Golden year for Sheffield-based brass band with five consecutive wins

They topped off their stellar year on Sunday by winning at the Yorkshire and Humberside Brass Band Association Annual Contest in Holmfirth.

Stannington was judged to be the best second section band, beating several first section bands in a mixed group.

Their fantastic year started in March when they claimed the second section award at the Yorkshire Area Championships, followed by more success in July when they scooped three prizes in their section at the Whiston Festival of Brass.

September saw them competing against 15 of the best second section bands in the country and they proudly came back to Sheffield as second section winners at the National Championships.

Two more prizes followed last month at the Bolsover Festival of Brass when the band was judged to have performed the best entertainment programme in their section and principal cornet Richard Dowling won the best soloist prize.

A spokesperson for Stannington Brass Band said: “The band has had a phenomenal year due to the hard work and dedication of the players and their musical director Derek Renshaw.

“We have done Stannington and Sheffield proud and, following our promotion, look forward to the challenge of contesting at a higher level in the first section in the coming year.”