Ireland Colliery Chesterfield is still celebrating after claiming a fourth consecutive appearance at the National Finals in Cheltenham.

Second Section

After reaching the Fourth Section Final in 2011 and 2012 and Third last year, the band will look to claim the Second Section crown following their fine runner-up result at the Midlands Regional contest in Bedworth on the weekend.

The band is also hoping to see whether or not they will be confirmed as gaining promotion to the First Section in 2015.

I’m so proud of the band and team around me. There are no super stars — just people who listen and work hard and achieve the results they deserveMD, Ian Knapton.

11 times

MD Ian Knapton told 4BR: "I’ve now led the band at 11 consecutive Area championships and the main core of the band has been the same for the majority of that time.

When I first started I had one aim and that was to get the band back into the First Section — and with this year’s result it is looking like we are going to do just that.

I’m so proud of the band and team around me. There are no super stars — just people who listen and work hard and achieve the results they deserve."

The band is now planning to start fund raising to get the £5,000 or so it takes to get to Cheltenham once again.