*
banner

Confidence boost to North West banding with Area numbers

74 bands have entered the 2022 North West Regional Championships that will take place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on 27th February.

Winter Garden
  The sound of brass bands will be heard at the Winter Gardens in February

Despite the lingering effects on bands abilities to hold rehearsals due to Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines, a hugely encouraging 74 contenders have entered the North West Regional Championships this year.

It is just four less than took to the stage in 2020 and offers a great boost to collective banding confidence in the region following the challenges of the past two years.

The event will take place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Sunday 27th February.

Qualification places

12 bands will compete for the two places in addition to Foden's automatic qualification for the National Finals at London by impressing the adjudication dup of Dr Robert Childs and Anne Crookston, who is the first woman to adjudicate the top section at the event.

The regional committee will be particularly heartened by the numbers in Sections 1-4, with 16 competitors in the Fourth Section, 15 in the Third, 17 in the Second and 15 in the First.

Championship Section:


Test piece: Contest Music (Wilfred Heaton)
Adjudicators: Robert Childs and Anne Crookston
The Opera House
Start: At conclusion of the Fourth Section

Blackburn & Darwen (Daniel Thomas)
Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)
Foden's (Russell Gray)
Leyland (Thomas Wyss)
Milnrow (John Doyle)
Oldham (John Collins)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ben Dixon)
Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
Roberts Bakery (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
Wardle Anderson (Brad McCulloch)
WEFL Fairey (Adam Cooke)
Wingates (Paul Andrews)

First Section:


Test Piece: Spectrum (Gilbert Vinter)
Adjudicators: Alan Morrison and Glyn Williams
The Empress Ballroom
Start: 11.00am

Accler8 (Jef Sparkes)
Ashton-Under-Lyne (Martyn Evans)
Bollington Brass (Peter Christian)
Eagley (Chris Wormald)
Eccles Borough (Marieka Gray)
Flixton (Matthew Ryan)
Freckleton (Matt Shaw)
Haydock (Mark Quinn)
Longridge (Mark Peacock)
Manx Concert Brass (Ian Clague MBE)
Marple (Stephen Curtis)
Middleton (Kevin Gibbs)
Mossley (Duncan Byres)
Old Hall Brass (John North)
Silk Brass (Tony Wyatt)

Second Section:


Test piece: The Aeronauts (Goff Richards)
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy and Andrea Price
The Pavilion Theatre
Start: At conclusion of the Third Section

Allerton Brass (Adam Taylor)
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Besses o'th' Barn (Trevor Halliwell)
Blackpool Brass (Alan Seymour)
Cheshire Constabulary (TBC)
Delph (Phil Goodwin)
Diggle (James Garlick)
Eccleston Brass (John Wood)
Farnworth & Walkden (Paul Dalton)
Haslingden & Helmshore (Joshua Hughes)
Hazel Grove (Nigel Beasley)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW B (Jay Hall)
Pilling Jubilee Silver (Steve Hartley)
Poulton-Le-Fylde (Alexander Webb)
Tyldesley (Robert Taylor)
Uppermill (Jamie Cooper)
Valley Brass (Haydock) (David Chadwick)

Third Section:


Test Piece: Facets of Glass (Gordon Langford)
Adjudicators: David Roberts and Sheona Wade
The Pavilion Theatre
Start: 9.30 am

City of Chester (Ewan Easton)
Darwen Brass (Len Charnock)
Douglas Town (Ken Mitchell)
Formby (Louise Hough MBE)
Greenall's (Russell Prescot)
Greenfield (Denis Hadfield)
Hawk Green (Neil Hewson)
Hoover Bolton (Craig Mann)
Lostock Hall Memorial (Ryan Broad)
Rivington & Adlington (Malcolm Wilson)
Rode Hall Silver (Nigel Butler)
Sale Brass (Neil Venables-Greaves)
Skelmersdale (Benjamin Coulson)
Trinity Girls (Richard Evans)
Whitworth Vale & Healey (Alan Widdop)

Fourth Section:


Test Piece: Argos (Stephen Hodel)
Adjudicators: Nicholas Garman and Brian Rostron
The Opera House
Start: 10.00am

Blackley (Adrian Smith)
Brindle — Matthew Balson
Cadishead Public (David Holland)
Dobcross Silver (Jason M Smith)
Dobcross Youth (Seth Livingstone)
Golborne Brass (Joshua Hughes)
Littleborough (Joe Marsden)
Morecambe (Andrew Porter)
Onchan Silver (David Karran)
Port Sunlight Lyceum (Simon Hartharn-Evans)
Ramsey Town (Robert Quane)
Red Admiral Brass (Stuart Barton)
St. John's Mossley (Paul Towle)
Stacksteads (Frederick Bowker)
Stalybridge Old (Dave Chapman)
Thornton Cleveleys (Steve Tarry)

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    


BBE Awards

Short lists announced for BBE Awards

June 18 • The short list nominations for 2025 Brass Band England Awards have been released — with you able to vote on the 'Project of the Year'.


BrookWright Music

BrookWright acquisition adds to music portfolio

June 18 • Music by Dr Keith Wilkinson will become more readily available as four new publishing catalogues are absorbed by BrookWright Music.


Dobcross Youth

King's Birthday Honour for Dobcross stalwart

June 18 • Susan Crook, the Chairperson and founding member of Dobcross Youth Band has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Birthday Honours List.


Uppermill

Uppermill reach new Whit Friday heights

June 18 • Uppermill Band certainly enjoyed their Whit Friday contesting day, with prizes to back up the fun...


Regent Hall Concerts - London Central Fellowship Band

Saturday 21 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Petworth Town Band - Fete in the Park with Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Grounds of Petworth Park GU28 9LR


Petworth Town Band - Farnham Brass Band and Petworth Town Band

Saturday 28 June • Farnham Carnival


The Portsmouth Grammar School - Concert by The Black Dyke Band

Saturday 28 June • St Marys Church, Fratton, Portsmouth PO15PA PO15PA


Simon Langton Brass - Deal Memorial Bandstand

Sunday 29 June • The Strand, Walmer, Deal CT14 7DY CT14 7DY


Mereside Brass

June 16 • MERESIDE BRASS have vacancies for PERCUSSION players. We are a friendly 4th Section band with a sensible calendar of jobs and socials. It would be great to hear from you if you would like to join the band or if you could help out when needed for concerts.


Mereside Brass

June 16 • MERESIDE BRASS have a vacancy for a SOLO CORNET player maybe PRINCIPAL for the right player. We are a friendly 4th Section band with a sensible calendar of jobs, occasional contests & socials. Players of all ages & sections are welcome to visit or join us


Epping Forest Band

June 16 • Epping Forest band have a vacancy for solo horn. We are a friendly 3rd section band with a variety of gigs through out the year. We have our own band hut with close to links with London Underground central line and the M11 motorway.


James Garlick

BMus (Hons), QTS
Conductor, Band Trainer, Adjudicator, Tutor


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd