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Retrospective look
at the Senior Trophy 2002:
Senior Trophy
Qualifying Contest for the 2003 Senior Cup
Test Piece: Un Vie de Matelot,
Robert Farnon
Top 6 bands qualify for the Senior Cup
Our man at the contest gives our views of the bands performances
in retrospect and also tells you how we placed them on the day and
how far out we were from the good men in the box.
Sat in the Spanish Hall noting each performance and having them
published almost immediately on the website was as Geoff Whitham
said at the end of the contest "putting you neck on the line
and not quite knowing what will happen when the adrenaline flows".
So this contest saw 4BarsRest put its neck on the line and try to
go 'live' at the event so it is interesting in retrospect to see
how we figured all through against the actual placings.
Actual/4BR
1st/1st Pemberton Old Wigan
Well didn't we do well (or perhaps it was so bloody obvious it didn't
take a genius to see the winner in this section) you make your mind
up but we are going to take the former view!
Pemb' produced a richly enjoyable performance and one which naturally
conveyed the give and take of quality ensemble playing. The concentration
here justified the reward. The later stages of the music received
spirited, unexaggerated performance which many other lost in just
being too damn loud.
Lots of solo horn players had a torrid time with this piece but
not so Brain Halliwell being one of the few who nailed the opening.
The solo cornet playing by Joanne Ashley was top notch and complimented
a superb performance.
4BR took a bit of ribbing from the band after the results for having
left them out of our predictions - but then that would have spoiled
the fun the 'pies' had at our expense! Congratulations to all.
Actual/4BR
2nd/4th Newstead Welfare
Again we think a little self praise in getting another prize winner
correct and note we had them in 1st place until band drawn 15th
. We have heard that Duncan Beckley wasn't too well before he took
the stage and we trust he is feeling a little better now. Newstead
Welfare's style was direct and D.B.'s influence from the centre
obviously contributed to the expression the band put into the piece.
Despite the odd point or two where we differed from the adjudicators
in the end, it definitely held sway until those later bands.
Actual/4BR
3rd/2nd The Staffordshire Band
As with the performance at Buxton just last week this performance
again came with spirit and plenty of detail. We felt after Buxton
they would probably be a bit low but with this performance the band
got back into the prizes after the win at the Midlands Regionals.
David Maplestone brought out a performance which did not lack for
atmosphere and in hindsight it was probably those dropped moments
in the opening and closing sections which just robbed them of a
couple of more points. Well we have to blow our own trumpet again
but another good call for 4BR.
Actual/4BR
4th/10th United Co-op Crewe
Generally consistent performers United Co-operatives Crewe came
5th in the 1st Section in the North West Regional Championships,
so came looking for a good result here. On reflection and looking
back at our remarks now they should have given us the clues. We
had the band figured to make it to the Senior Cup until after band
drawn 12th, well past half way in the contest. So here we are left
with the a bit of egg on our face but 'ay 1 out of 4 ain't bad.
Thank God for those two wise men in the box. I assume the Crewe
members will be saying "and don't them bloody 4BR buggers near
an adjudicators box when we're playing" !
Actual/4BR
5th/7th Redbridge
Having tipped Redbridge for third place and one the favourites on
recent form having taken the London Regional Championship we actually
came away from their performance feeling a bit let down. There was
unquestionably some decent playing as our remarks testify but we
felt they came over about 4 points short of our expectations. A
close call with no more than two points and places between us and
the adjudicators on this one.
Actual/4BR
6th/3rd Aldbourne
To read our remarks you might think that we had a bit of a downer
on Aldbourne but in truth this performance always had something
going for it - we kept saying "not bad" We called it for
3rd place and with 6th place from the adjudicators, who must have
thought it "not bad" either, it gave them a qualifying
spot for 2003.
So it's own up time how did we fare overall against the results
from the adjudicators. This is how we matched head to head :-
Results: Actual/4BR
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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
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Pemberton Old Wigan
Newstead Welfare
The Staffordshire Band
United Co-op Crewe
Redbridge
Aldbourne
Dalmellington
Thornbury
Soham Comrades
Bo'Ness & Carriden
Haydock Ogden Travel
Pennine Brass
Johnstone Band
Riddings
Hyde
Chester-le-Street
Cottingham
Yeovil Town
1st Old Boys (Seacat)
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Pemberton Old Wigan
The Staffordshire Band
Aldbourne
Newstead Welfare
Haydock Ogden Travel
Yeovil Town
Rebridge
Soham Comrades
Riddings
United Co-op Crewe
Dalmellington
Thornbury
Bo'Ness & Carriden
Pennine Brass
Johnstone Band
Hyde
1st Old Boys (Seacat)
Chester-le-Street
Cottingham
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Not much between many of the rest with the odd place and two maybe
three points There were exceptions - Haydock Ogden Travel, Riddings
and notably Yeovil.
Actual/4BR
11th/5th Haydock Ogden Travel
We had Haydock figured for a place in the Senior cup in 2003 and
were left a little deflated after they actually figured 6 places
lower in 11th spot. When you look at our placings and the actual
ones, Haydock and Crewe were almost interchangeable - I wonder if
the infamous early draw theory came into play with this one?
Actual/4BR
14th/9th Riddings
Riddings gave a good account of the piece and it was probably in
the mid section where we were more forgiving when we noted "fluffy
euph at times and basses fight with semis later" than Messieurs
Scott and Whitham.
Actual/4BR
18th/6th Yeovil Town
I suppose there was always going to one performance were opinions
would completely differ and this was it. We had Yeovil figured for
a 5th place in our predictions and actually called them for 6th
on the day. No excuses we rated it for a prize and the men in the
box didn't. Apologies to Yeovil for giving them the kiss of death
on this occasion.
And what of our other 'dodgy' predictions?
Pennine Brass - Actual 12th : 4BR 14th
Not much in it and unfortunately about right on the day.
Dalmellington - Actual 7th : 4BR 11th
Much as we called it on the day "a bit of a curates egg"
could have gone either way as far as places were concerned.
Dark Horse - Bo'Ness & Carriden - Actual 10th : 4BR 13th -
Too many mistakes cost and it was a called about right in the mid
table.
Bon-Accord Silver our other fancy withdrew.
So with 4 out of our top 6 in the prizes I think we'll say in this
section we did pretty much did the business!
John James
©
4BarsRest
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