Co delight at seventh place in British Open
the cooperation band has said it is delighted to have finished in seventh place at yesterday’s British Open Brass Band Championship.
The result means the band, conducted for the first time in the event by Katrina-Marzella Wheeler, has now finished in the top eight in this prestigious competition on three occasions in the last four years.
For Whitburn, under the musical direction of Luc Vertommen, however, tenth position was not enough to keep the band in the top flight contest after last year’s disappointing 17th place, so it will return to the Grand Shield competition next year.
The adjudication panel included Anne Crookston alongside Stephen Roberts, composer of the test piece Star Crossed Lovers, and David Hirst – the first time a woman had sat in judgement at the event.
Glasgow-born Anne’s invitation to adjudicate at the Open has been seen as representing a historic step forward in recognising the invaluable contributions of women in the brass band world.
The full results of the 2025 British Open are:
1. Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King)
2. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Frederic Theodoloz)
3. Cory (Philip Harper)
4. Foden's (Russell Gray)
5. Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)
6. Leyland (Daniel Brooks)
7. the cooperation band (Katrina Marzella-Wheeler)
8. KNDS Fairey (Philip Chalk)
9. Flowers (Paul Holland)
10. Whitburn (Luc Vertommen)
11. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
12. Grimethorpe Colliery (Michael Bach)
13. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
14. Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
15. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Withington)
16. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)
17. EverReady (David Morton)
18. Amersham (Paul Fisher)
Brighouse & Rastrick will now receive an invitation from Brass Bands England to represent England at the 2027 European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland
Whitburn and Oldham Band (Lees) are relegated to the Grand Shield
Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy: Tom Hutchinson (cornet, Cory)
Brian Evans Memorial Trophy for best soprano: Ashley Marston (Brighouse & Rastrick)
The Geoffrey Whitham Memorial Trophy for best euphonium: Chris Robertson (Brighouse & Rastrick)
Phillip McCann Trophy for best cornet: Tom Hutchinson (Cory)
