The organisers of the British Open Spring Festival have announced the revised line-up of competing bands that will take part in the 96th Championship at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday 14th May.
Two return
With the withdrawal of Marsden Silver and Mount Charles from the Grand Shield, Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) and Redbridge Brass, who finished 17th and 18th at the 2015 contest, have been invited to take their place.
However, 4BR understands that due to the late withdrawal of Newstead Brass from the Senior Cup the organisers felt it would be unfair to invite a replacement from the Senior Trophy to fill their place at such late notice. Promotion and relegation from each section will remain the same.
The Senior Cup will be the first event to get under way at 10.00am, with the Grand Shield starting at 10.30am and Senior Trophy at 11.15am.
Judges
The adjudicating team who will make the all important decisions comprises Nigel Boddice MBE, Dr Robert Childs, John Doyle, Allan Ramsay, Sandy Smith and Dr David Thornton. The pairings for each section will be announced on the day.
The newly crowned Grand Shield champion will also take home with them a fully refurbished trophy, after 4Barsrest made arrangements for it to include the names of all winners from 1912 onwards to be properly mounted on it. The work has been done by the same jewelers who undertook the recent restoration of the famous British Open Shield.
Tickets will be available on the day from the Box Office with adults £12.00 and concessions £7.00.
Welcome
A spokesperson told 4BR: "Everyone connected with the British Open Spring Festival is looking forward to welcoming bands, spectators, old friends and new on what is always one of the highlights of the banding calendar."
Next year's date for the 97th Spring Festival will be Saturday 13th May.
Everyone connected with the British Open Spring Festival is looking forward to welcoming bands, spectators, old friends and new on what is always one of the highlights of the banding calendarSpokesperson
The Grand Shield:
Opera House
Test Piece: Of Distant Memories (Edward Gregson)
First Prize: £800 and Grand Shield
Second Prize: £600
Third Prize: £400
Fourth Prize: £300
Draws: 9.30am & 1.00pm
Commence: 10.30am
F: First half draw
S: Second half draw
Aldbourne (David Johnson) (F)
Ashton-under-Lyne (Philip Chalk) (F)
Burry Port Town (Michael Thorne) (F)
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Erik Janssen) (S)
Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie) (S)
Co-operative Funeralcare (North West) (Jef Sparkes) (F)
East Yorkshire Motor Services (Stig Maersk) (S)
Friary Guildford (Chris King) (S)
Hepworth (Mark Peacock) (F)
Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea) (S)
Kirkintilloch (Garry Cutt) (F)
Northop Silver (Andrew Berryman) (S)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Kevin Gibbs) (F)
Redbridge (Alan Duguid) (S)
Reg Vardy (Russell Gray) (F)
Tongwynlais Temperance (Glyn Williams) (S)
Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) (David Hirst) (F)
Virtuosi GUS (Adam Cooke) (S)
Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs) (S)
Wingates (Paul Andrews) (F)
The Senior Cup:
Pavilion Theatre
Test Piece: Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke)
First Prize: £600 and Belle Vue 100 Guinea Challenge Cup
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200
Draws: 9.00am & 12.40pm
Commence: 10.00am
F: First half draw
S: Second half draw
Aveley & Newham (Martin Heartfield) (S)
BTM (Jeff Hutcherson) (F)
Blackburn & Darwen (Huw Thomas) (S)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Dewi Griffiths) (S)
Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard) (F)
Fishburn (Joseph Cook) (S)
Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury) (F)
Llwydcoed (Chris Turner) (F)
NASUWT Riverside (David Roberts) (F)
Newtongrange Silver (Dr Keith Wilkinson) (F)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle) (S)
Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles) (F)
Skelmanthorpe (Jim Davies) (F)
St Dennis (Darren Hawken) (F)
Staffordshire (Jonathan Pippen) (S)
Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligot) (S)
Vernon Building Society (Poynton) (Neil Samuel) (F)
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Steven Walsh) (F)
The Senior Trophy:
Spanish Hall
Test Piece: James Cook Circumnavigator (Gilbert Vinter)
First Prize: £600 and Senior Trophy
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200
Draws: 10.15am & 1.20pm
Commence: 11.15am
F: First half draw
S: Second half draw
1st Old Boys (Stephen Cairns) (F)
Bo'ness & Carriden (Andrew Duncan) (F)
City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey) (S)
Dalmellington (Richard Evans) (S)
Drighlington (John Roberts) (F)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill) (S)
Felling (Chris Bentham) (F)
Filton Concert Brass (Tom Davoren) (S)
Foresters Brass 2000 (Jack Capstaff) (F)
Goodwick Brass (Matthew Jenkins) (S)
Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford) (S)
Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Stephen Crooks) (S)
Leicester Co-op (Graham Jacklin) (F)
Longridge (Mark Peacock) (S)
Medway (Melvin White) (S)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins) (F)
Roberts Bakery (Simon Stonehouse) (F)
SPAL Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones) (S)
Tylorstown (Gary Davies) (F)
Unison Kinneil (Colin McKenzie) (F)
More information:
Further information on the British Open can be found at the following link:
