Final line-up for Spring Festival
The organisers of the 96th British Open Spring Festival have announced the full line-up for the forthcoming contests taking place at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on 14 May.
Marsden Silver and Mount Charles have withdrawn from the Grand Shield, whilst Newstead Brass has withdrawn from the Senior Cup. As Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) and Redbridge finished 17TH and 18TH respectively in last year's Grand Shield, they accepted the invitation to return to the competition.
Organisers, Karyn and Martin Mortimer, would like to place on record their thanks to Anthony Banwell and Iwan Fox of www.4barsrest.com for their generosity in the financing and restoration of the actual Grand Shield.
All involved in the day are reminded that the Senior Cup will be the first event to get under way at 10.00am, with the Grand Shield starting in the Opera House at 10.30am and Senior Trophy in the Spanish Hall at 11.15am.
The adjudicating team who will make the all important decisions comprises: Nigel Boddice MBE, Dr Robert Childs, John Doyle, Allan Ramsay, Sandy Smith and Dr. David Thornton. The pairings for each section will be announced on the day.
Tickets will be available on the day from the Box Office with adults £12.00 and concessions £7.00.
Said a spokesman: “Everyone connected with the British Open Spring Festival is looking forward to welcoming bands, spectators, old friends and new on what is always one of the highlights of the banding calendar.”
Next year's date for the 97th Spring Festival will be Saturday 13t May.
GRAND SHIELD
Opera House
Test-piece: Of Distant Memories (Edward Gregson)
First Prize: £800 and Grand Shield
Second Prize: £600
Third Prize: £400
Fourth Prize: £300
Draws: 9.30am and 1.00pm
Commences: 10.30am
F = First half draw
S = Second half draw
Aldbourne (David Johnson) (F)
Ashton-under-Lyne (Philip Chalk) (F)
Burry Port Town (Michael Thorne) (F)
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery) (Erik Jansen) (S)
Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie) (S)
Co-operative Funeralecare (North West) (Jef Sparkes) (F)
East Yorkshire Motor Services (Stig Maersk) (S)
Friary Guildford (Chris King) (S)
Hepworth (Mark Peacock) (F)
Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea) (S)
Kirkintilloch (Garry Cutt) (F)
Northop Silver (Andrew Berryman) (S)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Kevin Gibbs) (F)
Redbridge (Alan Duguid) (S)
Reg Vardy (Russell Gray) (F)
Tongwynlais Temperance (Glyn Williams) (S)
Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) (David Hirst) (S)
Virtuosi GUS (Adam Cooke) (S)
Whitburn (Prof. Nicholas Childs) (S)
Wingates (Paul Andrews) (F)
SENIOR CUP
Pavilion Theatre
Test Piece: Music for Battle Creek (Philip Sparke)
First Prize: £600 and Belle Vue 100 Guinea Challenge Cup
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200
Draws: 9.00am and 12.40pm
Commences: 10.00am
F = First half draw
S = Second half draw
Aveley and Newham (John Ward) (S)
BTM (Jeff Hutcherson) (F)
Blackburn and Darwen (Huw Thomas) (S)
City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (Dewi Griffiths) (S)
Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard) (F)
Fishburn (Joseph Cook) (S)
Kingdom Brass (Paul Drury) (F)
Llwydcoed (Chris Turner) (F)
NASUWT Riverside (David Roberts) (F)
Newtongrange Silver (Dr Keith Wilkinson) (F)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle) (S)
Ratby Co-operative (Michael Fowles) (F)
Skelmanthorpe (Jim Davies) (F)
St Dennis (Darren Hawken) (F)
Staffordshire (Leigh Baker) (S)
Thoresby Colliery (Jonathan Pippen) (S)
Vernon Building Society (Poynton) (Neil Samuel) (F)
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Steven Walsh) (F)
SENIOR TROPHY
Spanish Hall
Test-piece: James Cook Circumnavigator (Gilbert Vinter)
First Prize: £600 and Senior Trophy
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200
Draws: 10.15am and 1.20pm
Commences: 11.15am
F = First half draw
S= Second half draw
1st Old Boys (Stephen Cairns) (F)
Bo’ness and Carriden (Andrew Duncan) (F)
City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey) (S)
Dalmellington (Richard Evans) (S)
Drighlington (John Roberts) (F)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill) (S)
Felling (Chris Bentham) (F)
Filton Concert Brass (Tom Davoren) (S)
Foresters Brass 2000 (Jack Capstaff) (F)
Goodwick Brass (Matthew Jenkins) (S)
Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) (Simon Platford) (S)
Laganvale (Metal Technology) (Stephen Crooks) (S)
Leicester Co-op (Graham Jacklin) (F)
Longridge (Mark Peacock) (S)
Medway (Melvin White) (S)
Oldham (Lees) (John Collins) (F)
Roberts Bakery (Simon Stonehouse) (F)
SPAL Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones) (S)
Tylorstown (Gary Davies) (F)
Unison Kinneil (Colin McKenzie) (F)
Further information from: www.thebritishopen.net
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