Midlands Regional Championships 2025

On Sunday 9th March the Bilton Silver (Rugby) organisation were proud to enter two bands into the Regional Championships. For the first time since 2020, where the championships were one of the last major banding events prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, Bedworth was the location. All sections were held in the Civic Hall.

The first band to play were Bilton Silver (Evolution) Band who were entered into the 4th Section where there were 17 competitors playing the same test piece, “I, Daedalus” depicting the story of the prominent figure in Greek mythology. The Evo’ band is conducted by the Senior band’s Principal Cornet, Jodie Kelsall, and forms the stepping stone in the Bilton organisation between the Training and Senior Bands. Due to this reason the band consists mainly of younger players with the adults involved, in many cases, being relatives

In a section containing a selection of town and village bands from across the Midlands, as well as one of students from the University of Warwick, the Evo band came a very creditable ninth. Congratulations to the winners Syston and fellow qualifiers Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield) and Brackley and District who will attend the 4th Section National Finals in Cheltenham in September.

Later in the day, Bilton Silver (Rugby) Band under Musical Director, Brad Turnbull, took their place in the Championship Section. The Championship Section being the highest level of banding saw Bilton contesting against the best bands in the Midlands. The Senior band were required to play Diversions, a piece by Derek Bourgeois which was written as a commission in 1985 and subsequently used at the Royal Albert Hall for the National Brass Band Championships the following year.

The Bilton band gave their best possible performance but on this occasion were awarded twelfth place which will result in the band dropping to the 1st Section in 2026. For most of the band’s existence, playing in the Championship Section seemed an unobtainable acheivement; for the band to have been graded in this section for 4 of the last 10 years shows the progress made. The qualifiers who will play for the National Champioships at the Royal Albert Hall were the “old firm” of GUS and Desford Colliery.

Thanks must go to guest Solo Trombone, Kieron Howe and Euphonium, Matthew Ludford-King who were helping the band in the absence of regular players. Both had very busy weekends as they were also involved in conducting bands in other sections.