The 2025 Welsh Open Championship in Newport provided the opportunity for bands to not only secure an important top-flight title, but also for one band to claim their place at the British Open Spring Festival in Blackpool.

The event has been an important qualification contest for the Spring Festival for a number of years, with Ebbw Valley Brass maintaining their stranglehold on title as they claimed the Welsh Miners’ Challenge Cup for a third year in a row at the Riverfront Theatre.

In addition to the first prize cheque of £1,000, it also gave the 2024 Senior Trophy winner a huge boost of confidence ahead of the Welsh Regional Championships in Swansea as well as for their own appearance at Senior Cup in May.

Six bands in the field had the opportunity to secure their Senior Trophy place at the Winter Gardens place, but it was a delighted runner-up Goodwick Brass that secured it.

Result:
Adjudicators: Dr Brett Baker (music); Tommy Tynan (entertainment)

1. Ebbw Valley (Matt Rowe): 194
2. Goodwick Brass (Joshua Ruck): 192
3. Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths): 190
4. Wantage (Chris King): 188
5. City of Cardiff (M1) (David Hamilton): 186
6. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall): 184
7. Tylorstown (Robert Westacott): 183.5
8. Jackfield (Ryan Richards): 183
9. Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins): 182
10. Forest of Dean Brass (Martyn Patterson): 181
11. BTM (Jeff Hutcherson): 180
12. Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts): 178
13. City of Bristol (Craig Roberts): 177

2025 Spring Festival Qualifier: Goodwick