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2003 Pontins Brass Band Championships
Pontins Holiday Camp, Prestatyn, North Wales
Sat/Sun 25/26th October
Second Section:
The Second Section at the moment is the most unpredictable of all
the sections call this year. Over the past 12 months it would not
be out of place to say that when we have heard the best performances
they have been very good indeed but the poorer ones have been some
way off the mark. With an enjoyable test piece – for both
audience and players we think this could be a keenly contested section
though. 'Oceans' should comfortably fall within the technical abilities
of all the bands but we wonder whether there may be some complacency
out there approaching the contest with this piece. It is not as
easy as it looks – even if there is a little section in there
that reminds you of the theme tune to the “Young Ones”
with Rik Mayall and the rest of his bonkers gang.
The competing bands are as follows:
Briton Ferry Silver under Mike Faro come to this
contest with no Pontins record as such to fall back on for a form
guide. They returned a good Regionals in Wales this year and featured
in a number of local contests. Meanwhile Broseley Brass
directed by Paul Fensom played in the 3rd section in 2000
coming a most comfortable 6th place but have been non competitors
since then. Chalford directed by Steve Tubb band
came into the 2000 era with a 11th place here and repeated this
in 2001. Last year they took a step up and claimed 4th place so
have a decent record at Prestatyn and will be determined to go a
couple of places better at least.
Corsham are directed Eric Haines and have no record
here to fall back on since 2000. The Regional contest yielded a
13th place so they will be under a little bit of pressure to turn
it round hee and finish off their season on the up. Deiniolen
will be taken by R. Thorn and the band competed in the
1st Section in 2000 and scored 11th place off a number 1 draw, but
now find themselves back a couple of sections. Since then they have
been contesting elsewhere other than Pontins but come back to challenge
for honours, making the short coach trip down the coast road. Elland
Silver will be taken by Dr. Philip Wilby no less and are
a band that is very progressive in the way in which it is run. The
band has a pretty good record at these Championships, capturing
mid table results in the last couple of years - 11th last year and
12th in 2000, whilst their best result came in 2001 when they claimed
8th position.
Haslingden and Helmshore will be directed by David
Holland. The band waited until 2002 to make their debut and the
wait paid off as they came 5th. More of the same would do them nicely.
Lanchester are headed by Graeme Tindall and have
come up a section after being regraded. They scored 6th in a tough
Third Section last year and that may give an indication that the
band is well placed to push on here this time around. Lancashire
Life Morecambe are conducted by Andrew Warriner. The band
grew in stature in a big way through 2001/2 and had good results
at the Nationals and in local contests. They too scored well taking
6th here in the 2001 3rd Section but missed the Championships last
year.
Langbaurgh Brass are directed by Tim Oldroyd.
The band took the 3rd Section winners prize in 2001 after taking
4th in 2000 at the same level. Having missed competing here last
year it will be interesting to hear them perform again in this time
in the higher section after a very good National Finals result of
4th in Dundee. Ones to listen out for we think. Llanrug
will be directed by Gavin Saynor and the band gave a very
good performance at the National Finals in Dundee that many (including
4BR) enjoyed and felt should have come higher, and come to these
Championships on the back of a top 6 place last year. They will
surely be a strong band in this field and are potential winners.
Meltham and Meltham Mills are conducted by Stuart
Fawcett. They did not particularly pick up the best of results in
2001 coming 21st but they bounced back from that in 2002 to take
10th spot. A famous name in the banding world, they will be keen
to impress here in North Wales. Newtown Silver will
be conducted by Howard Gibb. They took part in this section last
year and came mid way in 14th position. Didn't play to their best
in the Welsh Regionals so will want to push on in this contest and
make something of a mark. Old Silkstone will be
headed by Norman Law and the band are buoyant. Unlucky in the National
Finals in Dundee when many marked them down to win they won here
last year from first band on when the wind battered the Lunars Bar.
They must be rated highly this time as well as they have scored
a number of extremely good results in the last couple of years.
RAF St Athan will be directed by Alan Bourne.
Last played in 2000 when they were placed 6th so a potential to
come again at this contest. Shirley are headed
by Dave Lea. The band has been well placed in the Midlands for quite
some time and has seen success at Regional level. With the experienced
Dave Lea at the front they may just push for a place this time after
a disappointing return at the National Finals in Dundee. Silk
Brass Astra Zeneca (Macclesfield) will be conducted by
Ken Mackintosh. This band were flying in 2001/2 but perhaps haven't
quite pulled off the same level of success since being upgraded.
However, they may well have found their feet now and will be ready
to mount a challenge.
Skelmersdale Prize will be directed by Ian Bateson.
They won the 3rd section in 2000 and then began a rise in sections.
They have tried to maintain their strengths but prizes and places
seem to have eluded the band just of late. The band were the inaugural
winners of the Championship Section here way back in 1974, then
won the then Second Section in 1975, so further success is long
overdue. Snibston and Desford Colliery are directed
by Kevin J Steward. Having missed 2001& 2002 they last performed
in Prestatyn in 2000 in the 1st Section coming 12th on that occasion,
so it will be interesting to see how they get on a section below
that this time. Stourport on Severn are headed
by David Maplestone. After competing very confidently in the 3rd
Section taking 9th in 2000 and then 5th in 2001 an upgrade saw them
compete in this section here last year. They didn't quite bring
of the piece as David Maplestone shaped it last year and they came
19th. He is likely to look for something a little different again
this year, and if it comes off they could figure.
Strata Brass will be headed by David Horn. No
entries in the 2000 set of contests here but they were mid placed
in the Yorkshire Regionals – a strong contest if ever there
was one, so could more than hold their own here. Wire Brass
are conducted by Paul Andrews. A new band in 2002 they
virtually won everything in sight. This year is proving more of
a challenge as the band perhaps seems to have found their level
at this moment in time. If they play to their
potential they could be rewarded though and continue their upward
trek. Yorkshire Building Society Concert Brass will
be directed by the very experienced John Roberts. No entries in
the 2000 set of contests but a well placed third in the Yorkshire
Regions before coming to Pontins this year to see if they can add
some more silverware to their sponsors trophy cabinet.
4BR Prediction:
A difficult one to call this contest with quality bands all more
than capable of producing a winning performance here. We have taken
the safe option in mnay peoples eyes though and gone for Old Silkstone
– they have sounded a very good band indeed when we have heard
them this year, even though they haven’t alwayds come away
with the top prize, whilst we think Llanrug will push them all the
way. Both were unlucky in Dundee for us and both could have a change
of fortune here. Langbaurgh and Lancashire Life should also push
them close, whilst Silk Brass are on the up again our spies tell
us. David Maplestone can be guaranteed to produce a musical show
and we think he should boost his bands chances, whilst we think
Shirley will put the disappointment of Dundee behind them and could
well be a fancied dark horse.
1. Old Silkstone
2. Llanrug
3. Langbaurgh Brass
4. Lancashire Life Morecombe
5. Silk Brass Astra Zeneca (Macclesfield)
6. Stourport on Severn
Dark Horse
Shirley
© 4BarsRest
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