ARTICLES

2003 North of England Regional Qualifying Championships

Second Section
Saturday 15th March
Starts: 3.00pm approx

Adjudicator: Colin Hardy


Test Piece: Celestial Prospect - Wilfred Heaton

Colin Hardy is the man in the box for this section and he should be able to enjoy himself with a good test piece and some hard working and very decent standard bands.

With just the one band coming down from the 1st Section in the shape of Spennymoor Town and two up from the 3rd in the form of Houghton Brass and Lanchester it should make for a close run competition and may well be a repeat if last year.

The bands at this level haven’t done too badly when it comes to the Nationals in the last few years and Langbaurgh came 5th in Torquay whilst there have been a podium place for Greggs in 1998 and a 4th place for Yarm in 1999. You do however have to go back a long way to find a qualifier from here that has actually won the Nationals though – 1975 in fact when the Northumbria Police took the title back to their nick. Since then it has been a barren journey, and so the top two will be keen to put a end to that sorry record when they get to Dundee late this year.

Barnard Castle
Conductor: I. Johnson

Last Year: DNC
Last Seven Years:
2002: DNC
2001: 6th 1st Section (rel)
2000: 8th 1st Section
1999: N/K
1998: 6th 1st Section
1997: 3rd 1st Section
1996: N/K

Barnard Castle were missing from the contest last year and were subsequently relegated to the 2nd Section. They have done well here in the past though and came 3rd here in 1997 under the baton of G. Hutchinson in the 1st Section. Hopefully they have regrouped and will want to return back there as soon as possible.

Cockerton Prize Silver
Conductor: G. Catherall

Last Year: 2nd
Last Seven Years:
2002: 2nd
2001: 6th
2000: 6th
1999: N/K
1998: 8th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 2nd

Last years runners up will once more be directed by G. Catherall and last year they went from here to come 12th at the National Finals. They were relegated from the 1st Section in 1999 and since then they had two solid years in which they came 6th before that push for the top a twelve month ago. Should be up there again we think.

Felling
Conductor: R. Poole

Last Year: 6th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 6th
2001: 8th
2000: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1999: N/K
1998: 8th (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Felling won the 3rd Section title here in 2000 when they went on to come 12th at the National Finals and since then they have made steady progress under R. Poole. 8th in 2001 and then 6th last year shows they are moving in the right direction. They could well be in with a shout this time.

Ferryhill Town
Conductor: T. Maddison

Last Year: 9th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 9th
2001: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
2000: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1999: 4th 4th Section
1998: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 3rd 3rd Section

If we remember rightly we may have tipped Feryhill to do really well here last time out and they came 9th and last, so we won’t put the kiss of death on them just yet. The band has made excellent progress in recent years so last year can be written off as a blip and no more hopefully. They won the 4th Section title here in 2000 when they went on to come 20th at the Nationals and they then won the 3rd Section the following year when they went on to come 16th at Preston. The only way is up this year so we hope they do it without any help from us.

Flimby Saxhorn
Conductor: D. Jones

Last Year: 4th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 4th
2001: 5th
2000: 5th
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

A famous old band, Flimby were conducted to success here as far back as 1993 in the 1st Section by a very young man called Ian Porthouse. We wonder whatever happened to him? The band were relegated back to this section in 1999 after coming as high as 4th in the 1st Section the year before and since then they have been strong challengers. They came 3rd in 1999 and have followed that up with two 5th places and 4th last year. More of the same could well be on the books and with a new MD at the helm they should be in with a shout.

GT Group Peterlee
Conductor: B. Holden

Last Year: 8th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th
2001: DNC
2000: 2nd
1999: 2nd
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

8th last was OK for the band especially as they didn’t compete in 2001. We don’t know the reason for that as at the time they would have been one of the favorites to gain promotion after coming runners up here in both 1999 and 2000. In 1999 they went to the Nationals where they came 6th and then came 15th in 2000 under the baton of Duncan Beckley. They may not be quite ready for another return to the Finals just yet but you never know do you?

Houghton Brass
Conductor: T. Gibson

Last Year: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
2001: 4th 3rd Section
2000: 5th 3rd Section
1999: N/K
1998: 10th (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Houghton’s were the clear winners of the 3rd Section last year and gained promotion up to the 2nd on the back of it. That was the culmination of three years of continual improvement here by the band and they will be keen to keep that going this year as well. They went to the Finals in Torquay where they came 18th, but they were drawn number 1 and could count themselves a little unlucky. Hopefully they won’t get the short straw here this time and should be able to make a mark.

Lanchester
Conductor: G. Tindall

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

Lanchester are the other band to come up from the 3rd Section after two years in which they secured consecutive podium finishes here. Over the past few years though they have worked hard and seem to be moving in the right direction under the baton of G. Tindall. In 2000 they qualified for the National Finals in the 4th Section and went to Harrogate where they came 8th. Maybe not this year but a band that will get better and better.

Langbaurgh Brass
Conductor: T. Oldroyd

Last Year: Winners
Last Seven Years:
2002: Winners
2001: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
2000: 3rd 3rd Section
1999: Winners 3rd Section
1998: 9th 3rd Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Last years victors are back again and we think they will once more be the band to beat. We heard them at the National Finals in Torquay where they played very well indeed to come 5th and we were also impressed by the neat baton work of Tim Oldroyd in front of them. They also qualified for the Finals in 2001 in the 3rd Section where they came 4th, so they have a taste for success. We think that will continue this year as well.

Spennymoor Town
Conductor: D. Beckley

Last Year: 11th 1st Section (rel)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 11th 1st Section (rel)
2001: 10th 1st Section
2000: 6th 1st Section
1999: N/K
1998: 4th (prom)
1997: 4th
1996: 3rd

Spennymoor were relegated back to the 2nd Section after coming 11th and last in the 1st Section in 2002 under the direction of P. Cutler. However they have made a very sensible move in teaming up with the very experienced Duncan Beckley who knows a thing or two about gaining success in the lower divisions and with a few new signings we think they could do very well here. A qualification sot and the start of the return back to the 1st Section may start this weekend.

York Railway Institute
Conductor: D. Warley

Last Year: 3rd
Last Seven Years:
2002: 3rd
2001: 2nd
2000: 9th
1999: DNC
1998: 9th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 4th 1st Section

York have been strong contenders here over the past couple of years and after not contesting in 1999 they have come back and really made a mark. 9th in 2000 was followed by a runners up spot in 2001 when they went on to come 17th at the National Finals and they just missed out on another trip last year when they were 3rd. They should do well again we think and a top six place should be well within their capabilities.

Past Winners:

2002: Langbaurgh Brass
2001: Westoe (STHCT)
2000: Harrogate
1999: Yarm and District
1998: Rowntree
1997: Cottingham
1996: Carlisle St. Stephens
1995: Broughton’s Brass
1994: Grimsby Band
1993: Rowntree
1992: Rowntree

Winning Conductors:


2002: T. Oldroyd
2001: S. Malcolm
2000: D. Lancaster
1999: M. Sidwell
1998: C. Hirst
1997: R. Grantham
1996: W. Rumford
1995: B. Holden
1994: J. Hall
1993: D. Warley
1992: D. Warley

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: D. Horsfield
2001: J. Roberts
2000: N/K
1999: N/K
1998: N. Childs
1997: B. Thompson
1996: N/K
1995: D. Wilby

Past Qualifiers:

2002: Langbaurgh Brass, Cockerton Silver
2001: Westoe (STHCT), York Railway Institute
2000: Harrogate, GT Group Peterlee
1999: Yarm and District, GT Group Peterlee
1998: Rowntree Band, Greggs Bakery
1997: Cottingham, Greggs Bakery
1996: Carlisle St. Stephens, Cockerton Silver
1995: Broughton’s Brass, Flookburgh

North of England bands at the Finals:

2002: 5th, 12th
2001: 11th, 17th
2000: 11th, 15th
1999: 4th, 6th
1998: 3rd, 14th

Last Years Result:

1. Langbaurgh Brass – T. Oldroyd 184pts
2. Cockerton Silver – G. Catherall 183pts
3. York Railway Institute – D. Warley 181pts
4. Flimby Saxhorn – H. Robinson 179pts
5. Pride Valley Brass – R. Morton 178pts
6. Felling – N. Davies 176pts
7. GT Group Peterlee – B. Holden 175pts
8. Carlisle St. Stephens – G. Kydd 174pts
9. Ferryhill Town – S. Robson 170pts

4BR Prediction:

With not a lot of changes in the line up from a twelve month ago there seems to be the likelihood that a repeat of last year may be on the cards. We think that Langbaurgh are likely to do the double as they seem to be the form band, whilst we have a sneaky suspicion that Duncan Beckley’s magic may prove beneficial to Spennymoor in their first season back and we tip them to take the second qualification spot. After that it is much the same as 2002 with Cockerton claiming the last podium spot and Houghton making another mark on their rise to the top. York and Flimby should complete the top six whilst Felling will be the dark horses.

1. Langbaurgh
2. Spennymoor Town
3. Cockerton
4. Houghton Brass
5. York Railway Institute
6. Flimby Saxhorn

Dark Horses: Felling

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