As is my understanding
The colliery bands are amazing, and you can't get past them into the top tiers. Our uni band keeps getting encouraging little smiles whenever we try to compete. :P
(Sivvus trolley collision in the fruit aisle led to a jam, Thu 30 Dec 2010, 23:22, 1 reply)

We entered a few competitions
mostly just to get a weekend on the piss.

I still remember as though it was yesterday (boring bit coming up) a competition where everybody had to play a test peice, which had 4 time changes in the first 10 bars. There was one bar of 6/8, which in his wisdom our musical director decided should be played at half speed, or as crotchets. Most of us disagreed, but he was a short grumpy Yorkshireman, and would take no argument.

The audience reaction when just one out of about 30 bands played this wierd laboured slightly psychadelic sounding single bar of music was palpable. You could see everyone turn to each other with a 'what the fuck did they just do?' look on their faces.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Fri 31 Dec 2010, 9:07, closed)

Curious....
As to which band you played for? I had a little stint in Dinnington and Thurcroft Main Colliery Bands. Back when there were collieries...
(TC, Tue 4 Jan 2011, 11:08, closed)