The region’s top bands have converged on Bradford’s St George’s Hall for the most important weekend in Yorkshire’s brass banding calendar.

In total, 63 bands are taking to the stage at this weekend’s Yorkshire Brass Band Championships to try to win over the all-powerful adjudicators.

The City of Bradford Brass Band is among those celebrating after coming top of its section in yesterday’s contest.

The band, formerly known as the YBS Concert Brass, won the first section under conductor Lee Skipsey.

They will now represent Yorkshire in the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, being held at Cheltenham Racecourse in September.

This afternoon will see the top-flight Championship section play. Big-hitters like the Black Dyke Band, Drighlington and Hammonds Saltaire will all be all competing for a coveted place at the national finals at London’s Royal Albert Hall in October.

Leading the team of organisers from the Yorkshire Regional Brass Band Committee is regional secretary Peggy Tomlinson.

She described the competition at this level as “fiendishly difficult”.