|
Midlands Regional Championships
2002
Third
Section:
Sunday 3rd March, Town Hall
Adjudicator: TBA
Commences: 10.00am
Competing Bands:
Alcester Victoria (N. Keft): Arrow Valley (A. Culshaw): Audley Valley Brass (K.
Birch): Carlton Brass (T. Wilson): City of Birmingham (W. Belshaw): Daventry Brass
(P. Northey): Dronfield CMW (M. Knowles): Foresters Brass 2000 (D. Blakeson):
Ilkeston Brass 2000 (D. Jones): Malvern Hills and District (TBA): Market Rasen
(Rhoades) (J. Hall): Matlock (K. Short): Ratby Coop "Mid" Band (G. Newman):
Raunds Temperance (J. Fletcher): Rushden Windmill (R. Graves): Shirland Welfare
Training (M. Smith): Syston (TBA): West Mercia Constabulary (H. Gibbs): Whitwell
Brass (K. Vernon).
Another packed field. 19 bands will have to get their lips around the excellent
"St. Austell Suite" by Kenneth Downie, which should prove an a very
enjoyable experience for both players and audience alike (if there is any - it's
usually two men and dog time at 10.00am). Plenty of hard working bands hoping
to get the two spots for Torquay. Should be good contest.
Alcester Victoria
came 14th last year which was down on their 6th place of 2000. Their recent 7th
place at Wychavon gives some indication of how they are shaping up, whilst Arrow
Valley came 2nd at the same contest and 5th here last year and so should be capable
of coming in the prize list at least and build towards a return to the Second
Section where they were relegated from in 2000. Andy Culshaw leads their attempt
at the title. Audley Brass came 15th at Pontins last year, which was a disappointment
to a band that came third at this contest last time out and who were promoted
to the section after winning the Fourth Section title in 1999, whilst Carlton
Brass are also in the Third Section following their promotion from the Fourth
last year. They were a busy band in 2001 and came 6th at the Nationals and 7th
at Pontins so they will certainly be confident of holding their own in the higher
section. City of Birmingham fall into the Third section this year after
a struggle to stay up in the Second Section over the past three years which saw
them come 19th in 1999, 16th in 2000 and 20th last year. They will certainly be
hoping for a change of fortune this year. Daventry Brass came 13th last year and
4th the year before after being relegated from the Second Section in 1999. They
too will be hoping that last years result was only a blip. Dronfield CMW
have had three steady years at the contest since 1999 when they came 6th. 2000
saw them come home 11th and they improved to 9th last time out so, it could hopefully
be another step in right direction this time, whilst Foresters Brass 2000 and
the experienced Don Blakeson will be going all out to repeat heir triumph of 2001
and get a repeat win. 2001 saw them go and claim 13th at the National Finals and
4th at Pontins so they should be one of the favourites. Ilkeston Brass 2000
also fell through the trap door of relegation last year and will be hoping to
get a good result here and start the return back up through the sections, whilst
Malvern Hills and District recently came 4th at Wychavon and 10th here last year,
their first in the Third Section following their promotion from the Fourth Section. Market
Rasen have improved greatly over the last three years as well and from coming
11th here in 1999, they came 14th in 2000 and then 7th spot last year. They could
get an even higher placing this year. Matlock have been going in the opposite
direction however in the last three years and since coming 8th in 1999 they have
fallen back to 10th in 2000 and 15th last year. They will be hoping to reverse
the trend this time out. Ratby Cooperatives "Mid" Band (fine name!)
recently came 5th at Wychavon and have gained promotion this year to the Third
Section following three years of solid achievement in the Fourth Section where
they came 8th last year, 10th in 2000 and 12th in 1999. Raunds Temperance meanwhile
enter as one of the favourites for the title after their 2nd place here last year
and 3rd place at the National Finals. They have made great progress in recent
years and won the Fourth Section title here in 2000. Could do very well. Rushden
Windmill (another great name!) will also be hoping that last years result was
just a blip as they came 12th after a fine performance the year before saw them
just miss out on a top two spot when they came third. Shirland Welfare Training
however will approach the contest with hopes and confidence sky high after winning
the National Finals Fourth Section title brilliantly last year and recently also
making it a double by winning the Mineworkers crown. 2nd place in the Fourth Section
last year was good, and they should do very well in the Third Section if recent
form is an accurate guide. Syston also gained promotion after three good
steady years of solid achievement in the Fourth Section, but they gained promotion
after coming 6th last year. They have offset this recently with a fine performance
at Wychavon where they came 3rd and they also came 12th at Pontins in October
last year. West Mercia Constabulary gained promotion from the Fourth Section after
coming 3rd last year and so will also be hoping to do well in the higher section,
whilst Whitwell Brass also moved up a Section following their 4th place last year.
This was the culmination of three good years work at the Regionals in the Fourth
Section where they improved from 15th in 1999 to 11th in 2000. They also came
14th at Pontins last year.
2001 Result:
1. Brass 2000
2. Raunds Temperance
3. Audley Brass
4. Whaley Bridge
5. Arrow Valley
6. Stourport Brass
4BR Prediction:
1. Foresters Brass 2000
2. Raunds Temperance
3. Shirland Welfare Training
4. Arrow Valley
5. Malvern Hills
6. Syston
Dark Horse: Ratby Cooperative
©
4BarsRest
 back
to top
| 
