Brass band 'excited' for national competition

Swindon Brass is competing in this weekend's event at Cheltenham Racecourse

Local musicians are competing to be crowned champions of this year's National Brass Band Championships this weekend.

The event, which takes place on Cheltenham Racecourse, will see Swindon Brass from Wiltshire take on their first finals in section three.

For the competition, 94 bands are taking part with each region divided into five competitive sections - the championship section and sections one to four.

Swindon Brass director Steven Yorke said it is a "huge opportunity" for his group to take part in what he described as the brass band equivalent of the football leagues.

"For a lot of people [in the band] it's the first time they've taken part in a competition at this level, so there is obviously some anxiety around but it's mostly excitement," he said.

"We're going to go there and enjoy the experience no matter what.

"We've done a lot of work. We hope it's going to pay off."

Mr Yorke said the band has done "a lot of work" to get to the finals

Beginning in 1900, the event in its current format started in 1945 at the Royal Albert Hall, making this year its 80th anniversary.

About 500 bands from across the UK have been taking part in regional heats, all leading up to the two final events, with the National Champion Band of Great Britain to be crowned at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

The most successful band in the competition's history is west Yorkshire's the Black Dyke Band with 24 titles, and this year's defending champions is the Flowers Band from Gloucester.

Mr Yorke explained if Swindon Brass do make it through and win a place in the second section, they would celebrate in some kind of way, but said what that would be "remains a surprise".