Co-operative Funeralcare recently drew number 1 in the set-piece section of the European (incidentally, the 4th time they've drawn number 1 in 26 draws at the European) and this prompted one of their long-serving cornet players to suggest that perhaps the 'Co' is the unluckiest band in the top 100 ranked bands!

A study of all 100 bands would take some time:) so instead we have analysed the draws for the 13 bands in the top 20 (as at May 2012) with 100 or more draws in the current database. This admittedly not very scientific analysis might well result in a sacking in the draw-taking department of the current Scottish Champions:)

Band (no of times drawn no 1 / total draws) - percentage

Co-operative Funeralcare (16 / 148) 10.81%

Virtuosi GUS (13 / 121) 10.74%

Black Dyke (11 / 153) 7.19%

Flowers (7 / 104) 6.73%

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (9 / 135) 6.67%

Brighouse & Rastrick (9 / 139) 6.47%

Grimethorpe Colliery (10 / 157) 6.37%

Leyland (7 / 140) 5.00%

Foden's (8 / 163) 4.91%

Desford Colliery (6 / 128) 4.69%

Cory (7 / 169) 4.14%

Fairey (6 / 159) 3.77%

Tredegar (3 / 133) 2.26%

Although the 'Co' tops this particular table, it might be hard to argue against Virtuosi GUS, especially at the British Open. GUS has drawn number 1 no fewer than 9 times in their last 37 appearances (although they did win one of them!). The five bands with the most British Open appearances in the last half-century or so (Fairey, Grimethorpe, Foden's, Dyke and Brighouse) have been drawn number 1 only 8 times between them in a combined appearance tally of 273!