Hall Memorial (Brian Harper)
Nelson Brass (Roy Waite)
Old Hall Brass (John North)
Parr (St. Helens) (John Ludden)
Ramsey Town (Robert Quane)
Trinity Girls (TBA)
Fourth Section:
Opera House
Split Draw 9.00am & 11.00am
Commence 10.00am
Adjudicators: Gordon Higginbottom & Brian Rostron
Blackley (Daniel Price)
Cadishead Public (Craig McFarland)
Denton Brass (Marcus Jones)
Dobcross Youth (Jon Parkes)
Formby (Louise Hough)
Greenfield (Tom Haslam)
Hesketh Bank Silver (Alastair Burrows)
Mereside Brass (Mike Phenton)
Pilling Jubilee Silver (Len Charnock)
Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
Sale Brass (Grenville Moore)
Skelmersdale Prize (David Chapman)
Stacksteads (Fred Bowker)
Tarleton Brass (Gillian Bould)
Valley Brass (Haydock) (David Chadwick)
Whaley Bridge (Matt Shaw)
