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Scottish Regional Championship Third
Section:
Motherwell Civic Centre
Sunday 10th March
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison
Commences: 10.30am
Competing
Bands: Arbroath Instrumental (M. Robertson): Broxburn Silver (J. Anderson):
Buckhaven and Methil (A. Fernie): Campbeltown Brass (G. Evans): Dundee Instrumental
(St. Margaret's) (J. Tonner): Dunfermline Town (tba): MacTaggart Scott Silver,
Loanhead (A. Fernie): North Ayrshire Band (H. Brennan): Perthshire Brass (G. Annan):
Shotts St. Patrick's Brass (tba): St. David's Brass (J. Dickson): St. Ronan's
Silver (C. Bradley) The Third Section should see one heck of a scrap as
12 equally matched bands lock horns on Kenneth Downie's, "St. Austell Suite".
Alan Morrison is in the box, and he has been a very intelligent and forthright
judge wherever he has been "boxed" in. The music demands an intelligent
approach, not only to the basics of tuning, balance and playing the right notes,
but also to the choice of tempo and interpretation. It's a straightforward piece
that Mr Downie has earmarked very specifically. The bands that could get the trip
will be the ones that get the basics right and add just enough polish to make
it shine. On an odd note though, this is a Scottish contest that has two
bands that have the patron saints of both Wales and Ireland competing in it. Wouldn't
it be great if they could make it a one/two with St Ronan's third - that's some
All Saints Day eh? Arbroath come to the contest as winners of the fourth
section title here last year, and although they came just 16th at the Nationals
they will be determined to do well. Their record reads from 1997, 11th, 10th,
9th in the fourth section and then winners last year. They have improved greatly
in a short space of time and they could really do well. Broxburn Silver
will be hoping to improve on the results of the past two years when they have
come 10th twice in a row, and possibly repeat their 4th place of 1999, whilst
Buckhaven come to the contest on the back of 6th place at the Fife contest and
a good win at Carnegie. They too will be looking for that little bit extra to
push them from last year's 3rd place and into the qualifying spots. They have
a good record of late and came 10th in '98, 5th in '99, 8th in 2000 and 3rd last
year. Campbeltown Brass didn't compete last year and they were relegated
from the second section following three years in which they came 6th in '98, 10th
in '99 and 6th again in 2000. However, they have since come 7th in Fife and 3rd
at both Carnegie and Borders, so hopes will be high of a good result. Dundee
Instrumental won promotion from the fourth section after three years in which
they came 8th, 7th and 2nd last year and they came 17th place at last year's National
Final. It's a step up for the band to the third section, but they will be confident
of doing well. Dunfermline Instrumental (St. Margarets) have a consistent record
here and in the past four years they have come 5th in 1998 and then 7th, 3rd and
11th last year. Their recent 3rd place at Fife should hold hope of them finally
coming in the qualifying spots or at least repeating their 3rd place of '99. MacTaggart
Scott Silver, Loanhead have Alan Fernie at the helm and they will be hoping to
return to the form that saw them come 4th in 1998 and 3rd in '99. The last two
years have seen them drop away a little and they could only manage 11th in 2000
and 7th last year. North Ayrshire meanwhile consolidated themselves in 5th place
in the section last year following their promotion from section four in 2000 when
they came 2nd and went up. They too will be looking to get another step up the
ladder of success. Perthshire Brass meanwhile found life in the third section
a bit more difficult than they thought last year and they could only manage 8th
place. They were relegated from the second section in 2000 after three years in
which they came 8th in 1998 followed by 8th again and 10th in 2000. However, they
were 2nd at the Fife Contest so they will approach this year's contest with better
expectations. Shott's St. Patrick's Brass have had some good results of
late, including winning the best 3rd section band prize at Whitburn and coming
4th at the Carnegie contest. They have a solid record here as well following their
demotion to the section in 1998. 10th in 1999, 5th in 2000 and 6th last year shows
they could well just put themselves in the frame. St David's Brass will
also be trying to improve on their showing of last year when they came 4th. They
were promoted to the section after winning the fourth section title in 1998 and
have become a solid performer here, coming 7th in '99, 9th in 2000 and 4th last
year. St Ronan's Silver have Chris Bradley of Whitburn fame at the helm
and they too will be hoping that they can improve on last year's result when they
came home 9th. This followed their performance in coming 4th in 2000 after being
promoted as champions of the fourth section in 1999. They also won the recent
Border's Contest in December. 2001 Result: 1.Clydebank
Burgh
2. Tullis Russell Mills
3. Buckhaven Methil Miners
4. St. David's Brass
5. North Ayrshire
6. Shotts St. Patrick's Brass
4BR Prediction:
1. Arbroath Instrumental
2. St. Ronan's Silver
3. Buckhaven Methil Miners
4. Shotts St. Patrick's Brass
5. Perthshire Brass
6. St. David's Brass
Dark Horse: North Ayrshire
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