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2003 Pontins Brass Band Championships
Pontins Holiday Camp, Prestatyn, North Wales
Sat/Sun 25/26th October
Third Section:
At the moment in the lower sections the Third is perhaps the most
challenging and competitive and the bands in this division are all
capable of putting on a prize winning performance. The adjudicators
are sure to have a most enjoyable listening experience as the music
is both rhythmic and tuneful with enough challenges to separate
the bands on the day. The percussion sections may have a bearing
on this particular result as they contribute vital parts in the
outer movements that can make or break a performance. Some people
may have complained that this piece was too easy as it has been
used at Youth level, but that ignores the fact that it is a tester
in the arts of the brass band basics – play in time, in tune
and with balance and tone. Sometimes youngsters may make exciting
music, but a lot of the time these four tenents tend to go astray.
The competing bands are as follows:
Beaumaris "B" Band are directed by Paul
Hughes. They have not competed at Pontins in the 2000 series of
contests and come to the 2003 contest on the back of a 6th place
in the Welsh Regionals. As part of the impressive set up in the
Angelsey town they will make the short trip over the Menai Bridge
with confidence. Meanwhile Boarshurst Silver and
Jonathon Webster are on top form, with good results the hallmark
of the band over the last couple of years. Strong Dundee Finalists,
they have a notable Pontins record coming 4th in 2002and previous
years were equally tidy (as we say in Wales) with 2nd in 2001 and
10th in 2000. There is every reason to expect a good show again.
Bream Silver will be directed by Nigel Howard.
The band has been mid placed for the past three contests - 10th
2002, 12th 2001 and 7th 2000 here. More of the same this year could
well be on the cards. Carlton Brass and Tony Wilson
are a band who must have confidence seeping out of their veins at
the moment. They have steadily moved up the sections in the last
few years and come to the contest off the back of a very fine performance
at Dundee where they were placed 3rd. Could more success be around
the corner for them? Eaton Farnworth are directed
by P Ashley and have only taken the stage in this contest in the
last few years in 2001 and finished in the middle of the pack in
10th place. Results have fluctuated somewhat in local contests,
but they wil be hoping to make an impression here this time. Ebbw
Vale Town are directed by Adrian Browning. The band has tended to
come in the middle of the pack at this Championships over the past
few years, although they did win the 3rd Section here in 1989. In
recent times though they have come 11th place in both 2002 &
2001.
Eccles Borough are directed by Kevin Donaldson,
the fine soprano cornet player of many a top section band over the
years. They finished 15th in the 2nd Section in 2000 but then missed
the contests in 2001and 2002. They will hope to feature high in
the prize list here this time though. Ellington Colliery
are directed by Denis Wright. They have not competed at
Pontins in the last few years but come to this contest having been
placed 3rd in the Regional
contest. They could well feature in the prizes here as well. Golborne
will be conducted by Geoff Williams and the band are steadily
progressing since his appointment. They gave a decent show at Fleetwood
and will be looking to improve on that to challenge here.
Greenall's Brewery are directed by J.Ludden. For
a long time the band were a strong second section outfit but in
recent times fortunes have changed. They came a disappointing 22nd
in the 2nd section in 2001 but have always been in contention since
competing in the 3rd section. Last years 2nd place was their reward
and they will surely be hoping to top that time around. Hoover
Band (Bolton) will be conducted by Chris Wormald. In sparkling
form of late and worthy of their high placing in Dundee. They were
competing in the 2nd section in 2000 (13th) & 2001 (17th) but
gave 2002 a miss. They are sure to be strongly fancied to take a
prize gain here. Pilling Jubilee Silver will be
directed by Brian Harper. A safe and solid performer in local contests
the band approaches this contest having missed last year and taking
a mid place in 2001. A mid place, as at the Regionals, is probably
not unrealistic, although they will be looking to come much higher
for sure.
Pontypool Brass are conducted by- Malcolm Jones.
The band competed in the 2nd Section last year and came 14th, whilst
they came in 9th in the 3rd Section at the Welsh Regionals. The
win at Burry Port may have been the tonic they needed coming into
this contest. Rainford are directed by Leyland
band’s solo trombone Neil Samuel. The band have a very good
Pontins record and have been in the top 6 for the past 3 years.
5th 2002, 3rd in 2001 and 2nd in 2000. If playing goes according
to form another decent result might be expected. Royal Buckley
Town are conducted by David Roberts. They competed in the
2nd Section in 2000 coming 16th. They have not taken the stage in
the last two years so one can surmise that they will want to put
on a convincing performance this year in
the 3rd Section.
Timperley are directed by Graham Hetherington.
Having won the 4th section in 2000 they came 8th in the 3rd Section
in 2001. They had a real winning streak in 2002 and got to the National
Finals and got in the frame both there and in Pontins last year
taking 3rd place. They should be capable of taking a prize again
this year if they have maintained that type of form. Syston
will be headed by Rob Boulter. In 2000 they came 3rd in the 4th
Section and scored an 8th when competing in the 3rd section in 2001.
They settled in this section and took 9th last year off an early
draw, so don’t be surprised if they feature if the draw is
kinder to them. United Norwest 2000 will be directed
by Shirley Helleur. A band on the up, and they could make a mark
this year as they are making some good performances in local competition.
Twice awarded 7th place both last year and in 2001 they may just
peak and get into the frame.
Whitworth Vale & Healey will be directed by
Richard Milton. They come to the contest without any 2000 series
form at Pontins but they came in the mid placings at the Regionals
Championships so a similar result here may be expected. Finally,
Wotton-under-Edge will be directed by Rhodri Griffiths.
They have come into the 3rd Section and are approaching this contest
for the first time in the 2000's. Were in the 2nd section in 2002
so will certainly be looking to give a good account given the middle
order placing in the West of England Regionals.
4BR Prediction:
Lots of good solid bands here then and we wouldn’t be at
all surprised if we are way out with our predictions. Some bands
do have form to call on though and when you look at them the top
six may be a few lengths ahead of the rest of the field on the day
with experienced MD’s adding just that little extra to proceedings
on stage. We have been impressed with Boarshurst in recent months
and Hoover and Chris Wormald were very classy in Dundee. Ellington
and Carlton are on a par with them for us, so we think it could
well be a four way fight for the top prize. We just plumb for Boarshurst
this time though. Timperley are another band with good players and
form of late, whilst United Norwest Co-op should be good enough
we think to make it into the frame. Our dark horses though are Rainford
– don’t say we didn’t warn them look out for the
kiss of death!
1. Boarshurst
2. Hoover Band (Bolton)
3. Ellington Colliery
4. Carlton Brass
5. Timperley
6. United Norwest 2000
Dark Horse
Rainford
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