Spring Festival Winners
Sixty bands appeared in Blackpool this weekend vying for success in the Senior Trophy, Senior Cup and the coveted Grand Shield. Congratulations to EverReady on winning the coveted top spot. The Northeast band will now make the trip to Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in September where they will perform their MD’s own composition ‘Star Crossed Lovers’ by Stephen Roberts. Joining EverReady at Symphony Hall is Amersham whose performance, under the direction of Paul Fisher, also found favour with the adjudicators Lt Col David Barringer MVO MBE and Stan Lippeat.
Winners in the Senior Cup were Pemberton Old Wigan DW and conductor Thomas Wyss. Thet have now secured promotion to the Grand Shield next year, where they’ll be joined by second placed Milnrow. Ebbw Valley Brass and Ratby Co-operative, placed third and fourth respectively will also be invited to compete at the 2026 Grand Shield.
Congratulations are also deserved by Senior Trophy winners Boarshurst Silver and their conductor Jamie Prophet. Joining them in the 2026 Senior Cup competition will be East London Brass, Woodfalls and Easington Colliery. Full results can be viewed below.
It was announced earlier this week that this year’s contest was the last one to be held in Blackpool with the 2026 event set to move to Birmingham. The Senior Cup contest will be held at Town Hall Birmingham on Saturday 2nd May, with the Senior Trophy utilising the Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space at Symphony Hall on the same day. The Grand Shield contest will be held on Sunday 3rd May at Town Hall Birmingham.
Commenting on the departure from Blackpool Karyn and Martin Mortimer stated, "The decision to move the Spring Festival has not been taken lightly. It has been given a great deal of thought and consideration to the needs of the bands, allied to our determination to secure a long-term sustainable future for these contests. There will be no reduction in the number of competitors, but we are determined that there will be a significant uplift in the quality of the performance and listening experiences for participating bands and supporters alike. We feel very excited about this move, maintaining the long-standing historical link to the British Open as well as moving into a new era for the Spring Festival.”
Result:
The Grand Shield:
Test Piece: Dance and Arias (Edward Gregson)
Adjudicators: Lt Col David Barringer MVO MBE; Stan Lippeatt
1. EverReady (Stephen Roberts)*
2. Amersham (Paul Fisher)*
3. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
4. Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)
5. St. Dennis (Darren Hawken)
6. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
7. Fishburn (Chris Bentham)
8. Redbridge (Chris Bearman)
9. Friary Brass (Nigel Taken)
10. GUS Band (Dr David Thornton)
11. NASUWT Riverside (Prof Nicholas Childs)
12. Camborne Town (Gareth Churcher)
13. Northop (Ryan Richards)
14. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)
15. Wantage (Chris King)
16. Stannington Brass (Sam Fisher)
17. Rainford (Sarah Groarke-Booth)**
18. Wingates (Matt Ryan)**
19. Ashton under Lyne (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)**
20. Skelmanthorpe (Gareth Brindle)**
Best Instrumentalist: Euphonium (Amersham)
*EverReady and Amersham will be invited to the British Open Championship.
**Relegated to the Senior Cup
The Senior Cup:
Test Piece: Terra Australis (Martin Ellerby)
Adjudicators: Alan Morrison; Helen Varley
1. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Thomas Wyss)*
2. Milnrow (Christopher Binns)*
3. Ebbw Valley Brass (Matthew Rowe)*
4. Ratby Co-operative (Ian McElligott)*
5. Elland Silver (Ben Dixon)
6. Verwood Concert (Kevin Smith)
7. Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)
8. Tongwynlais Temperance (Owen Farr)
9. Marsden Silver (Andrew Lofthouse)
10. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
11. Shepherd Brass (Richard Wilton)
12. Kirkintilloch (Hedley Benson)
13. Dalmellington (Andrew Duncan)
14. Unite the Union (Jonathan Beatty)
15. Tylorstown (Robert Westacott)
16. Thundersley Brass (Melvin White)
17. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)**
18. City of Hull (Daniel Brooks)*+
19. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (David Hamilton)**
20. Kingdom Brass (Alistair Gibson)++
*Promoted to Grand Shield
**Relegated to Senior Trophy
Best Instrumentalist:: Euphonium (Pemberton Old Wigan DW)
The Senior Trophy:
Test Piece: Fantasy for Brass Band (Malcolm Arnold)
Adjudicators: Morgan Griffiths; Lt Col Lauren Petritz-Watt
1. Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)*
2. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)*
3. Woodfalls (Joshua Ruck)*
4. Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall)*
5. Enderby (Michael Fowles)
6. Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths)
7. Pontardulais (Paul Jenkins)
8. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
9. Goodwick (Stephen Sykes)
10. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
11. Tyldesley (Neil Samuel)
12. Unite Scotland Kinneil Band (Allan Ramsay)
13. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
14. Yorkshire Imperial (Stephen Malcolm)
15. Roche Brass (Matthew Green)
16. Newstead (Martin Hartfield)
17. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
18. Roberts Bakery (Mike Jones)
19. Blackburn & Darwen (Daniel Thomas)
20. Brass Band of Central England (Stephen Cooper)
*Promoted to Senior Cup
Best Soloist: Flugel horn (Woodfalls)
