Contests

From Cramlington in 1883 to the Regional Championships today.

Contest Record

Contesting Since 1878

Contesting is part of brass band life. Independent adjudication sets the standard we work to, and preparing a demanding test piece develops every player in the band.

A band from Backworth is recorded at a contest in North Shields in 1878, and took its first recorded win at Cramlington in 1883. Backworth hosted brass band contests of its own in 1898 and 1902. Since then the band has competed at the Crystal Palace national contests, at the National Finals, at the North of England Regional Championships and, in recent seasons, at the Durham County Brass Band Association contests.

Backworth Colliery Band at the Regional Championships, 2011

Contest highlights

YearResult
1883Winners, Cramlington Contest
1904Winners, Newcastle Contest (First Section)
19373rd, Crystal Palace national contest (Junior Cup)
1949Winners, North of England Area (Second Section); competed at the National Finals
19682nd, North of England Area (Third Section); competed at the National Finals
1999Winners, Durham County Brass Band Association (Section D)
20012nd, National Mineworkers Championships (Fourth Section)
2005Winners, North of England Area (Fourth Section); competed at the National Finals
2006Winners, Durham County Brass Band Association (Section D)
2008Winners, Durham County Brass Band Association (Section D)
20153rd, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section)
20203rd, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section); 2nd, Durham County Brass Band Association (Section B)
20223rd, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section); 2nd, Durham County Brass Band Association (Section B)
20234th, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section)
20243rd, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section), with the Best Euphonium award
20257th, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section), with the Best Euphonium award
20268th, North of England Regional Championships (Fourth Section)

Between 2000 and 2007 the band competed as Five Rivers Brass.

Recent test pieces

  • Indian Summer Regional Championships, 2026
  • Music for a Festival Durham County Brass Band Association, 2025
  • I, Daedalus Regional Championships, 2025
  • Four Cities Symphony Durham County Brass Band Association, 2024
  • Music for Jock Tamson Regional Championships, 2024
  • The Four Noble Truths Durham County Brass Band Association, 2023
  • Hungerford Town Regional Championships, 2023

The full record, from 1878 to the present, is on brassbandresults.co.uk. Experienced and returning players who would like to compete with us are welcome to get in touch.

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