Let battle to avoid the drop commence!
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 (before succumbing to relegation again last year after a brief 2-year spell) , and Whitburn and Flowers are the latest high-ranking bands to experience the perennial delights of Blackpool! Whitburn is the highest-ranked band NOT in the Open line-up as they face yet another Blackpool trip next year, their 5th in a row, but at least Flowers escaped to 'join the Birmingham party' this year (at the 6th time of asking, and 12th time in 13 years!!).
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.
Based on their respective current brassstats.com rankings, the bands in biggest trouble are Virtuosi GUS and Hepworth, with Leyland and Milnrow surviving, on paper at least, by the slimmest of margins. All four of these bands will be looking to put in a good performance and receive a favourable verdict from the adjudication panel!
10 Grimethorpe Colliery
11 Desford Colliery
12 Hepworth
13 Milnrow
14 Virtuosi GUS
15 Leyland
Recent history suggests that a combined placings tally of less than 30 will be needed to survive - perhaps no more than about 27 or 28 - but it's not an exact science as demonstrated below (relegated bands each year shown in red).
2013
20 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery, Desford Colliery
21 Leyland
22 Virtuosi GUS
23 Hepworth
30 Beaumaris
32 Reg Vardy
26 Hepworth
29 Reg Vardy
29 Rothwell Temperance
30 Kirkintilloch
21 Virtuosi (GUS)
22 Leyland
25 Co-operative Funeralcare
30 Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
31 Tongwynlais Temperance
23 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
25 Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
26 Virtuosi (GUS)
26 Kirkintilloch
32 Whitburn
26 Fairey
26 Whitburn
28 Hammonds Saltaire
30 BTM
22 Fairey
23 Kirkintilloch
25 Scottish Co-op
26 YBS
26 Rothwell Temperance
29 Flowers
plus Sellers International (defunct)
23 Brighouse & Rastrick
23 Rothwell Temperance
25 Kirkintilloch
30 Reg Vardy
31 Aveley & Newham
26 Reg Vardy
29 Sellers International
35 Ashton-under-Lyne
36 Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
21 Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal)
22 Desford Colliery
23 Whitburn
35 Tredegar
26 Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
27 Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal)
27 Tredegar
31 Cwmaman Institute
34 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
21 Cwmaman Institute
23 Kirkintilloch
23 Ever Ready
25 Besses o' th' Barn
25 Leyland
32 Travelsphere Holidays
27 Travelsphere Holidays
27 Ever Ready
28 Kirkintilloch
31 CWS (Glasgow)
36 Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
38 Glossop Old
plus Todmorden Old (defunct)