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Scottish Regional Championship Second
Section:
Motherwell Civic Centre
Saturday 9th March
Adjudicator: Nigel Boddice
Commences: 9.15am
Competing
Bands: Annan Town (D. Shanks): Clydebank Burgh (D. Laughland): Croy
Parish Silver (A. Friel): Greenhall (tba): Irvine and Dreghorn Brass (J. Boax):
Kilmarnock Concert Brass (A. Keachie): Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass (A. Ramsey):
Newmilns and Galston (C. Anderson): Renfrew Burgh (C. Keenan): Selkirk Silver
(C. Kemp): Tullis Russell Mills Band (S. Barker): Turriff Silver (M Ross)
Scotsman Nigel Boddice has been given the task of trying to sort out the bands
in the Second Section - and we think it will be a difficult task. Plenty of good
solid outfits and talented and experienced conductors will make this a fine contest.
It could well depend on who makes the least number of slips.
Annan Town
were relegated from the first section and return here for the first time since
1998. They had three years in the higher section, coming 9th in '99 and then 4th
and 9th again. They had gained consecutive promotions in 1997 from the third and
second in 1998, so they have come a long way. They will be hoping for a quick
return upwards. Clydebank Burgh are a band on the up and have won consecutive
promotions in 2000 and 2001 as champions of the fourth and third section. They
also came 12th at the Nationals and 6th at Troon so they have competed well on
a local and national stage. Could be one to look out for. Croy Parish Silver
have been a consistent challenger over the past few years and a record since 1997
that reads 9th, 7th, 5th, 11th and 8th shows a solid band, but one that may need
just a slice of luck to make that final push for a qualifying spot. Can they do
it this time? Greenhall are a band very much in the same boat as Croy and
a record that reads since 1997, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 8th and 7th last year are agonisingly
close to success. What celebrations they may have if they finally come in the
top spots can only be imagained.
(Many thanks to Julie Sanderson for pointing out to us that the band has unfortunatley
folded, so they will have to think of something else to celebrate)
Irvine and Dreghorn Brass didn't compete last year, but the previous two
years they had come 4th and 6th in 1999. This followed promotion from the third
section in 1998 after being relegated from this level the year before. They will
be hoping for a repeat of 2000 at least. Kilmarnock Concert Brass should
be the favourites to at least take a qualifying spot after coming so close in
the past two years with two consecutive 3rd places. They will hope that if they
do gain promotion that they will be able to survive a bit longer at the higher
level as after going up as champions in 1997 they struggled at the higher plane
and came 9th and 7th and returned back. The ones to beat possibly? Kirkintilloch
Kelvin Brass have Alan Ramsey to head their challenge and it is a good choice.
They came 5th last year after two consecutive promotions from the fourth and third
sections in 1999 and 2000. They recently came 2nd at the Carnegie contest and
were the best second section band at Whitburn, so they could well be up at the
top come the shake down. Newmilns and Galston will be hoping to stop a decline
in fortunes when they take the stage this year. In 1997 they were promoted from
the first section to the top flight as champions, but since the they have gone
backwards somewhat and came 7th and 10th to be relegated from the championship
and 7th and 10th in the first section to end up here. If the determination is
there they could start the return this weekend.
Renfrew Burgh have been a consistent challenger at the contest
over the past three years after gaining promotion from the third
section as champions in 1998. In 1999 they nearly did it again and
came 3rd before coming 5th in 2000 and 4th last year. They recently
came 5th at the Troon Contest.
Selkirk are another band that is just looking
for that little bit extra to push them into the top placings at the contest and
a record that reads since 1997 of 5th, 5th, 3rd, 7th and 6th last year suggests
they may just do it if they get a little slice of luck and good fortune. Their
recent 2nd place at the Borders contest may just be the tonic that does it. Tullis
Russell Mills Band return to the section after two years in the third section
where they came 6th in 2000 and 2nd last year to gain promotion. They came 15th
at the Nationals and 2nd at Carnegie so hopes will be high to start the move back
to the first section - a place they last occupied in 1997. Turriff Silver
have been a solid performer in the last two years and have two 9th places under
their belt following promotion as champions of the third section in 1999. Moira
Ross is an experienced hand and should steer the band towards he top this year. 2001
Result: 1. Livingston Brass
2. Tayport Instrumental
3. Kilmarnock Concert Brass
4. Renfrew Burgh
5. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
6. Selkirk Silver 4BR Prediction: 1.
Kilmarnock Concert Brass
2. Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
3. Newmilns and Galston
4. Clydebank
5. Renfrew Burgh
6. Selkirk Silver Dark Horse: Greenhall (see preview)
Croy Parish
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