ARTICLES

2003 London and Southern Counties Regional Qualifying Championships

Third Section
Saturday 15th March
Starts 10.00am

Adjudicator: Melvin White



Test Piece: Northern Landscapes - Peter Graham

Melvin White will have the task of separating out 17 bands in this section and although he has plenty of experience of judging at this level he will surely find it a hard task to separate out any number of bands who n the day could well take the top prize.

There are seven bands promoted up from the 4th section which bloats this section up from the 13 of last year. No band has come down from the 2nd Section. This means that it is a very level playing field indeed and it will be interesting to see how those bands do in the higher section and if they find any appreciable difference between the two levels. We don’t think it will that big a jump for the better bands but a few have been promoted on the back of pretty average results last year and they could well struggle.

A fine set work should test the bands here to the full and it would be nice to see one of them at least go aon to the Finals in Dundee and make a real mark. The last band to do that was Brent in 1998 who came runners up and the last band to win the 3rd Section was Fairlop in 1995.

Amersham
Conductor: A. Fawbert

Last Year: 13th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 13th
2001: 4th 4th Section (prom)
2000: 13th 4th Section
1999: 21st 4th Section
1998: 13th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Amersham have battled hard to gain promotion from the bottom section and they did so in 2001 after coming 4th. Last year they found it hard work and came last, but they will be hoping to gain a few places this time. It could be hard for them.

Bradwell Silver
Conductor: B. Keech

Last Year: 4th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 4th
2001: 13th
2000: 15th
1999: 6th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 6th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

A band moving in the right direction if the recent results here are anything to go by. The band gained promotion after two consecutive 6th places in 1998 and 1999 and have since climbed the table in impressive fashion and they have jumped from 15th in 2000 to 4th last year. A band to feature high in the prize list.

Chinnor
Conductor: D. Pegram

Last Year: 12th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 12th
2001: 10th
2000: 15th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 12th 2nd Section
1998: 14th 2nd Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 2nd

Chinnor were promoted from this section in 1997 after two years in which they had come runners up and third and they found life a little tougher at the higher level. After three years they returned in 2001 and have since come towards the bottom of the pile and will need a decent result here to stave off relegation. It could be difficult.

Croydon Brass
Conductor: M. Hackett

Last Year: 8th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th
2001: 16th
2000: 12th
1999: 4th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 4th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Croydon came 8th last year under the direction of M. Hackett and they will be looking for another year of improvement this time as well. They were promoted from the 4th in 1999 and came 12th and then 16th, but a big leap towards the fringes of the prizes would give confidence to do well this year.

East London Brass
Conductor: S. Earley

Last Year: 3rd
Last Seven Years:
2002: 3rd
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

We don’t know a great deal about East London Brass other than they came 3rd last year under the baton of A. Caldon. Sorry folks – they may have competed under a different name, so if there is any other info please let us know. As for form – if they could manage 3rd last time out they should hopefully be in with a good shout this time around.

Fulbourn and Teversham RBL
Conductor: P. Mott

Last Year: 10th 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 10th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 2nd 4th Section
2000: 9th 4th Section
1999: 31st 4th Section
1998: 12th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Fulborn are promoted up a section for this year even though they could only come 10th in 2002. The reason is twofold. Firstly they came runners up the year before and went on to come 13th at the Nationals and secondly the 4th Section is so huge here the aggregate over the three years can be quite high and still be enough to get promoted up. It could be hard for them though and a midfield place may be just the ticket.

Hangleton
Conductor: C. Nonoo

Last Year: 8th 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 11th 4th Section
2000: 11th 4th Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Another band who were promoted up this year even though they can only boast a best result in the past three years of 8th in the 4th Section. How that will prepare them for what they will have to encounter here this time we will have to wait and see. We hope they manage to do well though and justify the leap up in class.

Hitchin
Conductor: G. Carney

Last Year: 7th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 7th
2001: 9th
2000: 13th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 15th 2nd Section
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: DNC
1996: 14th 1st Section (rel)
Hitchin seem to be moving back in the right direction after being relegated from the 2nd Section in 2000. They came 9th in their first year in 2001 and 7th last time out so they appear to be making the right steps back. Another small improvement may well be on the cards and a top six place should be their reward.

Hungerford Town
Conductor: T. Crouter

Last Year: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
2001: 12th 4th Section
2000: 7th 4th Section
1999: 15th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 20th 4th Section

In 1996 Hungerford were 20th in the bottom section, but since that time they have put in the hard work and were rewarded with the runners up spot last year here in the 4th Section. That led them to the National Finals where they came 20th under the same MD. It’s a big step up though and a midfield place may well be on the cards.

Jubilee Brass (Oxford)
Conductor: K. Membury

Last Year: 3rd 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 3rd 4th Section (prom)
2001: 22nd 4th Section
2000: 6th 4th Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

We haven’t got a record of the band before 2000 but they too take the step up on class after three years in the bottom section where their best was 3rd and their worse was 22nd! Thankfully the 3rd was last year under the same MD and they went on to come 12th at the National Finals, so they will travel with high hopes of making an impression here. It could be hard, but don’t bet against them.

KM Medway Concert Brass
Conductor: T. Andrew

Last Year: 9th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 9th
2001: 12th
2000: 14th
1999: 4th
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: 16th

We think the band were called KM Gillingham Concert Brass last year and changed for this year. If we are wrong then apologies to all concerned as we couldn’t find a record of KM Medway. If we are right then this is a band that has held its own in this section over the past few years and came 4th in 1999. They have dropped away in the last couple of years though and will be hoping to make a further improvement this year as they did last when they came 9th.

Letchworth Garden City
Conductor: T. Welch

Last Year: 8th 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 8th 4th Section
2000: 13th 4th Section
1999: 17th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Another band promoted up from the bottom section on the back of three years when they have done OK rather than brilliantly in the 4th Section. They came 17th in 1999 and have moved up each year to come 8th both in 2001 and 2002, but a jump up a division on the basis of that form maybe asking a lot. Holding their own will be the prime objective we feel.

Littleport Brass
Conductor: J. Hammond

Last Year: 13th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 13th
2001: 12th 2nd Section (rel)
2000: 11th 2nd Section
1999: 7th 2nd Section
1998: 7th 2nd Section
1997: Winners (prom)
1996: 16th

Littleport won this section back in 1997 and were promoted up to the 2nd Section where they four years doing OK with two 7th places and then a drop down to 11th and 12th. That was enough to send them back down last year and they struggled somewhat to adjust and could only come 13th and last. They will therefore be keen not to repeat that and make more of a mark.

Sandhurst Silver
Conductor: R. Burke

Last Year: Winners 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: Winners 4th Section (prom)
2001: Winners 4th Section
2000: 16th 4th Section
1999: 24th 4th Section
1998: 28th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: 16th 4th Section

The band with the name associated with the Military School of Music come to the contest on something of a high after recording a double win in the 4th Section in 2001 and 2002 under R. Burke. In 2001 they went to Preston and came 19th whilst last year they were 15th under David Marshall. It has been a spectacular rise from 28th place in the bottom section in 1998 to her and we think they could do rather well. Ones to watch out for.

St. Sebastian’s Wokingham
Conductor: B.Gentry

Last Year: 6th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 6th
2001: 15th
2000: 2nd 4th Section
1999: 2nd 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 19th

St. Sebastian’s Wokingham were promoted up to this section after having two years in which they were runners up in the bottom section and went on to come 4th and 11th at the National Finals under B. Gentry. They held their own in their first year here and improved on that greatly last year when they came 5th. More of the same may well be their reward this time around.

Stantonbury Brass
Conductor: A. Jenkin

Last Year: 11th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 11th
2001: 4th
2000: 16th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 13th 2nd Section
1998: 8th 2nd Section
1997: N/K
1996: Winners

Stantonbury were winners of this section back in 1996 under A. Jenkin and moved up to the 2nd Section where they found life a touch harder and they were relegated after coming 16th there in 2000. Since then they have foundtheir feet and were a good 4th in 2001 but fell away somewhat to come 11th last year. They will therefore be hoping for a decent result this time around and a possible top 10 finish.

Ware Brass
Conductor: K. Durbin

Last Year: 4th 4th Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 4th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 3rd 4th Section
2000: 18th 4th Section
1999: 16th (rel)
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 9th

And finally, yet another band who are promoted this year up from the 4th Section. Ware came 18th in the bottom division in 2000 but improved rapidly to come 3rd in 2001 and 4th last year and get the promotion trip. They also showed their quality at the Nationals as well and under Kenny Durbin came 3rd in 2001 in Preston and 10th last year. They could well feature again this time around.

Past Winners:

2002: Castleton Brass
2001: Cantium Brass
2000: Stonesfield Silver
1999: Woking
1998: Brent Brass
1997: Littleport Brass
1996: Stantonbury Brass
1995: Fairlop Brass
1994: Brighton Buses
1993: Hyde
1992: Runnymede
1991: Wantage Silver A

Winning Conductors:

2002: D. Aves
2001: J. Goold
2000: T. Brotherhood
1999: J. Durrant
1998: P. Fensom
1997: S. Peacock
1996: A. Jenkin
1995: K. Jordan
1994: C. Nonoo
1993: P. Wise
1992: D. Lancaster
1991: D. Williams

Test Pieces:

2002: St. Austell Suite – K. Downie
2001: Sinfonietta – J. Horovitz
2000: Narnia Suite – G. Burgon
1999: Main Street – E. Ball
1998: Three Saints’ – G. Richards
1997: Tintagel – D. Wright
1996: Divertimento – B. Kelly
1995: A Snowden Fantasy – T.J. Powell
1994: Chorale and Toccata – S. Bulla
1993: The Shipbuilders – P. Yorke
1992: Suite for Brass – M. Arnold

Adjudicators:

2002: R. Sparkes
2001: J. Wise
2000: M. Brownbill
1999: N/K
1998: J. Berryman
1997: N/K
1996: I. Craddock
1995: G. Higginbottom

Past Qualifiers:

2002: Castleton Brass, Yiewsley and West Drayton,
2001: Cantium Brass, Becontree Brass,
2000: Stonesfield Silver, Cantium Brass,
1999: Woking, Marconi,
1998: Brent Brass, Broseley Brass
1997: Littleport Brass, Chichester City
1996: Stantonbury, Chinnor, Cawston
1995: Fairlop Brass, Cawston

London bands at the Finals:

2002: 9th, 13th
2001: 7th, 11th
2000: 5th, 11th
1999: 6th, 8th
1998: 2nd, 5th

Last Years Result:

1. Castleton Brass – D. Aves 182pts
2. Yiewsley and West Drayton – C. Cole 181pts
3. East London Brass – A. Caldon 180pts
4. Bradwell Silver – B. Keech 179pts
5. St. Albans City – W. Rumford 178pts
6. St. Sebastians Wokingham – B. Gentry 177pts
7. Hitchin – G. Carney 176pts
8. Croydon Brass – M. Hackett 175pts
9. KM Gillingham Concert – T. Andrew 174pts
10. Heath – D. Phillips 173pts
11. Stantonbury Brass – A. Jenkin 172pts
12. Chinnor Silver – D. Williams 171pts
13. Amersham – A. Fawbert 170pts

4BR Prediction:

It is going to be very difficult to predict who is going to do well here I this section but we’ll stick our scrawny necks out once more and will most probably get things totally wrong. We apologise to all the bands in advance therefore if we have picked you. Please prove us right for once!

1. Bradwell Silver
2. East London Brass
3. Sandhurst Silver
4. St. Sebastians Wokingham
5. Croydon Brass
6. Hitchin

Dark Horses: KM Medway Concert Brass

© 4BarsRest

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