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2004 Scottish Regional Championships
Third Section
Sunday 13th March
Test Piece: Vizcaya – Gilbert
Vinter
Adjudicator: David Read & Jappie Dijkstra
Another competitive section and like the Second Section, one that
progressive bands have traditionally negotiated without much delay.
It’s not a section that has provided Scotland with much success
at National level, with the notable exception of 2000, when Kirkintilloch
Kelvin and Livingston won the top two prizes.
"Vizcaya" will provide a good test for this year’s
bands and the audience should enjoy it too. There are a few bands
that will be travelling a long way for this contest. We suspect
one or two of them will have a pretty enjoyable return journey.
Buckhaven & Methil Miners
Conductor: B. McDonald Last Eight Years:
2003: 10th (B. Fraser)
2002: 6th
2001: 3rd
2000: 8th
1999: 5th
1998: 10th
1997: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
1996: 4th 4th Section
Last year was a big disappointment for the Fife band. They had managed
to establish themselves well in the Third Section since their promotion
in 1997, but 10th place leaves them needing a result to maintain
their status. They’re hard workers though and the change of
conductor will do them no harm. We think they’ll do enough
to survive, with a chance of a prize if they can improve on their
recent performance at the Fife contest.
Campbeltown Brass
Conductor: R. Farmer Last Eight Years:
2003: 7th (G. Evans)
2002: 10th
2001: DNC
2000: 6th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 10th 2nd Section
1998: 6th 2nd Section
1997: 6th 2nd Section
1996: 2nd (prom)
Scotland’s most remote band from the Mull of Kintyre, are
a much-travelled group. Their last appearance at the Borders Entertainment
contest was a good one and their young players performed very well
at the recent Scottish Youth Solo & Ensemble Championships,
taking away a bundle of prizes. They need a good result but they
have a lot to be optimistic about at the moment and if the long
journey doesn’t tire them out too much, we think they could
be challenging for promotion again.
Dumfries Town
Conductor: T. Holland Last Eight Years:
2003: Winners 4th Section (4) (G. Brotherston)
2002: 7th 4th Section
2001: 6th 4th Section
2000:DNC
1999: 4th 4th Section
1998: 7th 4th Section
1997: 6th 4th Section
1996: DNC
A band on the way up, Dumfries will be hoping to build on last year’s
success and although they were disappointed with their result at
the Dundee finals, they fought back well at the Borders Entertainment
contest. Further promotion might be a bit soon for them just now,
but we expect them to consolidate this year.
Irvine and Dreghorn Brass
Conductor: J. Boax Last Eight Years:
2003: 6th 2nd Section (9) (J. Boax) (rel)
2002: 10th 2nd Section
2001: DNC
2000: 4th 2nd Section
1999: 6th 2nd Section
1998: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1997: 7th 2nd Section (rel)
1996: 11th 2nd Section
Irvine & Dreghorn were unfortunate to find themselves relegated
last year, but they didn’t have everything their own way at
the Whitburn Contest in November. John Boax is a very experienced
conductor though and he will pick the Ayrshire band up for this
one. We have a feeling they could be one of the contenders for promotion.
Jedforest Instrumental
Conductor: A. Fernie Last Eight Years:
2003: 4th (A. Fernie)
2002: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
2001: 5th 4th Section
2000: 6th 4th Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
A very progressive band from the Borders, Jedforest and their well-known
conductor / composer / arranger Alan Fernie will approach this contest
with high expectations. We understand they have enlisted the help
of some of Whitburn’s leading players in their preparation,
but they do have a few decent players of their own, including an
excellent cornet section. They’ve won their last two contests
and we think they will be one of the bands to beat in this one too.
MacTaggart Scott Loanhead
Conductor: A. Fernie Last Eight Years:
2003: 5th (A. Fernie)
2002: 5th
2001: 7th
2000: 11th
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th
1997: 5th
1996: 3rd
Alan Fernie’s other band, from Midlothian this time, MacTaggart
Scott are another progressive outfit with an ever expanding and
truly excellent youth structure. The Borders Entertainment contest
was a slight disappointment for them, but they have been very consistent
at the Scottish Championships and should do enough to maintain their
record this year. Look out for them in the next few years. They
have a secure future ahead of them.
Perthshire Brass
Conductor: TBA Last Eight Years:
2003: 9th (G. Annan)
2002: 8th
2001: 8th
2000: 10th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 8th 2nd Section
1998: 8th 2nd Section
1997: 4th
1996: 10th 2nd Section (rel)
Perthshire have found it hard going the last couple of years and
need a good performance to avoid the drop into the Fourth Section.
They’ve had a quiet time on the contest front recently too,
so they will need to on their mettle if they are to do enough to
maintain their current status.
St. David's Brass
Conductor: J. Dickson
Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd (J. Dickson)
2002: 3rd
2001: 4th
2000: 9th
1999: 7th
1998: Winners 4th Section
1997: 7th 4th Section
1996: 11th 4th Section
John Dickson’s young band from Dalkeith, just outside Edinburgh,
have been on a long upward curve and they will be desperate to succeed
after two successive 3rd places, which have seen them just miss
out on promotion. Some excellent soloists around the stand will
serve them well in Vizcaya and we think they will be real contenders
for the trip to Harrogate.
Tullis Russell Mills Band
Conductor: D. Neil Last Eight Years:
2003: 11th 2nd section (5) (D.Neil) (rel)
2002: 8th 2nd section
2001: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
2000: 6th 3rd Section
1999: 7th 2nd section (rel)
1998: 12th 2nd section
1997: 10th 1st Section (rel)
1996: 8th 1st Section
Another band from Fife with an illustrious history, that have fallen
down the divisions since their purple patch in the 50’s and
60’s. They seem to have themselves organised a bit though
and their last few results will give them great encouragement. They
have good chance of challenging for a prize if they can continue
to improve and Dave Neil’s leadership will undoubtedly assist
them in their quest.
Results archive:
Full results of previous year's contests together with a results summary can
be found in our results archive.
Past Qualifiers: 2003: Lochgelly, St. Ronan’s
2002: Shotts St. Patrick's Brass, Arbroath Instrumental
2001: Clydebank Burgh, Tullis Russell Mills
2000: Livingston Brass, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
1999: Turriff Silver, City of Discovery Brass
1998: Renfrew Burgh, Irvine and Dreghorn
1997: Kepston Q Fab Whitburn Brass, Annan Town
1996: Kilmarnock Concert Brass, Campbeltown Brass
1995: Barrhead and District, Newland Concert
Scottish bands at the Finals:
2003: 12th, 13th
2002: 12th, 14th
2001: 12th, 15th
2000: 1st, 2nd
1999: 5th, 14th
1998: 3rd, 17th
4BR Prediction:
There are at least four bands in this section that we think could
win it on their day, but current form suggests that Jedforest may
just be slight favourites at the moment. We’ve resorted to
throwing the balls up in the air again to sort out the other places
and although we expect the young bands from Campbeltown and St.
David’s to do well, Tullis Russell’s resurgence may
just be enough to carry them through.
1. Jedforest Instrumental
2. Tullis Russell Mills
3. St. David’s Brass
4. Campbeltown Brass
5. Irvine & Dreghorn
6. MacTaggart Scott Loanhead
Dark Horse: Dumfries Town
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