A brass band has played its way to the top of one of the region's most prominent competitions.

BHK (UK) Limited Horden Band won the championship section of the Northumberland Brass Band Association's Open Entertainment Contest.

The competition, at Northumberland College, in Ashington, has been running since the early 1970s and is one of the longest established events of its kind in the North.

BHK Horden won £400 prize money and the Roy Nuttal Memorial Trophy and the Tommy Locker Cup, when they beat two of their peer championship-graded bands by playing a variety of pieces during a 25- minute programme.

Adjudicator Alan Morrison said: "It was a programme with much to commend, and well directed. Some super playing.''

Best soloist at the contest was BHK Horden's Andrew Marsh, who won the George Griffiths Memorial Trophy and best bass section was won by BHK Horden's Matthew Williams, Elliot Cook, Andrew Jordan and Alex Evans, who won the George Wright Memorial Trophy.

Delighted with their win, the band's secretary, Anne Rice, said: "This is great news for us, as we have really been putting in the rehearsal time this last few weeks. My thanks go to all the members of our band and Jim Cunningham at BHK for his company's sponsorship.''

The win at Ashington is a further step towards the band's ultimate goal of securing a place to compete at the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Published: 03/12/2004