Third Section
| BANDS | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Total | Position |
| Avonbank Evesham | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 1 |
| Amington | 4 | 11 | 2 | 17 | 2 |
| Hucknall & Linby | 5 | 6 | 9 | 20 | 3= |
| Rushden Windmill | 11 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 3= |
| Long Eaton Silver | 8ar | 5 | 8 | 21 | 5= |
| Stamford | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 5= |
| Arrow Valley | 8av | 8.5ar | 6 | 22.5 | 7 |
| Daventry | 14 | 9 | 1 | 24 | 8 |
| Cubbington Silver | 1 | 12 | 12 | 25 | 9 |
| Shipston Town | 8av | 8.5ap | 10 | 26.5 | 10 |
| Croft Silver | 8av | 8.5ap | 13 | 29.5 | 11 |
| City of Birmingham | 9 | 7 | 14* | 30 | 12 |
| Stourport | 8av | 8.5ar | 14* | 30.5 | 13 |
| Rolls Royce Derby | 8ap | 13 | 11 | 32 | 14= |
| West Mercia Constabulary | 8ar | 10 | 14 (Dis) | 32 | 14= |
| Warwick University | 16* | 14 | 4 | 34 | 16 |
| Thoresby Colliery Youth | 8ap | 16 | 14* | 38 | 17 |
| No.of Bands (Playing) | 15 | 16 | 13 | ||
| Average Position | 8 | 8.5 | 7 | ||
| No.of Bands (Prog) | 16 | 16 | 15 |
(Dis = Disqualified. * = Did not compete at the contest. Note that the disqualification revises the 2011 positions)
Avonbank Evesham and Amington are promoted to the Second Section from 1st January 2012
Warwick University and Thoresby Colliery Youth are relegated to the Fourth Section from 1st January 2012
Looking at these results the grading system becomes a nonsense. To my mind the reason for a grading system is that bands compete against bands of a similar standard, therefore to demote a band that has finished 4th in the third section down to play against bands in the fourth section is ridulous. They have proved, this year, that they are of a superior standard on the day to 11 third section bands. How can it be justified that they should be relegated. The old, and much fairer, system of relegating the last two bands and promoting the top two bands each year should be re-instated. Dai Francis South Wales Wales
Thanks for the feedback Dai,
The grading system is not controlled by the Area Committee, but nationally, so the Area Committee have no control over this method of promotion and demotion.
I believe that in a survey undertaken by the British Federation a few years ago, bands were asked about this. The overwhelming majority voted to retain the 3 year average method currently in use