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2003 Pontins Brass Band Championships
Pontins Holiday Camp, Prestatyn, North Wales
Sat/Sun 25/26th October
Harry and Margaret Mortimer Championship
Sunday 26th October
Test Piece: Festival Music - Eric Ball
Adjudicators: David Horsfield and David Read
Commence: 10.00am
First Prize: £2,500
Second Prize: £1,300
Third Prize: £700
Fourth Prize: £450
The 30th Anniversary Pontins Contest will have a different name
engraved as winners of the Championship section this year as Tredegar,
are having a well earned rest after their Nationals prize-winning
performance last week, are not here to defend the trophy they won
a twelve month ago.
There are however a couple of bands that have won here before,
with St. Austell the champions in 1981 and B.T.M. the winners in
1991 and 1992 returning once more to try and add a further victory
to their c.v.’s. Apart from them, no one else has a victory
in the Prestatyn Ballroom, so there could be fairly decent odds
on a new name being added to the list of champions this year.
25 bands is a huge field, and with a very hard test piece there
could be a great variance in the standard between many of the bands.
Much will depend on the approach of the MD’s and the way in
which the bands try and master the traditionally “dead”
acoustics of the hall. It will be an interesting contest for sure.
The competing bands are as follows:
Ashton-under-Lyne
Conductor: D. Morris
4BR Ranking: 71
Last 5 years:
2002: 4th
2001: 6th
2000: 5th
1999: Winners 1st Section
1998: Winners 2nd Section
Ashton have a decent record over the last three years here, having
finished in the top six on each occasion, so they should come to
the contest with a confidence that they can keep the run going.
10th in Senior Cup and 9th at the Regionals were results they did
not expect after their good form last year but they did take 2nd
place in the Tameside Open. They have announced that David Morris
will be leading the band in their attempt to secure a prize again
here.
BT
Conductor: M. Fowles
4BR Ranking: 43
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 3rd
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
BT did not compete here last year but came 3rd in 2001 under Mike
Fowles direction. A most capable band on their day they are sure
to come to the contest determined to challenge for the honours again.
They came 15th in the Grand Shield and 6th in the Regionals this
year also under Mike Fowles.
Beaumaris
Conductor: G. Evans
4BR Ranking: 36
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Beaumaris have not competed here in the last five years at this
contest and so are going to be a bit of an unknown property here
– strange, as they are only based a stones throw from the
venue compared to other bands. Given that the Welsh bands seem to
be on a high of late they will be keen to keep the Welsh flag flying.
They could only manage fifth place in a strong field after the long
trip down from North Wales to Wychavon but this compared with an
excellent 6th in the Grand Shield a position they mirrored when
playing in the Welsh Regionals.
BTM
Conductor: D. Stowell
4BR Ranking: 25
Last 5 years:
2002: 18th
2001: 9th
2000: 17th
1999: 12th
1998: 8th
BTM are one of the highest ranked band in the field and have a
won this title twice before. A third place at Wychavon went to the
BTM band who were also the Porthcawl winners when they completed
an exhaustive couple of days to win the Miners Eisteddfod. Earlier
in the year they took the first leg of Welsh Triple Crown at Ebbw
Vale conducted by David Stowell with a thrilling performance of
“Paganini Variations”. They have quite an impressive
track record taking 7th in the Senior Cup and 4th at the Regionals.
They are one of the favourites to be in the hunt when the results
are announced on Sunday evening.
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
Conductor: W. Rushworth
4BR Ranking: 21
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: 7th
Carlton Main are the highest ranked band in the contest and have,
in 2003, already won the Grand Shield. The Open didn’t go
that well but a good performance at the All England Masters was
only rewarded with 16th. They haven’t competed in this contest
since 1998 when they came 7th but with a mid placing of 10th in
the Regionals they must be considered a serious prospect to take
the trophy back to Yorkshire.
City of Coventry
Conductor: P. Bailey
4BR Ranking: n/a
Last 5 years:
2002: 17th
2001: DNC
2000: 15th (1st Section)
1999: 17th (1st Section)
1998: DNC
The competed in the Championships last year and came 17th whilst
in 2000 they competed in the 1st Section coming 15th. This contest
hasn’t always been kind to the band but they did get a good
result coming 7th in the Senior Trophy this year and put on a decent
performance when 10th in the Regionals. They will want to reverse
the trend of lower positions at Pontins though and their MD has
tasted success here directing Tredegar the title in 1998.
Cottingham
Conductor: R. Grantham
4BR Ranking: 89
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 13th
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Cottingham missed the Finals last year but came in the middle of
the pack in 2001 and as with a lot of the bands in this section
‘Festival music’ will be a strong test of their musicality.
A 2nd place at the Buxton Festival Contest in May and a decent show
coming 4th in the Regionals at the North of England though gives
some indication of their strength.
Dobcross Silver
Conductor: D. Hadfield
4BR Ranking: 59
Last 5 years:
2002: Winners 1st Section
2001: DNC
2000: 3rd 1st Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Dobcross have been promoted from the 1st Section where they competed
in both 2002 & 2000. Last year’s champions have been producing
some good sounds in 2003 and will be looking to make a mark in this
contest. They gave an appealing full-blooded account of ‘English
Heritage’ at the NWABBA contest just recently finishing runners-up
and came 5th in the Regionals with Dennis Hadfield also in charge
on that occasion.
Drighlington
Conductor: C. Hardy
4BR Ranking: n/a
Last 5 years:
2002: 15th
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Drighlington will want to erase the memory of a 15th place finish
last year – they were unlucky last year. Colin Hardy will
know the test piece well and will surely take the band into the
contest with the music well shaped. It will probably come down to
the soloists to take them higher in 2003 but that said, they did
take a most creditable 6th place in the Senior Trophy to get over
the final position they were awarded at the Yorkshire Regionals.
Fishburn
Conductor: G. O’Connor
4BR Ranking: 32
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 19th
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Fishburn bring a touch of the North East to Prestatyn for the first
time since 2001 and are another band that could do very well here
this year. They did not compete last year and didn’t have
the highest placing in 2001 but that’s water under the bridge
as they say. They were fourth under the baton of Graham O’Connor
at the Land O’ Burns Entertainment Contest at Troon in August
and came 4th in the Grand Shield, as well as taking 3rd in the Regionals
at The Dolphin Centre in Darlington. Graham O’Connor knows
what it takes to win here (and elsewhere) as he directed Rockingham
to victory in 1987 as well as Stocksbridge in both 1994 and 1995.
Culd it be a fourth time this weekend?
Freckleton
Conductor: P. Dalton
4BR Ranking: 40
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Freckleton have not competed in this contest in the last five years.
They won the NWCBBA contest last month and can on their day produce
a very good sound. Travelling to Scotland in August they entered
the Autumn contesting scene in Scotland coming 6th in the Land O’
Burns Entertainment Contest. They dropped in to the Senior Cup for
2004 with 19th in the Grand Shield but a 7th place in the very strong
North West Regionals was well earned.
Gateshead Brass
Conductor: TBA
4BR Ranking: n/a
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Gateshead also come down from the North East hoping to make an impression
on this contest in which they will be making a debut performance
in the 2000 era. At the Annual March and Deportment contest in Easingwold
they came 4th and this followed on from their 8th place in the Regionals.
Glossop Old
Conductor: J. Cant
4BR Ranking: 46
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 18th
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Glossop Old were 18th in 2001the only time in the last five years
that they have competed here. Competing in the Midlands Regionals
where they came 7th the band usually find themselves competing against
many of the strongest bands in the UK in open competition. Although
20th in the All England Masters 2003 they took 3rd in Buxton and
finished 8th in the Grand Shield so with their wealth of experience
they will be strongly fancied one assumes come Sunday. They won
the Third Section here in 1994, also under Jim Cant, nearly ten
years later, can they do it again this time in the top section.
Hepworth
Conductor: M. Bentham
4BR Ranking: 57
Last 5 years:
2002: 12th
2001: 8th
2000: 18th
1999: 16th
1998: 7th (1st Section)
Hepworth will be buoyed with Rob Westacott joining them as principal
cornet following his outstanding performance with Tredegar in the
National Finals. They made it a "triple" of wins at the
Brighouse March and Hymn Tune Contest in July having earlier secured
a 3rd place in the Senior Cup. They finished 11th in the Yorkshire
Regionals and will competing in the inaugural Scottish Open Brass
Band Championships. Couple this with the recent strong signings
on some of the other principal chairs and they may well be the band
to watch.
Jackfield (Elcock Reisen)
Conductor: TBA
4BR Ranking: n/a
Last 5 years:
2002: 20th (1st Section)
2001: 6th (1st Section)
2000: 5th (1st Section)
1999: 9th (1st Section)
1998: 9th (1st Section)
Jackfield enter the Championship Section for the this year having
competed in the 1st Section in the previous four years when they
took away top 6 placings for two of those contests. They were in
the final spot in the Midland Regionals in the Championship section
so will be looking for a boost to their confidence against a strong
field in this contest.
Lindley Band
Conductor: N. Jowett
4BR Ranking: 77
Last 5 years:
2002: 11th
2001: Winners (1st Section)
2000: 9th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Lindley came 11th last year and have been reasonably consistent
at the Pontins Championships in the past. They should continue and
at least match their very safe rating at these contests again if
they replicate their 6th place in the Senior Cup and the creditable
8th in the Yorkshire Regionals.
Marsden Silver Prize
Conductor: A. Widdop
4BR Ranking: n/a
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Marsdenmake a return to the contest for the firt time for many
a year. They have a reputation as a steady rather than spectacular
performer at National level as with the 8th place at the Buxton
Festival Contest & the 14th in the Regionals but this contest
could lay to rest that notion if they match the 2nd at the Easingwold
March and Deportment contest or the 3rd at the Pogson Bray Huddersfield
Contest.
Mossley
Conductor: M. Evans
4BR Ranking: 101
Last 5 years:
2002: 10th
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Mossley came 10th last year. The Senior Trophy and Regional results
were not too kind but a 5th at the Tameside Open was a reasonable
return. They will look to improve their 2003 results come Sunday.
Nottingham City Transport
Conductor: S. Phillips
4BR Ranking: n/a
Last 5 years:
2002: 14th
2001: 16th (1st Section)
2000: 10th (1st Section)
1999: 2nd (1st Section)
1998: 10th (1st Section)
Nottingham competed in the 1st Section in 2000 & 2001 with
mid table success and then in 2002, following promotion, repeated
that mid table story in the Championship section. With an 8th in
the Whitehaven Contest - they were missing from the Midland Regionals
- so it does look like a mid-table placing may be their domain again
in 2003.
Parc & Dare
Conductor: C. Roberts
4BR Ranking: 75
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 21st
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Parc and Dare were 21st in 2001. Coming 4th in the West Wales Brass
Band Association Annual contest and 7th at Ebbw Vale this year they
have started to make further progress under the baton of Craig Roberts.
Maybe not a potential prize winner this time, but they are getting
better on each outing.
Pennine Brass
Conductor: I. Porthouse
4BR Ranking: 96
Last 5 years:
2002: 6th
2001: 2nd (1st Section)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Pennine took 6th place last year following promotion from the First
Section and in 2001 they took 2nd in the 1st Section as well. They
have won already in 2003 taking the March contest at Old Silkstone,
the Lordsmere Cup March and Hymn tune contest at Boarshurst Band
club and at a higher level again they won the Senior Trophy in May.
They came 12th in the Regionals but Ian Porthouse has a strong set-up
and they are certainly a band of note in this contest. Ranked 96th
– but in this company they will one of the favourites for
the title.
Skelmanthorpe
Conductor: K. Wadsworth
4BR Ranking: 54
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: 8th (1st Section)
Skelmanthorpe are another band with no appearances in the 2000’s
at Pontins. They took Section A in the 2003 Holmfirth Contest held
in April following a mid –table place in the Grand Shield.
Earlier in the year they produced some very good results in winning
both the Pogson Bray Huddersfield Contest and Tameside Open They
are a competent outfit - finishing 7th in the Regionals and will
not let Yorkshire down, one can be assured of that.
St.Austell
Conductor: M. White
4BR Ranking: 119
Last 5 years:
2002: 6th (1st Section)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
St. Austell have stepped up a section this year following promotion
and a 6th place in the 1st section here last year. 4th in a small
field of bands at Bugle they had Mevin White to guide them to 7th
in the Regionals. This contest will give an indication of just how
far the band have come in their tremendous development. Ones to
watch out for.
Tongwynlais
Conductor: S. Sykes
4BR Ranking: 58
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 8th (1st Section)
2000: DNC
1999: 8th (1st Section)
1998: DNC
Tongwynlais are another in the strong contingent of bands from
Wales approaching this contest - having come 8th in 1st section
in 2001. Runners-up recently in the Memorial Hall, Burry Port and
5th in the Regionals 2003 they were less successful in the South
Wales Miners Eistedfodd Championships and Wychavon Entertainment
Contests. This contest will give a true indication of their strengths
and weaknesses in a strong field.
Wingates
Conductor: R. Curran
4BR Ranking: 41
Last 5 years:
2002: DNC
2001: 10th
2000: 2nd
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
Wingates set a very good standard when they came 3rd in the NWCBBA
Contest and took some impressive scalps to win at Wychavon. They
have contested regularly in 2003, played well coming 8th in the
Senior Cup and 3rd in the Tameside Open but faltered in the North
West Regionals. They are a band that is keeping looking forward
looking to recapture the glories of the past. A top ten finish at
Pontins in 2001 and 2nd in 2000 they are sure to be a band determined
to push for a major result.
4BR Prediction:
Who is going to win then? Plenty of bands of roughly the same standard
means that it should make for a close run thing come Sunday night,
but one or two of the bands here are on a wave of good form. There
is something of a renaissance in Welsh banding at the moment and
we think it could very well continue here. That’s why we have
gone for BTM who having been producing good form and have some good
results under their belt during 2003.
Hepworth, Pennine and Carlton Main we think will push them very
close though and don’t be surprised if any of them take the
top prize. Dobcross and Denis Hadfield shouldn’t be discounted
and Graham O’Connor is an old hand at winning here as well.
Wingates are our dark horses – and a good bet to do very well.
We will have to wait and see.
1. BTM
2. Hepworth
3. Pennine Brass
4. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
5. Dobcross Silver
6. Fishburn
Dark Horse - Wingates
The Runners:
1. Ashton Under Lyne – J. Maines
2. B.T. - M. Fowles
3. Beaumaris – G. Evans
4. BTM – D. Stowell
5. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery - W. Rushworth
6. City of Coventry - P. Bailey
7. Cottingham - R. Grantham
8. Dobcross Silver - D. Hadfield
9. Drighlington - C. Hardy
10. Fishburn - G. O'Connor
11. Freckleton - P. Dalton
12. Gateshead Brass - TBA
13. Glossop Old - J. Cant
14. Hepworth - M. Bentham
15. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen)- TBA
16. Lindley Band - N. Jowett
17. Marsden Silver Prize - A. Widdop
18. Mossley - M. Evans
19. Nottingham City Transport - S. Phillips
20. Parc and Dare - C. Roberts
21. Pennine Brass - I. Porthouse
22. Skelmanthorpe - K. Wadsworth
23. St. Austell - M. White
24. Tongwynlais Temperance - A. Jones
25. Wingates - R. Curran
© 4BarsRest
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