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2004 Scottish Regional Championships
Fourth Section
Sunday 14th March
Test Piece: Partita – Edward
Gregson
Adjudicator: Frank Renton & Raymond
Tennant
After a slight dip in numbers recently, the Fourth Section has
a rather more healthy eleven bands entered this year. There are
no clear favourites as participation in other Scottish contest by
the fourth section bands has been a bit patchy of late. Edward Gregson’s
Partita will give the bands an enjoyable test, whilst still giving
the stronger ones the chance to impose themselves on the contest.
Bon Accord Silver B
Conductor: B. Wallace Last Eight Years:
2003: 5th (1) (B. Wallace)
2002: 3rd
2001: 4th
2000: 3rd
1999: 6th
1998: DNC
1997: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
1996: Winners 4th Section (prom)
This young band from Aberdeen, have been knocking on the door for
the past three years and they will be keen to succeed this year.
They’ve not been too active recently in contesting but Bruce
Wallace has acquired a lot of experience for a young conductor and
we think he will do enough to give them a good chance.
Coalburn Silver
Conductor: G. Bowman
Last Eight Years:
2003: 6th (2) (D. Gray)
2002: 8th
2001: DNC
2000: 8th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
South Lanarkshire’s Coalburn Silver Band, have returned to
contesting over the last four years following a long spell in the
wilderness. It’s not been easy for them so far but Gareth
Bowman will bring a youthful outlook to the band and this will assist
them in their quest for further improvement. We’ll give them
an outside chance of a prize if they can deliver a good one on the
day.
Creetown Silver
Conductor: S. McNab
Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002: 5th
2001: 9th
2000: 10th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 6th
Another band with a patchy record of participation in recent
years, Creetown make a welcome return to contesting after missing
out last time. They have achieved a fair bit already by getting
the band in shape to compete but promotion may just be out of
their reach at the moment.
Dundee Instrumental (St. Margaret's)
Conductor: J. Tonner
Last Eight Years:
2003: 11th 3rd Section (J. Tonner) (rel)
2002: 9th 3rd Section
2001: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
2000: 7th 4th Section
1999: 8th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
A disappointing spell in the Third Section ended with last place
for Dundee Instrumental last year. They’ve not been too busy
recently in terms of contesting recently either so they may find
it difficult to return to the higher section this year. They will
be out to prove us wrong though.
Dunfermline Town
Conductor: S. Duncan
Last Eight Years:
2003: 8th 3rd Section (S. Duncan)
2002: 7th
2001: 11th
2000: 3rd
1999: 7th
1998: 5th
1997: 3rd
1996: 10th
Another of the Fife bands, Dunfermline are a hard working group
and they were disappointed to be relegated last year, but they
will make a strong bid for promotion this year under percussionist
Steve Duncan. They played well at the Fife contest in November
and they will approach this one with some confidence. A possible
contender.
Dysart Colliery
Conductor: F. Culross
Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
This will be the first appearance in many years for the band from
Kirkcaldy in Fife. They have been working towards this for a few
years now and they will be delighted to be returning to the fold
under conductor Frank Culross. Possibly one for the future but promotion
this year may just be a tad optimistic for them.
Hawick Saxhorn
Conductor: C. Kemp
Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002:
2001:
2000:
1999:
1998:
1997:
1996:
Another band with an illustrious history returning to the fold this
year, Hawick Saxhorn and their experienced conductor Colin Kemp
are a typical example of the recent resurgence in Borders banding.
We expect them to have a good reading of the piece and if they can
put it together on the day they could do well. Another one for the
future but they will be content to wait another year for promotion.
Newlands Concert
Conductor: M. Bell Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002: 10th
2001: 8th
2000: 12th 3rd Section (rel)
1999: 7th 3rd Section
1998: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1997: 10th 2nd Section
1996: 9th 2nd Section
From Bathgate in West Lothian, Newlands Concert took a year out
last year but they have used the break well to regroup and have
come back a much stronger outfit. They played very well to win the
Fourth Section at the Borders Entertainment contest and we think
Mark Bell will have put in enough work to give them a good chance
of success in the Scottish Championships.
Penicuik Silver
Conductor: I. Fleming
Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd (6) (J. Chamberlain)
2002: 4th
2001: 3rd
2000: 4th
1999: 5th
1998: 6th
1997: 5th
1996: 5th
One of these days Penicuik are going to hit form at the right time
and leave the rest of the Fourth Section in their wake. They are
perpetually in and around the prizes but just never seem to do enough
to get the promotion that they so badly want. Whitburn’s solo
horn player Iain Fleming is back with them this year and although
we think they won’t be far away (not exactly rocket science!),
it remains to be seen whether they can do it on the day.
Queensferry High
Conductor: J. Anderson
Last Eight Years:
2003: 4th (7) (J. Anderson)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Making their second appearance at the Scottish Championship, Jim
Anderson’s Queensferry band, from under the shadows of the
Forth Bridges, are a young band with high ambitions. They played
well at the recent Fife contest but just missed out on the result
they wanted. We think they will do their founder, John Gilmour,
proud and promotion might be within their grasp.
Stranraer Brass
Conductor: I. Munro
Last Eight Years:
2003: 7th (5) (I. Munro)
2002: 11th
2001: DNC
2000: 13th
1999: 10th
1998: DNC
1997: 10th 3rd Section (rel)
1996: 9th 3rd Section
Another band with a long journey to Motherwell, Stranraer are another
young band with potential and their although their results have
improved only slightly over the last couple of years, they are a
band with potential. The last few months have been quiet contestwise,
but we think they’ll continue their improvement under Iain
Munro.
Results archive:
Full results of previous year's contests together with a results summary can
be found in our results archive.
Past Qualifiers: 2003: Dumfries Town, Peebles Burgh
2002: Lochgelly, Jedforest Instrumental
2001: Arbroath Instrumental, Dundee Instrumental
2000: Clydebank Burgh, North Ayrshire Band
1999: St. Ronan's Silver, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
1998: St. David's Brass, Fauldhouse Miners Brass
1997: City of Discovery Brass, Buckhaven and Methil
1996: Bon Accord Silver B, Turriff Silver
1995: Whitburn Burgh Juniors, Stranraer Youth
Scottish bands at the Finals:
2003: 18th, 19th
2002: 8th, 13th
2001: 16th, 17th
2000: 7th, 9th
1999: 5th, 13th
1998: 6th, 11th
4BR Prediction:
A very competitive section to finish Saturday’ proceedings.
We think that Penicuik will finally do enough to secure promotion
but we’ll give Bon Accord B the benefit of the coin toss.
Any one of about 4 or 5 have a good chance of proving us wrong though.
1. Bon Accord Silver B
2. Penicuik Silver
3. Newlands Concert Brass
4. Queensferry High
5. Dumfermline Town
6. Coalburn Silver
Dark Horse: Hawick Saxhorn
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