There is a cracking list of 47 competitors testing their early season form at the Brass at the Guild contest in Preston on Sunday 24th January.
Added bonus
The event organised by Lancashire Contests has attracted substantial line-ups thanks to their generous prize funds and awards, test-piece choices and slick organisation, with the added bonus of one band getting a foothold on the British Open qualification ladder.
There is over £4,500 on offer for prize-winners, with bands given the opportunity to either reprise their Butlins set-work or give the Area test-piece an airing.
The highest placed band in the Championship Section not already invited to the British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool, will gain an automatic invitation to compete in the Senior Trophy in May.
Judges
In the Guild Hall, David Thornton will adjudicate the top flight bands, with Sandy Smith overseeing the First Section and Kevin Wadsworth the Second. John Doyle will be in the Charter Theatre to make the all important decisions in both the Third and Fourth Sections.
British Open Youth
The British Open Youth at the Guild Festival contest will once again take place in the Charter Theatre with Kevin Wadsworth the man to impress in the box.
The prestigious British Open Brass Band title is once again on offer with the kind permission of Karyn and Martin Mortimer. Competing bands will perform a 20 minute own choice programme.
Once again, invaluable sponsorship of the event comes from R. Banks & Son (Funerals Ltd) through proprietor Brian Halliwell.
The organisers have reminded bands that their choice of test-piece must be confirmed with contest administrator Frank Hodges as soon as possible.
The event organised by Lancashire Contests has attracted substantial line-ups thanks to their generous prize funds and awards, test-piece choices and slick organisation4BR
Championship Section:
The Guild Hall
Test-piece choices: Breath of Souls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) or Cambridge Variations (Philip Sparke)
First Prize: £400
Second Prize: £200
Third Prize: £150
Draw: 2.00pm prompt
Start: 3.15pm approx
Adjudicator: David Thornton
City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
Hepworth (Mark Peacock)
Leicestershire Co-op (Graham Jacklin)
Newstead Brass (Duncan Beckley)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins)
Milnrow (tbc)
Thorseby Colliery (Ian McElligott)
Wingates (Paul Andrews)
Yorkshire Imperial Urquart Travel (Stig Maersk)
First Section:
The Guild Hall
Test-piece choices: A Celt in Jerusalem (Ian McElligott) or Essay (Edward Gregson)
First Prize: £400
Second Prize: £200
Third Prize: £150
Draw: 11.45am prompt
Start: 1.00pm approx
Adjudicator: Sandy Smith
Harrogate (Leigh Baker)
Haslingden & Helmshore (tbc)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (tbc)
Poulton-Le-Fylde (Dave Collins)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle)
Ripon City (Martin Hall)
South Yorkshire Police (Grenville Moore)
Second Section:
The Guild Hall
Test-piece choices: Fire in the Blood (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) or The Mermaid of Zennor (Philip Harper)
First Prize: £400
Second Prize: £200
Third Prize: £150
Pre Drawn
Start: 10.15am
Adjudicator: Kevin Wadsworth
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Dunaskin Doon (Garry Williams)
Flixton (Jason M Smith)
Frickley South Elmsall (Kyle Blake)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW 'B' (Michael Goulding)
Royal Buckley Town (Scott Lloyd)
Slaithwaite (Rob Westacott)
Uppermill (Alan Widdop)
Third Section:
The Charter Theatre
Test-piece choices: Platform to the Heavens (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) or A Cambrian Suite (Michael Ball)
First Prize: £400
Second Prize: £200
Third Prize: £150
Pre Drawn
Start: 12.45pm approx
Adjudicator: John Doyle
Blackpool Brass (John Pearson)
Farnworth & Walkden (Matt Shaw)
Lostock Hall Memorial Brass (Phil Edwards)
Oughtibridge Brass (Gavin Somerset)
Parr Band St Helens (John Ludden)
Pilling Jubilee (Len Charnock)
Skelmersdale (Karl Stott)
Stacksteads (Fred Bowker)
Fourth Section:
Charter Theatre
Test-pieces: The Seafarers (Bruce Fraser) or The Journal of Phileas Fogg (Peter Graham)
First Prize: £400
Second Prize: £200
Third Prize: £150
Pre-Drawn
Start 10.00am prompt
Adjudicator: John Doyle
Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)
BMP Europe Goodshaw (Josh Hughes)
Brindle (tbc)
Cadishead Public (Craig McFarland)
Denton Brass (Matthew Bailey)
Loxley Silver (Lee Dunkley)
Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
Tarleton Brass (Gillian Bould)
Thornton — Cleveleys (Stephen Craig)
British Open Youth at the Guild Festival
Charter Theatre
Own Choice programme
First Prize: £400
Second Prize: £200
Third Prize: £150
Pre-Drawn
Start: 3.15pm approx
Adjudicator: Kevin Wadsworth
Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
Dobcross Youth (Richard Windle)
Stockport Schools Brass (Ian McKnight)
Wigan Youth Zone Brass (Jon Don-Duncan)
Further details:
Further details and enquires should be addressed to:
Frank Hodges
39, Broxton Avenue
Orrell
Wigan
WN5 8NP
Tel: 01942 212418
Email: frankhodges@btinternet.com
Further information on Lancashire Contests can be found at the following link:
