The European trophy will only ever record who has been crowned champion in any given year — but it doesn't say by what margin the band won by.

The biggest

The biggest winning margin ever recorded at the contest was by Black Dyke at the first event in 1978.

They won by the handsome (and somewhat predictable) margin of 10 points.

The next biggest margin was 9 points in 1979 and again in 1990 — both by Dyke, whilst the largest in recent years was posted by Cory in Lille in 2016 when they won by 5 points.

The smallest

The closest ever contest was in 2006, when no less than three bands gained a tied aggregate score of 191 points.

The title went to Willebroek Band after they gained 96 points in the set-work, compared to 95 for Fribourg and 94 for Cory.

Despite Cory gaining 97 points in the own-choice, and Fribourg 96 and Willebroek 95, the Belgians came out on top.

The closest ever contest was in 2006, when no less than three bands gained a tied aggregate score of 191 points4BR

Ties

In fact there have been no less than eight occasions when a tie has occurred; 1980, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2013.

What odds on it happening again this time?