*
banner

4BR British Open Competition: Besson cornet winner

The worldwide appeal of the British Open sees an Australian winner of our competition to win a Besson New Standard cornet.

New Standard
  The New Standard cornet will be making its way to Australia

Thanks to our friends at Besson and Band Supplies, 4BR had a fantastic response to our British Open prize of a Besson 120 New Standard student model cornet in silver worth nearly £350 for anyone who could replicate the top 3 order at this year's event at Symphony Hall.

Top 3

The top 3 was of course Cory, Black Dyke and Foden's and we had hundreds of entries from around the world — but only 13 got it right.

Winner

The winner, drawn at random, came from Graeme Cruickshank, who picked his top 3 before the day of the contest.

He is the MD of Goldfields Brass Band located in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, a mining town in the middle of Western Australia.

The band has great support by the community and is successful in leading a junior programme. They have won the National Championships twice in the past seven years and is currently 'floating' as he told 4BR between the C & D Grade.

This cornet will definitely be put to great use as the band is starting to run out on instruments to lend to players!competition winner, Graeme Cruickshank

Great use

He told 4BR: "This cornet will definitely be put to great use as the band is starting to run out on instruments to lend to players!

Thanks very much for this opportunity and we really enjoyed the stream of the British Open all the way over here!

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    


Chrsitmas Quiz

Last chance to enter the 4BR Christmas Quiz

December 31 • If you want to try and win a Prodige cornet and mutes for a young player in your band, then fire up your little grey banding brain cells one last time in 2025.


Yorkshire

Yorkshire youth to get generational boost of confidence

December 31 • The Next Generation of players from bands in the four counties of Yorkshire will be able to gain inspiration from Black Dyke Band star players.


Essence of Time

Nearly time to capture some of Tredegar's essence

December 30 • There is still time to win a workshop with Martyn Brabbins, Peter Moore, Gavin Higgins, Ian Porthouse, Dewi Griffiths, Sion Jones and more...


Roger

Webster and Rushworth to help life-long friend

December 30 • Roger Webster and Billy Rushworth will join forces with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band to help raise urgent funds for the cancer treatment of a former colleague.


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


Croy Silver Band

January 1 • Croy Silver Band currently has contest vacancies on Cornet and Percussion, but is always happy to accommodate enthusiastic new players in any section of the band.


Welwyn Garden City Band

December 30 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an eye on the 2026 Areas. We have vacancies for a FRONT ROW CORNET player and PERCUSSIONISTS.. Our MD is Will Douglas and we rehearse in Welwyn Garden City on Sunday evenings from 7.00-9.00pm.


Oxted Band

December 30 • As we go into 2026, the band's 125th anniversary, we are seeking CORNET and TROMBONE players to fill our line-up. We are friendly and ambitious band with a wide variety of engagements, including three major concerts each year - check them out on YouTube.


Sarah Groarke-Booth

BA (Hons) MA
Conductor, Adjudicator, Compere, Actor


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd