The Co-operative Funeralcare Band North West Band is still celebrating its best ever result at the North West Regional Contest in Blackpool on the weekend.

Dark horses

Tipped as ‘dark horses’ for the Championship Section by 4BR, the Crewe band romped to a remarkable podium finish behind the top two heavily backed favourites of Fairey and Foden’s.

Our year

MD Jef Sparkes told 4BR: "St Magnus was an extremely difficult test, but we worked very hard as a team to achieve this result.

Lots of us felt this could be our year and that we could produce a very good performance on the day — and we did."

St Magnus was an extremely difficult test, but we worked very hard as a team to achieve this resultMD Jef Sparkes

Proud

Jef continued: "I’m very proud of everyone involved in the band. This is a great result, and we will savour the moment.

Everyone knows that these results are very special indeed, especially in such a strong area as the North West."