ENGLISH NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONSHIP

RULES & CONDITIONS

In the following Rules, the words ‘Contest Management’ shall relate to the organising Committee of the English National Brass Band Championships. Any reference to the masculine shall include the feminine, and the interpretation of the following Rule shall be decided by the Contest Management, such decisions to be final.

The Contest will run under the Rules of the British Brass Band Registry in their most current form.

Entries to the English National Brass Band Championships shall be limited to Brass Bands from England.

The Contest is open to Bands composed of standard Brass Band instruments, with a maximum of 25 brass players and percussionist as required plus a Conductor. No player shall play more than one brass instrument, unless the score calls for it, during the performance of the Test Piece. The Conductor shall not play any instrument with the band they are conducting.

All Trophies won must be returned at the end of eleven months, with the exception of certain Trophies marked clearly in the Contest programme ‘to be retained’

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.

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 the Contest. All venues used will carry insurance, to comply with statutory requirements.

The Contest Management shall issue invitations to competing bands at least three months before the date of the Contest, and acceptance forms must be returned to the Contest Management within three weeks together with the required fee. A maximum of 16 competing bands will be allowed.

Invitations will be issued on the following basis;

English bands achieving the highest placing in the Championship Section in each of the six English Regional Contests held in the proceeding year, supplemented by the 10highest ranked English bands (other than the 6 regional winners) in an accredited ’ranking system’.

Borrowed players, a maximum of two borrowed players will be allowed. The player/s must be a member of any English band which is not in that years ENBBC. An official Day Transfer form or a letter of consent must be obtained for each player along with their Registration Card.

Before the day of the Contest bands will receive a form from the BBBR showing all their current registered players. This form together with the Bands Registration Cards should be presented to the Registration Official for verification. It is the bands responsibility to ensure the Registration cards of all players are complete in every detail including FRANKING FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

Bands 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.

The competing Bands will be divided into two groups of seven, with a complete break of 45 minutes being allowed between each group. The ‘Order of Play’ will be decided by means of a pre-draw which will segregate the bands into two groups of seven. The ‘Order of Play’ for the two groups of seven shall be by ballot the first to be held a least one hour before the published starting time the second at an agreed time. Bands will be invited to send a representative to attend the Draw who will act on its behalf in all matters arising during the draw. If a Band is not represented an official shall draw for them.

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.

The Band drawn number one shall assemble for registration no less than 20 minutes before the scheduled time for the commencement of each group of the Contest. All Bands will be informed of any ‘Registration Irregularities’ and will be advised of any consequence i.e. possible objections or disqualification.

At the end of the contest the adjudicators will be escorted to a private room where a contest official will oversee their deliberations. Recordings of all performances will be made available for the adjudicators to consider their findings. Results will be announced at the conclusion of the Gala Concert held the same evening and should be no later than 8pm.

The winning band will qualify as the English representative for the EBBA Championship of Europe.

Prize money shall be dispatched 14 days after the contest providing any objections or appeals have been cleared.

Any protest regarding the infringement of these Rules must be made in writing to the Contest Management within 14 days from the Contest date. A deposit of £50 must accompany the letter, this will be refunded if the objection is upheld. The Contest Management reserves the right to adjudicate on any protest.

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 Contest held under these Rules for a length of time to be decided by the Contest Management.

Any matters arising at a Contest which are not covered by the above rules shall be dealt with by the Contest management whose decision is final.

End