Cheshire brass band trumpets 14th win as Britain's best

A 124-year-old brass band known for being one of the best in the world has won its 14th British title.

Foden's Band came out on top at the 172nd British Open Brass Band Championship, held at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham on Saturday.

It was the latest accolade won by the group, from Sandbach, Cheshire, which has often been at the top of the world rankings since it formed in 1902.

"We're over the moon; the band played fantastic," said Mark Wilkinson, the manager and principal cornet player.

The win added another trophy to Foden's collection, which includes 16 National Championships of Great Britain titles and seven Brass in Concert victories.

Conductor Russell Gray said the band's success took a lot of practice, and it did not "happen by itself".

"The dedication these musicians put into the craft is phenomenal," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I'm always in awe that they actually hold down day jobs as well and then come into the band room in the evening to play so magnificently."

Despite all the pressure and hard work that goes into playing "at the highest level", Gray said it was important to remember that it was still a "hobby".

But he added: "You choose to do a hobby; you don't choose to do it badly, do you? You don't go fishing to not catch a fish."

Foden's victory at the British Open, which featured 19 bands, meant it would be invited to represent England at the European Championships in 2028.

Wilkinson, who also won best cornet player at Saturday's contest, said he still got "extremely nervous", not least because of the band's legacy.

"We're the custodians," he added, "so we want to do a fantastic job just like the players before us so we can pass on this legacy to the next generation."

Why future of 'homeless' brass band is so important

New study overturns story of brass bands' origins