Brighouse crowned Yorkshire brass band champions (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Brighouse crowned Yorkshire brass band champions

12:39am Monday 8th March 2010

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Brighouse & Rastrick were crowned Yorkshire Brass Band Champions late last night after a closely-fought battle at Bradford’s St George’s Hall.

The surprise winners beat Carlton Main into second place, with Rothwell taking third and favourites Queensbury-based Black Dyke being placed fourth by the judges.

Brighouse gave a rousing rendition of the set piece George Loyd’s English Heritage in front of a 1,500-strong audience - and later celebrated their victory.

Brass enthusiasts from as far away as Canada and Ireland descended on Bradford for the weekend-long festival of music – and to see some of the best brass bands in the world.

They included the current national champion band of Great Britain, Black Dyke, and Grimethorpe Colliery Band, made famous in the film Brassed Off.

During the weekend, 60 bands competed in five sections, with the top bands competing in the Championship Section for judges Derek Broadbent of Wyke, Bradford, and his colleague C Brian Broadbent.

Peggy Tomlinson, Yorkshire regional secretary, said: “We have had an excellent weekend with some really good music being played. We have had people from all over the world and from everywhere in the UK come especially to watch the bands. The atmosphere has been really, really exciting, and there has been a real feeling of anticipation because it has been so close this year.”

The first section was won by Meltham and Meltham Mills with Hebden Bridge in second place.

In the second section Knottingley Silver impressed the judges, with South Yorkshire Police in second place.

Chapeltown Silver won first place in the third section, closely followed by Clifton and Lightcliffe.

Dinnington Colliery, which will appear in a BBC2 documentary series starting tonight, were edged into second by Worsbrough Brass in the fourth section.

Now, the winners and runners-up in each of the five sections will go on to represent Yorkshire at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain at the Conference Centre in Harrogate in September.

Mrs Tomlinson paid tribute to the quality of the bands which performed throughout the weekend.

She said: “There are 13 bands in the Championship Section and, of those 11 are at the top of the world rankings – that is the quality of the competition that we have got in Yorkshire. It is a privilege for me as Yorkshire regional secretary to be able to say that and Bradford should be proud of itself for hosting such a wonderful competition.”

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