The 2010 qualifying contest for the British Open Championships ‘The Grand Shield’ took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Saturday 15th May. The test piece for this years contest was Edward Gregson’s wonderful ‘Rococo Variations’, which was the set test piece at the 2008 British Open in Birmingham, where Flowers achieved 12th place. Conducted by Garry Cutt, Flowers gave a very strong and robust performance, which drew praise from 4barsrest.com who predicted a win for the Gloucester based band. Unfortunately, the adjudicators thought otherwise and Flowers were placed 6th.

The band would like to congratulate their friends from across the Severn bridge, Tredegar Town (Ian Porthouse), in taking the Grand Shield back to the valley’s and also Tongwynlais Temperence (under Flowers former MD Philip Harper) who gained second prize. Both bands qualify for this years British Open Championships to be held at Symphony Hall, Birmingham in September. We wish them the best of luck!