Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, Fairey, Flowers and Tredegar have officially confirmed to 4BR that they will not be competing at this year's Brass in Concert Championship.

4BR was informed that Carlton Main told the Brass in Concert Management Team of their decision today (10th July)

Furthermore, they have all insisted that contrary to the recent press statement given by the Brass in Concert Management, their decisions were not made solely in response to the offer of draws in the second half of the contest to the Cory and Grimethorpe Colliery Bands.

Dismayed

They told 4BR: "We have been dismayed to read the recent press statement issued by the Brass in Contest Management Team, which is fundamentally at odds with the reasons given to them from the four bands for not wishing to take up our invitations to compete at the 2015 event.

We wish to make it perfectly clear that we fully support the manner in which Grimethorpe Colliery and Cory Bands made the BiC Management Team aware of their concert promotion situation — one that was communicated to them well before the date at which initial invitations to the 2015 BiC contest were sent to bands.

At no point did they ask for, or were expected to be given, preferential treatment if they were to be able to compete at the contest."

Lack of transparency and clear explanations

They added: "Our concerns and objections are in respect to the fundamental lack of transparency and clear explanations concerning this matter given by the BiC Management Team to other invited bands.

These were initially raised in writing following the invitations being made, and subsequently discussed at the meeting with the BiC Management Team in Birmingham in June.

This was further highlighted by the confirmation at this meeting of the decision made to make separate financial arrangements, as well as the offer of second half draws, to both bands.

However, despite repeatedly asking for further clarification and transparency over these matters, and band representatives offering constructive alternatives, no significant progress over resolving them has been forthcoming.

The latest misleading press statement has further emphasised this."

The objections of all four bands remains to the way in which the decision making process was, and continues to be implemented by the BiC Management TeamCarlton Main, Fairey, Flowers & Tredegar Bands

Withdrawal

They concluded: "The objections of all four bands remains to the way in which the decision making process was, and continues to be implemented by the BiC Management Team, resulting in, we believe, the competitive integrity of the 2015 event being undermined.

We have therefore regretfully informed the Brass in Contest Management Team that Carlton Main Frickley, Fairey, Flowers and Tredegar have indicated our withdrawal from the 2015 contest."