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West of England Regional Championships
2002
Note:
4BR trawl many past results to bring you this preview and therefore
we occasionally make mistakes. If you do spot one, then please email
us the correct information and we'll amend the article as soon as
possible.
Second Section:
The Colston Hall, Bristol
Saturday 6th April
Adjudicator: Michael Fowles
Commences: 10.00am
Competing Bands:
Bath Spa (D. Walker), Bendix Kingswood (K. White), Bugle Silver
(D. Pope), Chalford (S. Tubb), City of Winchester Brass (Major Chris
Davies), Corsham (tba), Gillingham Imperial Silver (G. Lewis), Jersey
Premier Brass (T. Pritchard), Lanner and District Silver (S. Chappel),
Launceston Town (tba), Lympstone South West Telecoms (C. Fleming),
Phoenix Brass (Crewkerne) (G. Greenstock), South Molton Town (Lt.
Col. C. Ross), St. Pinnock (M. Medin), Torbay Brass (C. Waller),
Wincanton Silver (D. Shead).
The Second Section should see a close run contest for the two
qualification places for Torquay and adjudicator, Michael Fowles
will have his work cut out picking through the bones of the performances
of the 16 bands on the Ewald “Symphony”.
The field contains two bands that were relegated from the First
Section and two promoted from the Third, but it could be a repeat
of last years result as the reigning champions, Bendix Kingswood
are back to defend their title.
Bath Spa were 8th last year when they were taken by the ebullient
Duncan Beckley, but that was a disappointment for them as they came
3rd the year previous and 6th in 1999. They will be hoping that
2002 will see them return to winning ways and not a return back
to the 14th place of 1998. They came 3rd at the Wessex contest in
the First Section, so hopes will be high.
Bendix Kingswood are the reigning champions and showed last year
that they were keen to put behind them the relegation from the First
Section of 2000, when they dropped down a rung after three years
of lowly finishes. They were 13th in 1998, 15th in 1999 and then
10th in 2000, so last years win was a timely reminder to their rivals
who may have thought they would struggle. Favourites again we think.
Bugle Silver come from a famous banding town, and they will be keen
to continue their year on year improvement at the contest which
has seen them come 8th in 1998, followed by 13th, 9th and 6th last
year. They came 2nd at their home contest and 2nd again at Torquay,
so they too will be hoping for further success.
Chalford and S. Tubb have been together for a while and since being
relegated from the First Section in 1999 after coming 14th and 11th
in the previous years, they at first consolidated by coming 15th
in 2000 and then performed strongly to come 4th last year. They
have also been busy in the contesting field during 2001 and came
2nd at Weston, 8th at Wychavon, 11th at Pontins and 2nd at Gloucester.
City of Winchester came 9th last year, which was their first in
the section following three years in which they finally gained promotion
from the Third Section. In those years they came 7th, 3rd and then
runners up to gain their lift up and with Major Chris Davies at
the helm they could well feature around the prize list this time
around.
Corsham are another band that will be hoping to continue their vein
of good form at the contest, as in the last three years they have
improved on each outing and they came 5th last year. That followed
8th place in 2000 and 16th in 1999, whilst they were 7th in 1998.
Gillingham Imperial Silver however, will be hoping to regain a bit
of form here as they have struggled a bit of late. They were relegated
from the First Section after coming 15th and 16th in 1997 and 1998
and they have followed this by coming 10th twice and 15th last year.
A change of conductor for this year may be the inspiration they
have needed.
Jersey Premier Brass make a welcome return to the contest after
missing last year, and they will be hoping to at the very least
repeat their 4th place here in 1999. What they won’t want to
repeat of their 14th place of 2000, and they came 16th at Pontins
late last year. We will have to wait and see then.
Lanner and District Silver are another band that didn’t compete
at the contest last year and were subsequently relegated from the
First Section after they struggled during the previous three years
when they came 11th in 1997, 7th in 1998, 15th in 1999 and 14th
in 2000. Things could be looking up though as they recently won
the second section at the Hall for Cornwall contest.
Launceston Town came 11th at the contest last year, their first
in the section following their promotion from the Third tier, where
they came 3rd in 1998, 10th in 1999 and 4th in 2000. They were winners
at the Bugle Contest in the First Section and came 3rd at Torquay
in the Third Section during 2001.
Lympstone South West Telecoms are one of the form bands at the moment
and have been rising very sharply up through the sections during
the past couple of years. They won the Fourth Section in 1997 and
followed this with 3rd in 1998 and another win in 1999. After promotion
they were winners again in the higher section in the Millennium
year and gained promotion here after coming 4th in the Third Section
in 2001. The National Champions of the Fourth Section in 1999, they
have been busy and successful during 2001 and came 3rd at Bugle,
won at Torquay and Weston and were 9th at Pontins.
Phoenix Brass (Crewkerne) came 7th last year, which was the second
year in a row that they have consolidated their position. They were
6th in 2000, which was their first in the section following two
consecutive wins in the Third Section in 1998 and 1999. They came
3rd at the Torquay contest and 10th at Wychavon.
South Moulton will be hoping to continue their improvement at the
contest, as in 2000 they were 16th and last year they came 12th.
This followed three years in the First Section when they struggled
a bit and came 10th in 1997, 15th and 14th to be relegated here.
They recently came 2nd at the Torquay contest.
St. Pinnock will be fielding their third new MD at the contest in
as many years and they will be hoping that the chance will hopefully
give them the inspiration to push them up the listings after coming
11th in 2000 and 10th last year. They were promoted here following
a series of performances in the Third Section that resulted in 2nd
in 1998 and 4th in 1999.
Torbay Brass find themselves back in the Second Section for the
first time since they won the National 3rd Section title itself
in 1993. Those were the years in which they struck up a very successful
partnership with Brian Buckley, but since then they came 5th here
in 1998, followed by 8th, 13th and 12th last year.
Wincanton Silver are a band on the up and are competing here at
this level following a rapid rise through the lower sections that
saw them coming 7th in the lowest tier in 1997, followed by two
consecutive runner up spots and promotion in 1999 and two consecutive
3rd places in the Third section and promotion once more. How will
the handle the added pressure here?
That’s the line up here then, and although one or two bands
may on form be a short head above the rest, it will surely be a
close run thing. Michael Fowles will be earning his money.
2001 Result:
Bendix Kingswood
City of Bristol Brass
Test Valley Brass
Chalford
Corsham
Bugle Silver
4BR Predictions:
Bendix Kingswood
Chalford
Lympstone South West Telecoms
Lanner and District
Corsham
Launceston
Dark Horse: Jersey Premier Brass
The Champions:
2001: Bendix Kingswood
2000: Ocean Brass
1999: Solent Concert
1998: Redruth Town
1997: Yeovil Town
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