British Open
Brass Band Championship
Rules & Conditions
1. In the following rules, the words ‘Contest Management’ shall
relate to the Organising Committee of the British Open Brass Band Championship
Limited. Any reference to the masculine shall include the feminine, and the
interpretation of the following Rules shall be decided by the Contest Management,
such decisions to be final.
2. These Rules will apply to all Contests run under the auspices of the British Open Brass Band Championships.
3. All Contests will run under the Rules of the British Brass Band Registry in their most current form, or the appropriate Accredited Registry, according to the nationality of the competing band.
4. Entries to the British Open, Grand Shield Senior Cup and Senior Trophy
Contests shall be limited to Brass Bands from the British Isles and Countries
from the Commonwealth ie. Australia, New Zealand, and other
countries as determined from time to time by the Contest Management.
5. Contests are open to Bands composed of standard Brass Band instruments, with a maximum of 25 brass players plus percussionists as required and a conductor. No player shall play more than one brass instrument during the performance of the test piece. The conductor may not play an instrument with the Band they are conducting.
6. All Trophies won at any contest are to be returned at the end of twelve months, with the exception of certain Trophies marked clearly in the Contest programme ‘ to be retained’.
7. The Contest Management reserves the right to alter or add to these Rules, change the date or venue (with suitable notice given ) and to limit the number of entries when necessary.
Interested Bands will be notified of any changes.
8. The Contest Management cannot be held responsible for damage to or loss of any Band or personal property nor for any personal injuries whilst attending any event. All venues used will carry insurance, to comply with statutory requirements.
9. The Contest Management shall issue invitations to any contest at least
three months before the date of the relevant Contest, and acceptance forms
must be returned to the Contest Management within three weeks,
together with the required fee.
Invitations will be issued on the following basis;
a) THE BRITISH OPEN
The British Open list shall include all the Bands which competed at the previous
year’s competition less two ‘demoted Bands’. These will
be replaced by two ‘promoted Bands’ from the previous Grand Shield
Qualifying Contest (Bands placed 1st 2nd ).
Demotion from The British Open is defined by adding together the aggregate
placing for the last two years. The two Bands with highest aggregate will
be demoted.
If after the aggregate as been collated more than one band shares the 2nd
demotion place the band who is placed lowest in the current years contest
will be deemed one to be demoted.
b) THE GRAND SHIELD QUALIFYING CONTEST
The Grand Shield list shall include the two demoted Bands from the previous
British Open Championship plus the Bands which competed at the previous year’s
competition less four demoted Bands. These will be replaced by four promoted
Bands from the previous years Senior Cup Qualifying
Contest (Bands placed 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th ).
Demotion from The Grand Shield is defined as the last four lowest placed
bands in current years contest.
c) THE SENIOR CUP QUALIFYING CONTEST
The Senior Cup list shall include the four demoted Bands from the previous
years Grand Shield ualifying Contest plus the Bands which competed at the
previous year’s competition, less four demoted Bands. These will be
replaced by four promoted Bands from the previous years Senior Trophy Qualifying
Contest (Bands placed 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th ).
Demotion from The Senior Cup is defined as the last four lowest placed bands
in current years contest.
d) THE SENIOR TROPHY QUALIFYING CONTEST
The Senior Trophy list shall include the four demoted Bands from the previous
Senior Cup Qualifying Contest plus the Bands which competed at the previous
year’s competition, less six demoted Bands. These will be replaced by
six invited bands.
Demotion from The Senior Trophy is defined as the last six lowest placed bands.
The six relegated Bands will be excluded from invitation for a period of 12
months, after which they should re- apply for the following years contest.
This gives the opportunity for six new bands to enter the series of competitions.
Interested Bands of suitable standard may apply in writing to the Contest.
Organiser, European and Bands from other continents may also apply.
e) The Contest Management reserves the right to increase or decrease the numbers
in each section as and when required. The Contest Managements decision is
final.
10. Borrowed Players
In the Grand Shield, Senior Cup and Senior Trophy Qualifying Contests a maximum
of two borrowed players will be allowed. The player/s must not be a member
of any band within The British Open
Championship Competions. An official Day Transfer form or a letter of consent
must be obtained for each player
together with their Registration Card from the appropriate Registry. ( A list
of Bands within The British Open Championship Competitions will be provided
prior to the annual Spring Festival ).
11. Before the day of each Contest, Bands will receive a British Brass Band
Registry or Accredited Registry form showing all their registered players.
This form together with the Bands Registration Cards should
be presented to the Registration Official for verification. It is a Bands
responsibility to ensure that the Registration Cards of all players are complete
in every detail on the day of the day Contest, including FRANKING FOR THE
CURRENT YEAR.
12. Each Band must name their Musical Director on the Entry Form for inclusion in the programme and if a substitution is required the Contest Management must be informed as soon as possible.
13. The ‘Order of Play’ for the Contest shall be by ballot to
be held at least one hour before the published starting time. Each Band shall
be invited to send a reprasentative to attend the Draw who will act on its
behalf
in all matters arising during the Draw. If a Band is not represented at the
Draw an official shall be empowered to Draw for them.
14. In the event of a Bandsman being unable to compete owing to family bereavement
or illness or any other unforeseeable reason, a medical certificate or documentation
as requested by the Contest Management must be produced covering these eventualities
as soon as possible prior to the commencement of the contest. Providing that
in the opinion of the Contest Management there is a bona – fide reason
for the request, an application may be made for a deputy Bandsman (same instrument)
from the band Drawn to play immediately before the Band
whose player is unable to appear. The Band playing before shall agree to provide
this player, the instrument and music. If the Band making application is drawn
No. 1 then the relevant player from the Band Drawn to play last shall provide
this substitute. A bandsman acting as deputy must not make any request for
payment for their
service and no such payment may be made by any official concerned.
15. The Band Drawn number one shall assemble for registration no less than 15 minutes before the scheduled time for the commencement of the Contest. The Band will be informed of any ‘ Registration Irregularities’ and will be advised of any consequence i.e. possible objections or possibilty of disqualification. The same registration procedure will apply to subsequent Bands.
16. Bands may request to escort the Adjudicators to the “Box” to check that the arrangements for their complete seclusion are adequate.
17. The Band Drawn number one will commence the day’s proceedings by playing the first verse of the National Anthem. Each subsequant band will be required to commence their performance as soon as possible after the Adjudicators have indicated that they are ready.
18. The Adjudicators decision will be announced as soon as the Contest Officials have collated them. The Adjudicator’s decision is final.
19. Prize - money shall be despatched 14 days after the Contest.
Any protest regarding the infringement of these Rules must be made in writing
to the Contest Management within 7 days from the Contest date. A deposit of
£10.00 must accompany the letter. This will be
refunded if the objection is upheld.
The Contest Management reserves the right to adjudicate on any protest.
During any adjudication any Prize Money involved will be withheld.
20. The Contest Management shall be authorised to withhold any awards where
any member, official or conductor of a contesting Band has been involved in
conduct considered prejudicial to the reputation of the Contest or to be in
breach of these rules. Any person concerned will be subject to disqualification
and / or suspension from entry into Contests held under these Rules for a
length of time to be decided by the Contest
Management.
21. Any matters arising at a contest which are not covered by the above rules shall be dealt with by the Contest Management whose decision will be final.
22. These Rules & Conditions supersede any previously issued by the Contest
Management and are effective from 1st January 2004.
