Haslingden & Helmshore Brass Band -

Latest News > News 2004

14th June 2004 - Whit Friday Results - In Depth Analysis

Did your band play on Whit Friday? Do you want to compare your top results against other bands in your section or all other bands. Are you like us and not do 6 contests in either area but curious as to how your top results over the whole area compare with others. Were you the top band in your section over 2/3/4/5 contests? Compare your top results here or view all the results here.

5th June 2004 - Whit Friday Contests

Whit Friday once again. It comes around fast doesn't it! We left Haslingden at 3.30 with the intention of following the now familiar format of doing as many contests as we can fit in before 9.30 then retiring to one of the venues to have a cup of tea (haha!) and listen the bands. We once again managed 8 contests and then it was off to Delph to join the crowds. Playing wise the evening went quite well and I think Dave even smiled once. His outbursts of 'Pull your bloody fingers out!!' were limited to only 2 every contest. Results wise, this year did not compare to last (but we had an awful lot to live up to!) and we came away with (in the 2nd Section) 3 prizes, a 1st at Roundthorn, a 2nd at Greenacres and a 3rd at Scouthead. We also had 3 other 2nd places at Broad Oak, Denton and Droylesden but there were no prizes for these. All in all, another successful night.

1st May 2004 - New Members

We are pleased to announce that we have now filled a couple of our vacancies. We welcome into the band Geoff Hayes who joins us on euphonium and Dave Price who joins us on Eb bass. With their arrival we are now better placed to maintain our momentum next year when we go into the first section. However, we are still looking for solo and back row cornets and anybody interested in these positions should either email us on info@haslingdenband.co.uk or ring Andrea Holland, our Secretary on 01706 210490.

15th March 2004 - Vacancies

To help us in our new life in the First Section from next year, we are looking for quality players to fill a few vacant spots. We require cornets, a baritone, a euphonium and an Eb Bass. Anybody interested in these positions should either email us on info@haslingdenband.co.uk or ring Andrea Holland, our Secretary on 01706 210490.

15th March 2004 - North West Area Regional Qualifiers

A welcome late start for the second section means a rare lie in for the band on a contest day. The rehearsal before the contest went well and we just had to wait for the draw. When the dreaded number 1 was pulled from the hat (to howls of disappointment from the conductor and cheers from the band with their sights set on the bar) a rush across Blackpool ensued (falling foul of the one way system on the way). The performance went well, albeit with a few slips here and there, and we came off the stage reasonably confident. Come the results, the tension was unbearable. 6th, 5th and 4th place had gone with no mention. 3rd - was the band which played number 1. Hooray!! A top 3 finish. Boo!! We have missed out on qualification by one point for the third time in 5 years. Hooray!! 3rd place leaves us on 11 points and secures our promotion to the First section. From the Fourth Section in 1999 to the First Section in 2005 with the same conductor and many of the same players is a fantastic achievement; This is where the fun starts.

8th February 2004 - Brass at the Guild

Following our success at the Manchester District contest, we decided to make a return to the Brass at the Guild contest in Preston. Another run out for Philip Sparke's London Overture, we felt it did not go quite as well as it had at Manchester and although we were disappointed we were not entirely surprised that we were placed 6th out of 13 bands. However, this was still a top half finish and and we are now more determined to do well at the Regional Championships in March.