*
banner

78 bands to test their qualifying skills at Stevenage

There are big fields of contenders for the judges to compare and contrast for the National Final qualification spots at the London & Southern Counties Championship.

Sevange
  78 bands will compete at the Championships

The London & Southern Counties Regional Championship organisers have announced the list of competing bands and the adjudicators who will preside over their National Final qualification chances at Stevenage on the weekend of the 15th & 16th March.

Qualifiers

78 bands will take to the stages at the Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre with defending champion Zone One Brass looking to make it a hat-trick of wins in the Championship Section and claim one of the two Royal Albert Hall qualification places on offer.

The First Section will send 2 bands to Cheltenham in September, with 3 gaining the invitation to compete in each of the Second, Third and Fourth Sections.

Adjudicators:

Championship Section: Anne Crookston & Paul Norley
First Section: Anne Crookston & Christopher Bond
Second Section: Christopher Bond & Steve Sykes
Third Section: Jack Capstaff & Stephanie Binns
Fourth Section: Paul Norley & Steve Sykes

Regional Secretary Kevin Williams told 4BR: "We look forward to welcoming Anne, Paul and Steve back to Stevenage, whilst it will be the first occasion at the venue for Christopher, Jack and Stephanie.

78 bands have entered for the weekend and believe we have appointed a great adjudicating team which we look forward to working with immensely."

The First Section will send 2 bands to Cheltenham in September, with 3 gaining the invitation to compete in each of the Second, Third and Fourth Sections4BR

Competing bands:


Championship Section:

Adjudicators: Anne Crookston & Paul Norley

1. Amersham (Paul Fisher)
2. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
3. Friary Band (Nigel Taken)
4. Fulham (Sam Hairsine)
5. Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)
6. Hitchin (Andrew Kershaw)
7. Medway (Will Wilkins)
8. Milton Keynes Brass (Neil Brownless)
9. Redbridge Brass (Chris Bearman)
10. Sandhurst Silver (Joshua Ruck)
11. Wantage (Chris King)
12. Zone One Brass (Richard Ward)

First Section:

Adjudicators: Anne Crookston & Christopher Bond

1. Bedford Town (Craig Patterson)
2. Cawston (Leigh Sharpe)
3. City of Norwich (Robin Norman)
4. East of England Co-op (Mark Ager)
5. Egham (Gareth Green)
6. Epsom & Ewell Silver (Tariq Ahmed)
7. Horsham Borough (Will Wilkins)
8. Kidlington Concert Brass (Jonathan Pippen)
9. Regent Brass (Alan Duguid)
10. Soham Comrades (David Minchin)
11. St. Sebastian Wokingham (John Watts)
12. Thundersley Brass (Melvin White)
13. Tilbury (Melvin White)
14. Wantage Concert Brass (Chris Davis)

Second Section:

Adjudicators: Christopher Bond & Steve Sykes

1. Alder Valley Brass (David Hatton)
2. Amersham Concert Brass (Malcolm Peach)
3. Chiltern Hills Brass (Gordon Davies)
4. Chinnor Silver (Oliver Hallstead-Brooks)
5. City of Cambridge (Phillip Fisher)
6. Fairlop Brass (Kevin Jordan)
7. Grimsdyke Brass (Stuart Quinlan)
8. Jersey Premier Brass (Jason Mildren)
9. LGB Brass (Ian Stewart)
10. Marconi Brass (David Lockwood)
11. Olney Brass (Philip Devine)
12. Oxford Cherwell Brass (Danny Dullforce)
13. Simon Langton Brass (Keith Twyman)
14. Staines Brass (Gareth Trott)
15. Tendring Brass (David Rowland)
16. Ware Brass (Jonathan Lockwood)
17. Waterbeach Brass (David Minchin)
18. Welwyn Garden City (William Douglas)

Third Section:

Adjudicators: Jack Capstaff & Stephanie Binns

1. Betteshanger Colliery (Mike West)
2. Bradwell Silver (Brian Keech)
3. Chichester City (Alfie Hughes)
4. Cold Ash Brass (Andy Belfield)
5. Crystal Palace (Jim Lynch)
6. Epping Forest (Kevin Schroeter)
7. Great Yarmouth Brass (Colin Swaep)
8. Hangleton (Richard Baker)
9. Hemel Hempstead (Dan Shave)
10. Hungerford Town (Tim Crouter)
11. Jubilee Brass (Oxford) (Clifford Sadler)
12. Littleport (Ian Johnson)
13. Putney & Wimbledon (Sam Topp)
14. Regent Community Brass (Simon Tong)
15. Tadley Concert Brass (Paul Chapman)
16. Watford (Ian Graves)
17. Yiewsley & West Drayton (Christopher Cole)

Fourth Section:

Adjudicators: Paul Norley & Steve Sykes

1. Abbey Brass (Rob Tompkins)
2. Brighton & Hove City Brass (Rom Stanko)
3. City of Oxford (Douglas Brown)
4. Cobham (Ben Miller)
5. Colchester (Melvin White)
6. Cottenham Brass (Peter Mackley)
7. Dereham (Tony Hampton)
8. Godalming (James Haigh)
9. Hadstock Silver (Diane Pannell)
10. Letchworth Garden City (Tim Welch)
11. Pangbourne & District Silver (Stewart Lewins)
12. Patcham Silver (James Benka-Coker)
13. Reading Spring Gardens (Stephen Buckell)
14. Royston Town (Steve Earley)
15. Wantage Academy (Nikki Jones)
16. Witney Town (Guy James)
17. Woodbridge Excelsior (Alan Duguid)

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    


4BR

4BR Review — Episode 23

October 10 • Join Iwan and Chris as they look back at how the 2026 National Championship title was won and lost at the Royal Albert Hall in London last weekend — and some of the questions that arose from it.


Gregson

Gregson set for Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance

October 10 • Edward Gregson's 'Symphony in Two Movements' is to be performed by the symphonic brass and percussion ensemble of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra later this year.


Navigation Inn

Time please — as Navigation Inn closes doors...

October 10 • The most famous brass band pub in the world has closed its doors — perhaps for the very last time.


Blackford

Orbital countdown for Tredegar

October 10 • The fourth of the commissioning bands will perform Richard Blackford's 'Orbital' in West Sussex later today as Tredegar get ready for lift off in Ardingly.


Regent Hall Concerts - Regent Brass

Saturday 10 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Hathersage Band - Hathersage Village Autumn Concert

Saturday 10 October • Hathersage Methodist Church, Main Road, Hathersage S32 1BB


Garforth Brass - Annual Chairman's Charity Concert

Saturday 10 October • Miners Welfare Hall. 56 Main Street. Garforth . Leeds. LS25 1AA LS25 1AA


Bedford Town Band - Autumn Concert also featuring our Academy

Saturday 10 October • Putnoe Heights Church. Putnoe Heights. Bedford MK41 8EB


Regent Hall Concerts - Trafalgar Brass

Thursday 15 October • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Epping Forest Band

October 8 • Euphonium and solo horn wanted to join our friendly sociable 2nd section band. Based in Essex with close links to the M11 and the underground central line. Instrument's provided of required


Bedford Town Band

October 8 • Bedford Town Band are looking to recruit a Solo trombone and Repiano cornet . We are playing at the Wychavon Contest in a few weeks and are looking to be in the frame at the 1st Section Regionals . Rehearsals Thursday 7.45 at Castle Newnham School.


Pilling Jubilee Silver Band

October 7 • Pilling Band (ambitious 3rd Section Band North West) are seeking a few final players to complete their team under new MD Mark Vause. We are looking for 2 good front row cornet players, baritone, Eb/Bb bass and tuned percussion.


Martin Heartfield

GGSM, ARCM, PGCE
Conductor, Adjudicator, Educationalist


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd