Yorkshire Regional Championships - 2010

The Yorkshire Regional Championships are at the pinnacle of brass band contests with no fewer than 4 of the top 10 ranking brass bands in the world competing in the same contest.

Held at St Georges Hall in Bradford on the first weekend in March, the contest weekend brings together, for the first Regional contest of the year, over 100 Brass Bands from across the Yorkshire Region to compete over 2 days across 5 Sections (think Football Leagues).

Drighlington returns to the Championship Section

2010 saw Drighlington return back to the Yorkshire Championship Section after 2 years back down in the First Section.

This will see us once again competing against the likes of Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Grimethorpe and 9 others (including last years victors Rothwell Temperance) on a set test piece on night of Sunday March 7th. The piece chosen this year is "English Heritage" by George Lloyd, regarded as one of finest test pieces, bringing technical challenges, musicality and a need for tight solid playing by all corners of the band.

2009 saw a fair few changes within the band, most notably the departure of Kevin Belcher as MD mid-year and the appointment of Jim Davies in late December. Some players have changed too, Christine Taylor and Richard Brigg have joined on Cornet, Joe Marsden has taken over the Repiano chair, Anthony Malone and Paul Barrett have joined on Baritone and Euphonium, Alex Evans and Chris Harrison on Bass and finally Rhiannon Davies on Solo Horn. All quality players boosting the band even further.

For the contest this year, we have drafted a few of our less frequent playing members, for various reasons including illness, injury and work commitments. Our former Bass Trombone, Peter Rhodes, is back on Second Trombone to cover for Kevin Dawson who is caught up with work commitments, Moira Tyas returns on Eb Bass whilst Alex Evans covers on Bb Bass for injured Andy Leicester and the Back Row Cornets are boosted by regular deps Ian Hardcastle and John Hey. This is all finished up with the addition of Youth Band member Joanne George who is making her second Areas appearance with the Percussion Team.