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Yorkshire Regional Championships
Third Section:
We take a look at the competitors in the Third Section, all trying to get
a place in the top two and get a trip to Torquay.
Third
Section:
Saturday 2nd March
Adjudicator: John Maines
Commences 10.45am Competing Bands: Armthorpe Elmfield (H. Griffiths):
Clifton and Lightcliffe (R. Collinson): Crofton Silver (R. Larder): Dearne Valley
(G. Williams): Frickley/South Elmshall (J. Wade): Friendly Band (Sowerby Bridge)
(C. Caton): Gawthorpe Brass '85 (J. Edward): Hebden Bridge (Walkleys Clogs) (I.
Craddock): Maltby Miners Welfare (T. Clifford): Ouhtibridge (D. Moore): Slaithwaite
(K. Lever): Wetherby and District (D. Lancaster). Another close run contest
in the offering here and it could be a tough decision for adjudicator John Maines,
although he certainly has enough experience of lower section bands to separate
the good from the not so good. Armthorpe Elmfield are the reigning champions
after winning the title here in 2001 and will be keen to repeat their triumph.
They went on to come 9th at the Nationals and came 4th at the Miners so they could
well be up there again, whilst Clifton and Lighcliffe were the winners of the
Fourth Section in 2001, came 10th at the Nationals and recently came 4th in the
Yorkshire and Humberside contest, so they too will travel with high hopes. Crofton
and Lightcliffe are a solid outfit and will be looking for a repeat of their second
place here in 1999, as since then they have had to be content with some midfield
finishes and came 8th last year and 6th in 2000. Dearne Valley came 11th last
year, their first in the section after 3rd in the Fourth Section and gaining promotion
and will be hoping to consolidate their position, whilst Frickley/South Elmshall
will be hoping that their 5th place last year can be improved upon and they can
gain promotion back to the Second Section after they were relegated in 2001. The
Friendly Band (Sowerby Bridge) has established themselves as solid performers
here without ever quite doing enough in the past couple of years to force their
way into the prizes and they will be keen to improve on last year's 9th place
and 10th of 2000. They came 19th at Pontins and 6th at Manchester recently so
it may be fingers crossed. Meanwhile Gawthorpe '85 find themselves in the Third
Section after being relegated last year when they were placed 10th in the Second
Section and 12th in 2000. Hebden Bridge (Walkleys Clogs) under Ian Craddock
will also be looking to push for a prize as in the last two years they have finished
mid table in 10th in 2001 and 8th in 2000 and so will looking for a repeat of
their third place of 1999. They came 7th at the recent Wilkinson contest. Maltby
Miners gained promotion from the Fourth Section after coming 2nd here last year
and went on to claim 11th place at the Nationals and 11th place at Pontins in
the Fourth Section, so this will be a big test for the band that won the Fourth
Section title here in 1999. Oughtibridge did well to come 7th last year
in their first year in the Third Section after being promoted from the Fourth
Section. They are making steady progress under Dave Moore and have risen form
last but one in the lowest section in 1999 to here in a short space of time. Slaithwaite
have a famous past and now appears a brighter future after coming 4th here last
year and 9th in 2000. They recently came 2nd at the Manchester contest and 4th
at the Wilkinson contest so hopes should be high that they can continue on the
upward path. Finally Wetherby and District came 6th last year, their first year
in the section after winning the Fourth Section in 2000 and after winning the
Yorkshire and Humberside Contest a month or so back they travel with a realistic
chance of success. A close contest then and with Kenneth Downie's "St.
Austell Suite" a stern test for bands of this standard it could be the band
that makes the least mistakes that take the title. 2001
Result: 1. Armthorpe Elmfield
2. Horbury Victoria
3. West Yorkshire Police
4. Slaithwaite
5. Frickley South Elmshall
6. Wetherby and District 4BR Prediction: 1.
Armthorpe Elmfield
2. Wetherby and District
3. Slaithwaite
4. Frickley South Elmshall
5. Clifton and Lightcliffe
6. Gawthorpe '85 Dark Horse: Oughtibridge
© 4BarsRest
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