ARTICLES

2003 Scottish Regional Qualifying Championships

First Section
Saturday 8th March
Starts 5.00pm approx

Adjudicators:
John Berryman, Christopher Wormald

Test Piece: Passacaglia on a Theme of Brahms - Arthur Butterworth

The First Section should be a cracking contest – a great testing set piece some pretty good bands and two judges who will be looking for real quality to impress them. The bands in Yorkshire and the Midlands found the Brahms by Butterworth difficult to handle and only a couple of the bands in both regions really made the most of the music. It was the aggression that caused many a downfall so the Scots may well tone it down a bit.

There are plenty of experienced names in front of many of the bands and they will need to dig deep if they are to get their charges to do well. The sop players will be sweating more than usual for sure.

On a National Level the Scots haven’t had too great a time of it in the First Section and have yet to register a win since it was set up in 1992. In the past few years in particular they have found it hard going and have had only two second places in 1998 and 1999 to boast about. The qualifiers will need to be on top form then to create an impression in Dundee, and will also have to be on top form here if they are to impress the judges.

Bathgate
Conductor: A. Duguid

Last Year: 7th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 7th
2001: 4th
2000: 5th
1999: 5th
1998: 5th
1997: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
1996: 3rd 2nd Section

A good solid record here since being promoted in 1998. Since then they have held their own but haven’t really had the class about them to push for a qualification spot. The nearest they have come is 4th place in 2001 when conducted by B. Allen. They should do well again though, but it will once more be hard for them to push for one of the top two places on offer.

Bon Accord Silver
Conductor: T. Swainson

Last Year: 10th Championship (rel)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 10th Championship (rel)
2001: 7th Championship
2000: Winners 1st Section (prom)
1999: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1998: 10th (rel)
1997: 5th
1996: 10th Championship (rel)

Bon Accord have been Scottish Champions on a number of occasions but have fallen away in recent years and dropped out of the Championship Section after coming bottom of the pile a twelve month ago. Prior to that though they had come 7th, so they can play well on the day. They seem to be one of those bands that is either too good for the 1st Section or not good enough for the Championship, so they will be keen to show that they belong on merit in the higher section. They could well feature strongly.

City of Discovery Brass
Conductor: B. Fraser

Last Year: 8th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th
2001: 5th
2000: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
1999: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 8th 3rd Section
1997: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1996: DNC

A tremendous record of achievement in such a short period of time for City of Discovery, who actually hail from Dundee. They will be hoping therefore that 2003 is the year that they claim a qualification place at the National Finals once more (and save themselves a bit of money on the hotel bills) and they have more than held their own here in the past two years. Maybe not quite victors, but a top six or more could well be on the cards.

Croy Parish Silver
Conductor: TBA

Last Year: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: Winners 2nd Section
2001: 8th 3nd Section
2000: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 5th 2nd Section
1998: 7th 2nd Section
1997: 9th 2nd Section
1996: 7th 2nd Section

Croy have been promoted from the 2nd Section after finally winning the title in 2002. It had been a long hard fight to get out of the section, but now they are here they will be keen to make an immediate impression. They came 16th at the National Finals in Torquay, so how they will get on against bigger and better bands here we will have to wait and see.

Dunaskin Doon
Conductor: C. Anderson

Last Year: 4th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 4th
2001: 10th Championship (rel)
2000: 7th Championship
1999: 7th Championship
1998: 2nd (prom)
1997: 3rd
1996: 9th Championship (rel)

Dunaskin Doon seem to be one of those bands that inhabit the grey area of perhaps to good for the 1st Section and not quite good enough for the Championship, but they have a pretty good record nonetheless here. Promoted to the Championship after coming runners up in 1998 (they came 4th at the Nationals Finals that year as well) they had three hard years in the top flight before returning last year where they came a good solid 4th. Cold well force their way onto the podium this time around.

Johnstone Silver
Conductor: R. Tennant

Last Year: 9th Championship (rel)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 9th Championship (rel)
2001: Winners (prom)
2000: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1999: 10th (rel)
1998: 6th
1997: 6th
1996: 3rd

The very experienced Raymond Tennant leads Johnstone Silver once more and they will be keen to get over the disappointment of losing their Championship status after just the one year in the top flight. They won here in 2001 where they went on to come 6th that the National Finals, so they know what it takes. Rumours from our Welsh spies up to see the rugby suggest that they could well be the band to beat.

Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
Conductor: C. Bradley

Last Year: 2nd Second Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
2001: 5th 2nd Section
2000: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1999: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
1998: 3rd 4th Section
1997: 9th 4th Section
1996: 10th 4th Section

Chris Bradley leads the “other” Kirky band into action on the weekend and the former star flugel player of Whitburn will be keen to keep up a super record of achievement at the contest since 1996. Three promotions since then show a band that has matured and improved and last year they were runners up and went to Torquay where they came 8th. They may have to settle for a year of consolidation this time, but don’t be surprised if you see them in the prizes.

Livingston Brass
Conductor: A Samson

Last Year: 3rd
Last Seven Years:
2002: 3rd
2001: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
2000: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1999: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: 8th 2nd Section
1996: DNC

Our spies in Welsh rugby jerseys inform us that Livingstone could well be the other band to make it to the Finals this year as they have made a number of recent signings and have a band that has experience throughout the ranks. 3rd last year showed that they can do it at this level after being promoted up here afater successive wins in the 3rd and 2nd Section. In 2001 they went to the Nationals and came home with 8th place, whilst the year before they were National Runners up. They seem to be a band determined to make it to the top and this could well be another step on the way.

Tayport Instrumental
Conductor: R. McDonald

Last Year: 5th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th
2001: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
2000: 9th (rel)
1999: 6th
1998: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1997: 9th (rel)
1996: 7th

A good solid 5th place last year was a fine result for Tayport after they had gained promotion up from the 2nd Section. They won that section in 1998, but could only survive two years before returning back down. This time they will be determined to ensure that doesn’t happen again and another top 6 placing will do nicely.

UDI Aberdeen City
Conductor: D. James

Last Year: 10th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 10th
2001: 6th
2000: 3rd
1999: 4th
1998: 7th
1997: 4th
1996: 5th (UDI Brass - before merger with Aberdeen City)

UDI Aberdeen came 10th last year, but that was without the inspirational David James at the helm. He had suffered with ill health last time out and was sorely missed so his return will lift spirits. Over the past years though the band has been a strong contender here and always seem to be able to put in a solid show. Not quite enough for a qualification spot, but decent enough. We think it may be the same this time as well, with the band possibly claiming a top six place but missing out on the trip to Dundee.

Past Winners:

2002: Broxburn Public
2001: Johnstone Silver
2000: Bon Accord Silver
1999: Unison Kinneil
1998: Longannet Colliery
1997: Broxburn Public
1996: Dalkeith and Monktonhall
1995: Bon Accord
1994: Dunaskin Doon
1993: Dalmellington
1992: Riverside

Winning Conductors:


2002: M. Marzella
2001: R. Tennant
2000: A. Swainson
1999: A. Hutchinson
1998: T. Wyss
1997: M. Marzella
1996: A. Fernie
1995: E. Paley
1994: J. Hudson
1993: D. Hirst
1992: A. Swainson

Test Pieces:


2002: Royal Parks – G. Lloyd
2001: The Undaunted – E. Ball
2000: Music for the Common Man – K. Downie
1999: Kenilworth – A. Bliss
1998: Purcell Variations – K. Downie
1997: Ballet for Band – J. Horovitz
1996: Spectrum – G. Vinter
1995: Land of the Long White Cloud – P. Sparke
1994: Maoriana – A. Butterworth
1993: The Forest of Dean – D. Bourgeois
1992: Celebration – E. Gregson

Adjudicators:

2002: Marcus Bach
2001: Ian Craddock
2000: James Scott
1999: Lloyd Landry
1998: Roy Roe
1997: Frank Renton
1996: Geoff Whitham
1995: Roy Roe

Past Qualifiers:

2002: Broxburn Public, Clackmannan District Brass.
2001: Johnstone Silver, Bo’ness and Carriden
2000: Bon Accord, Kingdom Brass
1999: Unison Kinneil, Clakmannan and District
1998: Longannet Colliery, Dunaskin Doon
1997: Broxburn Public, Newmilns and Galston
1996: Dalkeith and Monktonhall, Unison Kinneil
1995: Bon Accord, Clackmannan and District

Scottish Bands at the Finals:

2002: 12th, 17th
2001: 6th, 9th
2000: 8th, 9th
1999: 2nd, 5th
1998: 2nd, 4th

Last Years Result:

1. Broxburn Public – M. Maarzella 193pts
2. Clackmannan District Brass – N. Law 191pts
3. Livingston Brass – A. Samson 190pts
4. Dunaskin Doon – D. Hirst 189pts
5. Barrhead Burgh – G. Lindsay 188pts
5. Tayport Instrumental – R. McDonald 188pts
7. Bathgate – A. Duguid 187pts
8. City of Discovery Brass – B. Fraser 186pts
9. Dalkeith and Monktonhall – I. Fleming 185pts
10. UDI Aberdeen City – A. Haggart 184pts

4BR Prediction:

As we have said, we have had our spies out and listening hard over the past week or so and the news that has filtered back to the Principality is that two bands in particular could be the ones to beat. Livingston and Johnstone seem to the names on their lips and so we’ll go wit them and pick them as our qualifiers.

Bon Accord will also be determined to make a mark and we think they could push the top two all the way, whilst Bathgate, Dunaskin Doon and UDI Aberdeen cold well feature in the prize list. Our dark horses though may be Tayport.

1. Livingston
2. Johnston
3. Bon Accord
4. Bathgate
5. Dunaskin Doon
6. UDI Aberdeen

Dark Horse: Tayport

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