ARTICLES

2003 Yorkshire Regional Qualifying Championships

Second Section
St. George's Hall, Bradford
Saturday 1st March
Starts 10.45am

Adjudicator:
Colin Hardy

Yorkshire has a very good record of producing bands that have gone on and actually won the National title in the Second Section, and last year, Hade Edge under the baton of Simon Wood went from Bradford to Torquay and won the big ‘un. Prior to that Holme won in 1999 and there has also been Chapletown in 1994. In fact since 1998, at least one of the two qualifiers has come in the top four, so whoever gets through this time will travel to Dundee with high hopes of doing well.

Lots of good solid bands on display with Armthorpe and Frickley up from the 3rd Section to add spice to proceedings. There is a very good set work to test the bands, and the experienced judge, Colin Hardy, whilst some past winners and their conductors have gone on to greater things, including Robert Childs who won here way back in 1992.

It could well come down to a close fight between three or four bands with the talent to go with their ambitions and those who have mastered the basics required in a test piece that will strech the bands to the full. Should be well worth taking the time listening to then.

Armthorpe Elmfield
Conductor: H. Griffiths

Last Year: 5th 3rd Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th 3rd Section (prom)
2001: Winners 3rd Section
2000: 3rd 3rd Section
1999: 13th 3rd Section
1998: 8th 3rd Section
1997: 12th 2nd Section (rel)
1996: 13th 2nd Section

A band that has been here before – they were relegated in 1997 after propping up the prize list, so they will be determined to stay longer this time around. Won the 3rd Section title in 2001, but came 5th last year. They gained promotion, but will be hoping to at least hold their own first year back at least.

Elland Silver
Conductor: TBA

Last Year: 10th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 10th
2001: 8th
2000: 6th
1999: 10th
1998: 8th
1997: 6th
1996: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)

A solid record in the past few years here, but not one that has suggested that they have been pushing for the prizes. Are things due for a change then? Last year they came 10th, and that was the third year in a row that they had come lower than the previous outing, so they will want to reverse the trend this time around. Could this be the year and a return to the championship winning days of 1994 and 1995 when they took the 4th section titles?

Frickley/South Elmsall
Conductor: J. Wade

Last Year: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
2001: 5th 3rd Section
2000: 9th (rel)
1999: 12th
1998: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1997: 5th 3rd Section
1996: 10th 3rd Section

Promoted up from the 3rd Section, Frickley are a band that has an excellent record of achievement at Bradford over the years, including their win in 1998. They were twice runners up in the 4th section in 1993 and 1994, 3rd in the 3rd section in 1995 and then winning in 1998. They will hope to last longer than the two years in the higher section this time though.

Hatfield Coal Power
Conductor: G. O’Connor

Last Year: 5th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th
2001: 7th
2000: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1999: 8th (rel)
1998: 6th
1997: 11th
1996: 9th

Another band who have won the 3rd section, but have managed to survive with a touch of cofort at the higher level since 2001. The last two years have seen a 7th place and then 5th last year, so they are on an upward curve. The experienced Graham O’Connor will have done plenty of work on the test piece and they should be well prepared to make an even higher mark.

Huddersfield Bras
Conductor: I. Tiffany

Last Year: 11th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 11th
2001: 11th
2000: 3rd
1999: 9th
1998: 5th
1997: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1996: 5th 4th Section (prom)

After two consecutive promotions from the 4th and 3rd sections, Huddersfield have settled into the higher section, but now need a good result to maintain that status further. They seemed on course for further promotion after coming 3rd in 2000, but have fallen away slightly in the last two years and with a new MD they will be looking for a good result to at least saty up.

Meltham & Meltham Mills
Conductor: S. Fawcett

Last Year: 6th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 6th
2001: 5th
2000: 10th
1999: 7th 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 4th 3rd Section
1997: 13th (rel)
1996: 11th

One of the most famous names in Yorkshire and UK banding have had three good solid years of late here, just being on the edge of the top six for the last two years. They were promoted up after two years in the 3rd section, but have proved they are more than good enough to hold their own. What they need to do now is to show they can really challenge for a qualifying place.

Old Silkstone
Conductor: N. Law

Last Year: 7th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 7th
2001: 3rd
2000: 7th
1999: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 5th 3rd Section
1997: 7th 3rd Section
1996: DNC

Old Silkstone were one of the favourites here last year, and many had them marked down for a win after their performance. It wasn’t to be though and they had to be content with 7th place, a repeat of 2000. Ex Black Dyke man Norman Law has been here for a while and has put together a very good band. They could well by the band to beat again and add to their 3rd section victory of 1999 in the process.

South Yorkshire Police
Conductor: TBA

Last Year: 4th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 4th
2001: 10th 1st Section (rel)
2000: 6th 1st Section
1999: 4th (prom)
1998: 4th
1997: 7th
1996: 7th

Our friends from the force haven’t informed us of their MD at present, so we don’t know who will take over from D. Lever who took them to a good 4th place last year. They found life in the higher section a touch difficult when they were promoted in 2000 and returned after a couple of years. At this level though they are worthy contenders and could well again feature – if they have found an MD!

Strata Brass
Conductor: D. Horn

Last Year: 8th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th
2001: 4th
2000: 8th
1999: N/K
1998: N/K
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

We could only find records for the band for the past three years, but in that time they have fluctuated a bit with two 8th places in 2000 and last year, and 4th in 2001. The band were the former artists known as Weaver Building Group and have been led by David Horn for some time. They do well on the contest circuit and could well make a mark here this year.

West Yorkshire Police
Conductor: B. Thompson

Last Year: 5th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th
2001: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
2000: 5th 3rd Section
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: N/K
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

The second police band in this section have made steady progress over the past few years under the baton of the experiences Barry Thompson, who also knows what it takes to impress a judge, as he is a busy man in the box. The band didn’t compete before 1999 as far as we could find out, but since then have improved on each outing and gained promotion from the 3rd section in 2001. 5th last year, they will be keen to keep the year on year improvement going this time around.

Yorkshire Building Society Concert
Conductor: M. Hannan

Last Year: 9th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 9th
2001: 12th 1st Section (rel)
2000: 6th 1st Section
1999: 7th 1st Section
1998: 2nd (prom)
1997: 2nd
1996: 10th

The “other” YBS have been making a name for themselves over the past few years and this time around they have a new MD to help try and improve on last years 9th place. They were runners up here in this section in both 1997 and 1998 before being promoted. They lasted three years in the 1st section before returning last year. They will be hoping to build on last years result and start the climb back to the qualification places.

Past Winners:

2002: Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson)
2001: Knottingly Silver
2000: Pennine Brass
1999: Holme Silver
1998: Wakefield Metropolitan
1997: Todmorden Old
1996: Rothwell Temperance
1995: Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson)
1994: Armthorpe Elmfield
1993: East Yorkshire Brass
1992: City of Hull

Winning Conductors:

2002: S. Wood
2001: K. Belcher
2000: I. Porthouse
1999: D. Beckley
1998: B. Dyson
1997: D. Hadfield
1996: D. Roberts
1995: E. Landon
1994: A. Griffiths
1993: A. Whitaker
1992: R. Childs


Test Pieces:

2002: Symphony for Brass – V. Ewald
2001: The Moor of Venice – W. Alwyn
2000: The Sword, Jewel and Mirror – P. Harper
1999: Symphonic Suite – L. Lucas
1998: Culloden Moor – G. Wood
1997: New Buckingham Suite – A. Jackman
1996: Hollywood – G. Richards
1995: Rococo Variations – A. Street
1994: A Salford Sinfonietta – D. Barry
1993: Oceans – G. Richards
1992: Dimensions -

Adjudicators:

2002: J. Roberts
2001: G. Cutt
2000: R. Roe
1999: M. Brownbill
1998: S. Sykes
1997: K. Bolton
1996: A. Fernie
1995: D. Broadbent

Past Qualifiers:

2002: Hade Edge, Horbury Victoria
2001: Knottingly Silver, Hade Edge
2000: Pennine Brass, Knottingly Silver
1999: Holme Silver, Stannington
1998: Wakefield Metropolitan, YBS Concert Brass
1997: Todmorden Old, YBS Concert Brass
1996: Rothwell Temperance, Tingley Thornhill
1995: Hade Edge, South Yorkshire Police

Yorkshire bands at the Finals:

2002: 1st, 14th
2001: 4th, 5th
2000: 2nd, 9th
1999: 1st, 13th
1998: 4th, 15th

Last Years Result:

1. Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson) – S. Wood 185pts
2. Horbury Victoria – I. Shires 184pts
3. Wilfreda Beehive Hatfield – G. O’Connor 180pts
4. South Yorkshire Police – D. Lever 179pts
5. West Yorkshire Police – B. Thompson 178pts
6. Meltham and Meltham Mills – S. Fawcett 177pts
7. Old Silkstone – N. Law 176pts
8. Weaver Building Group – D. Horn 174pts
9. Yorkshire B.S. Concert – A. McLauchlan 172pts
10. Elland Silver – T. Whittaker 171pts
11. Huddersfield Brass Ensemble – S. Derrick 170pts
12. Stanley Newmarket Colliery – G. Walker 169pts

4BR Prediction:

Difficult one this as no one band really stands head and shoulders above the rest for us. Old Silkstone though were unlucky last year and so we think they may be more determined than most to put that injustice right, so we think they could well be the band to beat.

Meltham and Hatfield should also feature strongly, whilst we think Frickley could make a mark with the two police bands not far behind. Dark horses could well come from Strata and we have a soft spot for the famous old Elland Band. We’ll have to wait and see.

1. Old Silkstone
2. Hatfield Coal Power
3. Meltham and Meltham Mills
4. Frickley/South Elmshall
5. West Yorkshire Police
6. South Yorkshire Police

Dark Horses: Strata Brass

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