*
banner

Huge field to take to West of England Area stage

81 bands will take to the stage at the Riviera Centre in Torquay in March for the West of England Regional Championships.

Riviera Centre
  The Riviera Centre will host 81 bands over the two days of the West of England Championships.

There will be a very strong entry of competitors at this year's West of England Regional Championships in Torquay.

The contest weekend will be held on the 11th & 12th March, with the Championship Section reverting back to its traditional Sunday evening finish.

Celebratory year

Association Secretary Sue Oldfield told 4BR: "This is a celebratory year for the West of England as it is the 65th time the 'Regionals' as we know them first took place.

We are looking forward to welcoming 81 bands to the Riviera International Centre at Torquay with the Fourth, Second and First Section taking place on the Saturday with the Third and Championship Sections the following day."

Qualifiers

Two bands will qualify for an invitation to compete at the Royal Albert Hall, with two places up for grabs for Cheltenham in the First Section and three each in the Second, Third and Fourth respectively.

For further details go to: www.webba.org.uk

We are looking forward to welcoming 81 bands to the Riviera International Centre at Torquay with the Fourth, Second and First Section taking place on the Saturday with the Third and Championship Sections the following daySue Oldfield

Championship Section:


Sunday 12th March
The Forum
Commences: not before 2.30pm
Draw: 1.00pm
Adjudicators: Paul Norley & Stephen Roberts

Aldbourne (David Johnson)
Brunel Brass (Paul Collis-Smith)
Camborne Town (Michael Fowles)
Filton Concert Brass (Tom Davoren)
Flowers (Paul Holland)
Lanner & District (David Hamilton)
Lydbrook (Glyn Williams)
Mount Charles (Stan Lippeatt)
Roche Brass (Garry Cutt)
St Austell Town (Steve Sykes)
St Dennis (Darren Hawken)
Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
Woodfalls (Dr Robert Childs)
Yeovil Town (Ian Holmes)


First Section:


Saturday 11th March
The Forum
Commences: not before 3.15pm
Draw: 1.00pm
Adjudicators: Les Neish & Paul Norley

AW Parker (Drybrook) (Josh Ruck)
Bournemouth Concert Brass (Matthew Brown)
Chalford (Steve Tubb)
Forest of Dean Brass (Chris Howley)
Hyde (Jonathan Lush-Camps)
Michelmersh Silver (Wayne Landon)
Sherborne Town (Ian Lowes)
Sidmouth Town (Adrian Harvey)
St Keverne (Gareth Churcher)
SW Comms (Chris Spreadbury)
Wotton-under-Edge & District (Ian Dickinson)


Second Section:


Saturday 11th March
The Forum
Commence: 10.00am
Draw: 8.45am
Adjudicators: Paul Norley & Stephen Roberts

Andover Town (Steve Large)
Bodmin Town (John Maines)
Bream Silver (PhilipTurner)
Camborne Junior Contesting (Alan Pope)
City of Bristol Brass (Bryn James)
Denmead Brass (Estelle Flood)
Downton (Paul Williams)
Helston Town (John Berryman)
Nnew Forest Brass (Ian Luxford)
Ocean Brass (Martin Humphries)
Otterbourne Brass (Melvin White)
Phoenix Brass (Crewkerne) (Tom Griffin)
Poole Borough (Martin Portman)
Shrewton Silver (Michael Dunford)
Soundhouse Brass (Lee Clayson)
St Pinnock (John Ward)
Weston Brass (Bryn James)


Third Section:


Sunday 12th March
The Forum
Commence: 9.30am
Draw: 8.15am
Adjudicators: Sam Hairsine & Les Neish

Bath Spa (Martin Perry)
Bratton Silver (Simon Carr)
Bugle Silver (Steve Osborne)
Cheltenham Silver (Nigel Galliott)
Cinderford (Chris Howley)
Corsham (Colin Hogg)
Gillingham Imperial Silver (James Bennett)
Lydney Town (Kevin Ford)
Midsommer Norton & Radstock Silver (Joanne Sykes)
Porthleven Town (Tom Bassett)
South Molton Town (Gil Taylor)
Spinnaker Brass (Ted Howard)
St Stythians (James Burns)
Swindon Brass (Francis Cowley)
Swindon Pegasus (Nathan Jones)
Tewkesbury Town (Nigel Morgan)
Weymouth Concert Brass (Kevin Goodwin)
Wilton & District (Derek Broadbent)


Fourth Section:


Saturday 12th March
The Arena
Commence: 10.30am
Draw: 9.15am
Adjudicators: Gary Davies & Sam Hairsine

Bideford Town (Mark Durham)
Chalford Academy (Steve Tubb)
Exeter Railway (Graham Eaton)
Gosport Solent Brass (Colin Garner)
Hatherleigh Silver (Matt Green)
Heyl Town (Scott Watters)
Indian Queens (Mark Arnold)
Launceston Town (Colin Gay)
Nailworth Silver (Ross Salvage)
Okehampton Excelsior Silver (Richard Beardon)
Pendeen Silver (Darren Jenkin)
Pillowell Silver (Ian Whitburn)
Saltash Town (TBC)
Shaftesbury Town Silver (Martin Hill)
Shankling Town (IoW) (Malcolm Lewis)
Test Valley Brass (Matt Pithers)
Tiverton Town (John Fitton)
Torbay Brass (Joe Rowlands)
Totes (Alan Wilmott)
Verwood Town (Emma Button)
Wincanton Silver (Joanne Sykes)

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


RAF

RAF Ensembles continue to fly high and wide

January 15 • The variant ensembles that are part of the Band of the RAF Regiment continue to reach out in their musical performances.


Ingbjord

Duality of expansion and recognition for Vilhelmsen

January 15 • Norwegian composer gains recognition for the popularity and critical acclaim of her brass band works with publisher award nomination.


Skunkworks

A brass band camp with a difference...

January 15 • The latest Skunkworks Community Bright Brass & Percussion Summer Intensive in Australia came with snake bites, heat stress gastroenteritis and bushfires, as well as plenty of great music making...


Podcast

Festival focus for 4BR Review podcast

January 14 • Join the live podcast broadcast this evening with Iwan Fox, Chris Thomas and Dr David Thornton as they preview the attractions at the forthcoming RNCM International Brass Band Festival.


Newstead Brass - Brett Baker

Saturday 17 January • St Wilfrid's Church, . Kirkby-in-Ashfield NG17 8LA


The Hepworth Band - New Year Concert

Sunday 25 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD9 7ER


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: London & Southern Counties Regional Championships

Saturday 21 March • Arts & Leisure Centre, Lytton Way, Stevenage SG1 1LZ


Cheltenham Silver Band

January 14 • Tenor Horn, Bass, Percussion (all positions negotiable) in our 3rd Section Band.. . As we prepare for the West of England Areas with our professional conductor, Neil Brownless, and the 2026 summer season, we are looking to welcome new members.


Chinnor Silver

January 13 • New Year,New Section,New MD and for you New Band?. We are looking for a Tuned Percussionist for the areas and beyond.. Rehearsals are on a Wednesday evening 8-10 in our own bandroom (so no setting up each time).


Chinnor Silver

January 13 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again on Monday (19th) at 11am in our own bandroom.. We welcome players of all abilities to join us for a relaxed,friendly rehearsal with cake and coffee thrown in all free.. Playing with us doesn’t affect your own band


Dr. Stephen Arthur Allen

D. Phil. (Oxon) [Ph.D Oxford University], GBSM, LTCL, ABSM, ALCM, Cert. Ed.


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd