The line-up of bands that will compete at the 103rd British Open Spring Festival have been confirmed.
The event takes place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday 10th May and will feature 20 contenders in each of its Grand Shield, Senior Trophy and Senior Cup competitions.
The top two bands in the Grand Shield will be invited to compete at the 2025 British Open Championship to be held at Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Saturday 6th September.
Results
The announcement of results will be made in the Opera House at the conclusion of the Grand Shield unless otherwise notified.
The event will be adjudicated by a team comprising, Lt Col David Barringer; Morgan Griffiths; Alan Morrison; Lt Col Lauren Petritz-Watts; Andrea Price and Helen Varley. Details of which section they will judge will be announced in the official programme on the day.
Tickets for the day can be purchased at the Foyer inside the Main Entrance on Church Street from 9.00am.
On the contest day 4BR will provide the full draws as provided by the contest organisers and the full results as soon as they are officially announced. There will be no live band by band coverage.
The Grand Shield:
Opera House
Test Piece: Dance and Arias (Edward Gregson)
Start: 10.30am
Split Draws: 9.30am & 11.30am
The bands placed first and second will receive an invitation to the 2025 British Open Championship
1. Amersham (Paul Fisher)
2. Ashton under Lyne (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
3. Camborne Town (Gareth Churcher)
4. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
5. Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)
6. EverReady (Stephen Roberts)
7. Fishburn (Chris Bentham)
8. Friary Brass (Nigel Taken)
9. GUS Band (Dr David Thornton)
10. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
11. NASUWT Riverside (Prof Nicholas Childs)
12. Northop (Ryan Richards)
13. Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)
14. Redbridge (Chris Bearman)
15. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
16. Skelmanthorpe (Gareth Brindle)
17. St. Dennis (Darren Hawken)
18. Stannington Brass (Sam Fisher)
19. Wantage (Chris King)
20. Wingates (Matt Ryan)
The Senior Cup:
Pavilion Theatre
Test Piece: Terra Australis (Martin Ellerby)
Start: 10.00am
Spilt Draws: 9.00am & 11.00am
The bands placed First to Fourth will receive an invitation to the 2026 Grand Shield contest.
1. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (David Hamilton)
2. City of Hull (Daniel Brooks)
3. Dalmellington (Andrew Duncan)
4. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
5. Ebbw Valley Brass (Matthew Rowe)
6. Elland Silver (Ben Dixon)
7. Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)
8. Kingdom Brass (Alistair Gibson)
9. Kirkintilloch (Hedley Benson)
10. Marsden Silver (Leigh Baker)
11. Milnrow (Christopher Binns)
12. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)
13. Pemberton OLD Wigan DW (Thomas Wyss)
14. Ratby Co-operative (Ian McElligott)
15. Shepherd Brass (Richard Wilton)
16. Thundersley Brass (Melvin White)
17. Tongwynlais Temperance (Owen Farr)
18. Tylorstown (Robert Westacott)
19. Unite the Union (Jonathan Beatty)
20. Verwood Concert (Kevin Smith)
The Senior Trophy:
Spanish Hall
Test Piece: Fantasy for Brass Band (Malcolm Arnold)
Start: 11.00am
Split Draws: 10.00am & Noon
The bands placed First to Fourth will receive an invitation to the 2026 Senior Cup contest.
1. Blackburn & Darwen (Daniel Thomas)
2. Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)
3. Brass Band of Central England (Stephen Cooper)
4. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
5. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
6. Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall)
7. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
8. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
9. Enderby (Michael Fowles)
10. Goodwick (Stephen Sykes)
11. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
12. Newstead (Martin Heartfield)
13. Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths)
14. Pontardulais (Paul Jenkins)
15. Roberts Bakery (Mike Jones)
16. Roche Brass (Matthew Green)
17. Tyldesley (Neil Samuel)
18. Unite Scotland Kinneil Band (Allan Ramsay)
19. Woodfalls (Joshua Ruck)
20. Yorkshire Imperial (Stephen Malcolm)
