After a winless year last year, Dr Nicholas Childs returned to winning ways in 2014 to land his 6th Scottish title with Co-operative Funeralcare and a 25th top section area title overall. Nick is now just five titles behind the legendary Major Parkes and it has seemed likely for a long time that he will eventually top the table. It won't be easy though and it is perhaps significant that Nick has already taken 5 years longer than the Major to get to the 25 mark.

Professor Garry Cutt demonstrated his mastery of the North West area in particular - his 7th win in his last nine appearances with three different bands - to nudge up to 11 top section titles, and Russell Gray secured his 10th title, cementing his position as the 'go to' conductor (10 titles with six different bands!).

The list of conductors with at least 10 top-section titles is now as follows:

30 wins - Major Peter Parkes

25 - Dr Nicholas Childs

16 - Harry Mortimer, Walter Hargreaves

15 - Howard Snell

13 - Alex Mortimer

12 - Melvin White

11 - Eric Ball, Stanley Boddington, Dr Robert Childs, Professor Garry Cutt

10 - Dr Keith Wilkinson, Richard Evans, Russell Gray

Congratulations to Adam Cooke and Philip Bailey for winning their first top section titles this year. This year's other winning conductors, and their total wins, are as follows:

9 - Professor David King

4 - Paul Holland

2 - Philip Harper