*
banner

Small drop in Midlands Area entrants

69 bands will compete at the Midlands Regional Championships over two weekends in March.

Desford
  Desford went on to claim the National title in London

Although there is a small overall decrease in competing numbers for the 2026 Midlands Regional Championships, 69 bands will still take to the stage at Bedworth Civic Hall on the weekend of 7th & 8th March and Sunday 15th March.

The Third and First Sections will be held on Saturday 7th March (starting 10.00am), with the Fourth and Championship the following day (Sunday 8th March at 10.00am).

The Second Section will be held at the same venue the following weekend on Sunday 15th March (11.00am).

Qualifiers

Two bands plus the pre-qualified National Champion Desford Colliery will be invited to compete at the Royal Albert Hall in October. The defending champion is the GUS Band.

Three bands from the First and Third, and two bands from the Second and Fourth Section will head to Cheltenham in September.

Championship Section:

Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs; Andrea Price

Blidworth Welfare (Colum O'Shea)
Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)
Enderby (Gareth Westwood)
GUS Band (Christopher Bond)
Kibworth (Brendan Caddy)
Langley (Cliff Parker)
Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
Ratby Co-operative (Glyn Williams)
Sovereign Brass (David Maplestone)
Staffordshire (Lee Woodward)
Thoresby Colliery (Luke Pallister)

First Section:

Adjudicators: Mark Wilkinson; Paul Norley

Audley Brass (Tom Hancock)
Bedworth Brass (Jonathan Mott)
Bilton Silver (Rugby) (David Stowell)
Brass Band of Central England (Stephen Phillips)
City of Coventry (Lee Woodward)
Foss Dyke (Gareth Westwood)
Gresley Colliery (Richard Windle)
Hathern (Gary Wyatt)
Hucknall & Linby MC (Chris Ledger-Knapp)
Jackfield (Craig Stevens)
Oddfellows Brass (John Davis)
Raunds Temperance (Jonathan Pippen)
Rushden Town (Adele Hudson)
Shirland Welfare (Lynden Cooper)
Shirley (Kieron Howe)

Second Section:

Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt; Mark Wilkinson

Burbage Buxton (Steve Critchlow)
Carlton Brass (Matthew Ludford-King)
City of Birmingham (Saphran Ali)
Harborough (Ben Smith)
Leicestershire Co-op (Ben Hewlett-Davies)
Ratby Co-operative Mid (Nicholas Garman)
Rolls Royce (Derby) (Adrian Lacey)
Stamford Brass (Julian Bright)
Stourport on Severn (Oliver Wilson)
Thrapston Town (Nathan Waterman)
Tintwistle (Jim Henson)
Towcester Studio (Ian Knapton)
Wellington (Telford) (David Nicholson)

Third Section:

Adjudicators: Jack Capstaff; Stan Lippeatt

Amington (Chris Barker)
Avonbank (Evesham) (Micah Parsons)
Cleobury Mortimer Concert (Craig Willaims)
Ibstock Brick Brass (Jon Penton)
Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) (Sarah Fellowes)
Long Eaton Silver (James Dennis)
Market Rasen (Peter Richardson)
Newark Town (Gary Wyatt)
Pleasley Colliery Welfare (Geof Benson)
Shipston Town (Alex Bland)
Shirebrook Miners Welfare (Christopher Banks)
Syston (Alex Bland)
Wem Jubilee (Cathy Rutherford)
Whitwell Brass (Sam Fisher)
Wigston (Colin Jones)

Fourth Section:

Adjudicators: Paul Norley; Stan Lippeatt

Arrow Valley (Alex Bland)
Bilton Silver (Evolution) (Jodie Kelsall)
Brackley & District (Archie Batty)
Bretforton Silver (Paul Wood)
Corby Silver (Daniel Thompson)
Coventry Festival (Allan Wheelhouse)
Croft Silver (Henry Dunger)
Cubbington Silver (Mark Scott)
Dunchurch (Paul Whitmore)
Malvern Hills & District (Chris License)
Matlock (Chris Banks)
Moulton 77 Brass (Kirsty Woodhouse)
Newhall (Kevin Holdgate)
Trentham (Steve Churchill)

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    


RAH

MPs vote against Albert Hall ticket proposals

June 16 • A Private Members Bill to amend the constitution of the charity that runs the Royal Albert Hall and its long held ticketing policy has been defeated in Parliament amid accusations of "outrageous profiteering".


pocast

4BR Review: Episode 19

June 15 • Join Iwan Fox and Chris Thomas on Wednesday 17th June at 7.00pm for the latest live broadcast 4BR Review.


Thoresby

Result: 2026 Wetherby March & Hymn Tune

June 15 • Thoresby Colliery takes 'The Drovers' march and hymn tune honours in Wetherby.


Newstead

Result: 2026 East Midlands March & Hymn Tune Contest

June 15 • Newstead Brass lead the march and hymn way to victory at a sunny Harborough.


Barnsley Brass - Black Dyke Band

Thursday 25 June • St Mary's Church. Church Street. Barnsley S70 2AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Junior Guildhall Brass Band

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Royal Sackbut Collective

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Mossley Band

Sunday 28 June • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the RAF

Thursday 2 July • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Chinnor Silver

June 17 • Our COMMUNITY BAND meet again on Monday (22nd) and we welcome players of all standards to join us for a relaxed,friendly rehearsal with Tea and cake and it’s all free.. Rehearsals are at 11am in our own bandroom playing with us does not effect your band.


Longridge Band

June 16 • Longridge Band invite applications for the positions of Flugel and Eb Bass.. We are a friendly and committed band that enjoys a great balance of concerts and contests throughout the year. A contribution to travel expenses are provided.


Harrogate Band

June 15 • After a fantastic result at the Wetherby Drovers Contest, The Harrogate Band are looking for a front row and a back row cornet player to complete the team. Rehearsals Weds 8pm with occasional Sundays at our own bandroom with great transport links


Prof. Christopher Houlding

MMus, GGSM, LRAM
Conductor, Performer, Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd