Spring Festival Line-Ups Announced

The organisers of the 98th British Open Spring Festival have announced the full line up of bands for the contests which will take place at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Saturday 12th May.

The Grand Shield will be the first event to go get under way at 10.00am, with the Senior Cup at 10.45am and Senior Trophy at 11.15am.

The adjudicating team who will make the all important decisions comprises Paul Andrews, Nigel Boddice MBE, Ryan Breen, Garry Cutt, Michael Fowles and Roger Webster. The pairings for each section will be announced on the day.

The contest will definitely go ahead in the Spanish Hall despite the enforced refurbishment. The organisers have been working closely with the Winter Gardens to ensure that the extensive development work does not greatly detract from the contest day experience for bands and audience.

The completion of scaffolding work in the Spanish Hall is significant, but following a detailed visit and consultation we believe that it will not detract from performances having taken on board expert advice that the hall is safe and acoustically satisfactory. The information already sent to the competing bands therefore remains the same.

The Civil Enforcement Officer Supervisor for Parking Services for Blackpool Council has asked that all bands advise their coach drivers that once they have dropped off their passengers that they immediately move their coach onto one of the official coach parks in the area.

Penalty Charge Notices will be given to those vehicles parked illegally.

Tickets will be available on the day from the Box Office with adults £12.00 and concessions £7.00.

The Grand Shield
Test Piece: The Triumph of Time – Professor Peter Graham

First Prize: £800 and Grand Shield
Second Prize: £600
Third Prize: £400
Fourth Prize: £300

Draws: 9.00am & 12.30pm
Commence: 10.00am

Aldbourne (Dr David Thornton)
Ashton-under-Lyne (Philip Chalk)
Camborne Town (Kevin Mackenzie)
City of Cardiff (Mellingriffith) (Dewi Griffiths)
East Yorkshire Motor Services (Stig Maersk)
Filton Concert Brass (Tom Davoren)
Friary Guildford (Chris King)
Hammonds Saltaire (Morgan Griffiths)
Hepworth (Leigh Baker)
Jaguar Land Rover (Dave Lea)
Llwydcoed (Christopher Turner)
Milnrow (Mark Bentham)
NASUWT Riverside (Professor Nicholas Childs)
Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Ben Dixon)
Rainford (Gareth Brindle)
Reg Vardy (Russell Gray)
Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligott)
Tongwynlais Temperance (Andreas Kratz)
Virtuosi GUS (Adam Cooke)
Woodfalls (Dr Robert Childs)

The Senior Cup
Test Piece: Diadem of Gold (George Bailey arr Frank Wright)

First Prize: £600 and Belle Vue 100 Guinea Challenge Cup
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200

Draws: 9.45am & 1.00pm
Commence: 10.45am

Aveley & Newham (Alan Duguid)
Blackburn & Darwen (Jonathan Bates)
Burry Port Town (Christopher Bond)
Dalmellington (Richard Evans)
Goodwick Brass (Matthew Jenkins)
Hatfield (Stan Lippeatt)
Jackfield (Simon Platford)
Kingdom Brass (Ian Porthouse)
Lydbrook (Glyn Williams)
Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crokston)
Northop Silver (John Doyle)
Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
Ratby Co-operative (Mareika Gray)
Redbridge (Richard Ward)
Skelmanthorpe (Martin Heartfield)
St Dennis (Darren Hawken)
Staffordshire (Jonathan Pippen)
TCTC Group (Jef Sparkes)
Unite the Union (City of Sheffield) (John Roberts)
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel (Jack Capstaff)

The Senior Trophy
Test Piece: A Kensington Concerto (Eric Ball)

First Prize: £600 and Senior Trophy
Second Prize: £400
Third Prize: £300
Fourth Prize: £200

Draws: 10.15am & 1.20pm
Commence: 11.15am

BTM (Jeff Hutcherson)
Bon Accord (Stephen Malcolm)
City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
Derwent Brass (Keith Leonard)
Drighlington (Tommy Tynan)
East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)
Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter)
Eccles Borough (David Hamilton)
Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
Fishburn (David Hirst)
Mardsen Silver (Alan Widdop)
Mount Charleas (John Maines)
Roberts Bakery (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
Roche Brass (David Johnson)
Shepherd Group (Richard Wilton)
SPAL Sovereign Brass (Trevor Jones)
Tylorstown (Gary Davies)
Unison Kinneil (Raymond Tennant)
Vernon Building Society Poynton (Ryan Watkins)
Wantage (Paul Holland)