The popular Durham County Brass Band Association 'Picnic in the Park' Entertainment Contest sponsored by the Geneva Group took place in the grounds of Houghall College in Durham on the weekend. Thirteen bands across three sections competed for a their share of a generous prize fund of over £1,100, with GT Group Peterlee taking the Section A honours, Spennymoor Town winning Section B, and Houghton Area Youth claiming the Youth Section title.

Adjudicator: Sam Fisher Section A: 1. GT Group Peterlee (Graeme Tindall) 2. Easington Colliery (Jonathan Fenwick) 3. Westoe (Aidan Hodgson) 4. Cockerton Prize Silver ( Andy Hunter) 5. Houghton Brass (Tom Gibson) 6. NASUWT Concert (Andrew Hall) 7. Felling (Tina Mortimer) 8. Durham Miners Association (Stuart Gray) 9. Ashington Colliery (Nigel Stedman) Best March: GT Group Peterlee Best Soloist: Ian Robinson (Cockerton Silver) Best Second Section Band: Cockerton Silver

Section B: 1. Spennymoor Town (Fiona Casewell) 2. Bearpark & Esh Colliery (Phillip Tait) Best March: Spennymoor Town Best Soloist: Mike Fisher (flugel) — Spennymoor Town Best Fourth Section Band Spennymoor Town

Youth Section: 1. Houghton Area Youth (Brian Adams) 2. Hetton Lyons Training Band (Glenis Smith) Best Soloist: Sophie Reed (Houghton Area Youth)

"The day was packed with excellent performances from start to finish."