Without doubt, the Grand Shield is one of the most difficult contests to win and perhaps also the least-favourite of all contests for the top bands. In recent years, several top bands have suffered the 'indignity' of a spell in the Shield, e.g. Leyland and Tredegar both won at the 5th attempt, Reg Vardy were successful on their 4th trip, and Whitburn and Flowers are the latest high-ranking bands to experience the perennial delights of Blackpool!

One band seems to quite like the fare that is on offer in Blackpool, namely Kirkintilloch! For the 2nd time in 3 years, Kirkie secured promotion to the Open earlier this year, having just been relegated.

This year's and last year's placings will be added together and the two bands with the highest aggregates are likely to receive an invitation to next year's Grand Shield! Here is the bottom end of the table, showing placings from last year, to which this year's placing will be added. Reg Vardy escaped relegation last year by the slimmest of margins (by virtue of their position last year being one place higher than Rothwell) but they are back in the firing line again this year and will almost certainly need a 'top-half' placing to avoid the drop.

How quickly the tide has turned for Tredegar. British Open champions as recently as 2010 but now needing a solid result to avoid another Grand Shield appearance.

10 Fairey
11 Hepworth
12 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
13 Beaumaris
15 Tredegar
16 Reg Vardy

Recent history suggests that a combined placings tally of no more than about 25 or 26 will be needed to survive but it's not an exact science as demonstrated below (relegated bands each year shown in red).

2012
26 Hepworth
29 Reg Vardy
29 Rothwell Temperance
30 Kirkintilloch

2011
21 Virtuosi (GUS)
22 Leyland
25 Co-operative Funeralcare
30 Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
31 Tongwynlais Temperance

2010
23 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
25 Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
26 Virtuosi (GUS)
26 Kirkintilloch
32 Whitburn

2009
26 Fairey
26 Whitburn
28 Hammonds Saltaire
30 BTM

2008
22 Fairey
23 Kirkintilloch
25 Scottish Co-op
26 YBS
26 Rothwell Temperance
29 Flowers
plus Sellers International (defunct)

2007
23 Brighouse & Rastrick
23 Rothwell Temperance
25 Kirkintilloch
30 Reg Vardy
31 Aveley & Newham

2006
26 Reg Vardy
29 Sellers International
35 Ashton-under-Lyne
36 Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel

2005
21 Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal)
22 Desford Colliery
23 Whitburn
35 Tredegar

2004
26 Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
27 Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal)
27 Tredegar
31 Cwmaman Institute
34 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery

2003
21 Cwmaman Institute
23 Kirkintilloch
23 Ever Ready
25 Besses o' th' Barn
25 Leyland
32 Travelsphere Holidays

2002
27 Travelsphere Holidays
27 Ever Ready
28 Kirkintilloch
31 CWS (Glasgow)
36 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
38 Glossop Old
plus Todmorden Old (defunct)