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2004 London and the Southern Counties Regional
Championships
Third Section
Sunday 21st March - Starts 10.00am
Test Piece: Vizcaya – Gilbert
Vinter
Adjudicator: Dennis Wilby
It should a real open contest here on Sunday in the Third Section
where 18 bands will have to get to grips with Gilbert Vinter’s
“Vizcaya”.
The set work has already proved a stern, but musical test throughout
the country and even if quite a few solo cornet and euphonium players
will be having a few sleepless nights worrying about their difficult
contributions, we are sure everyone would have enjoyed rehearsing
the piece. It is lovely music.
Although the bands in the Third Section have struggled to make
a prize winning impression nationally at the Finals since 1945,
there have been successes, with the last winners from the region
coming in the form of Fairlop back in 1995, although Brent did come
runners up in 1998. Before that it was Regent Brass back in 1988
and even further back Redbridge Youth in 1971. Bands have come in
and around the top six though in the last few years, so it isn’t
that bleak a record.
Last year the region sent Sandhurst, Fulbourn and Teversham and
Ware, and they returned home with 5th, 18th and 20th places. There
may not be the intensity of the competitiveness that can be found
say, in Blackpool or Bradford, but they are not too far behind.
Whoever gains the qualification places this time shouldn’t
be written off then come Harrogate.
Bradwell Silver
Conductor: B. Keech
Last Eight Years:
2003: 12th (B. Keech)
2002: 4th
2001: 13th
2000: 15th
1999: 6th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 6th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Bradwell had a fantastic result in 2002, but couldn’t repeat
the feat lst year when they fell away to come 12th. They will therefore
be hoping to return to the top six at least this year. They showed
good form though at the Milton Keynes contest where they came 2nd.
Chinnor
Conductor: D. Pegram
Last Eight Years:
2003: 8th (D. Pegram)
2002: 12th
2001: 10th
2000: 15th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 12th 2nd Section
1998: 14th 2nd Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 2nd
Chinnor moved back in the right direction last year when they 8th.
Afte a couple of years towards the bottom of the pack this was an
encouraging result, and they will be hoping to better that this
time around. A fine win at the SCABA contest in October though were
they won by two clear points over the opposition should fill them
with confidence.
Epsom and Ewell Silver
Conductor: E. Howard
Last Eight Years:
2003: 16th in Second Section (rel) (M. Winter)
2002: DNC
2001: 11th
2000: 7th
1999: 10th
1998: 14th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 7th
Epsom have fallen away at the Regional contest over the last few
years – they were competing in the First Section in 1998.
Last year they wee placed 16th in the Second Section under M. Winter,
so they will be looking to show that they can more than compete
for prizes at this lower level.
Fulbourn and Teversham RBL
Conductor: P. Mott
Last Eight Years:
2003: 2nd (P. Mott)
2002: 10th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 2nd 4th Section
2000: 9th 4th Section
1999: 31st 4th Section
1998: 12th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Fulbourn made a fantastic impression here last year on their
debut at this level. 2nd place meant a trip to the National
Finals where they came back home with 18th place. Bearing in
mind they came 31st in the Fourth Section in 1999 that was
still some achievement. They will be hoping for a repeat performance
this year for sure.
Great Yarmouth Brass
Conductor: S. Philpot
Last Eight Years:
2003: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom) (S. Philpot)
2002: 13th
2001: 8th
2000: 22nd
1999: 7th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Great Yarmouth are making solid progress up through the ranks
it seems. 22nd back in the Fourth Section in 2000 has been
turned into runners up last year and a trip to Dundee for the
National Finals. They came 21st there and gained promotion,
so it will be interesting to see how they cope in the higher
section this time.
Grimsdyke Brass
Conductor: S. Broughall
Last Eight Years:
2003: Withdrew (rel) (K. Ransom)
2002: DIS
2001: 7th
2000: 6th
1999: 9th
1998: 16th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 5th
Grimsdyke return to the contest after a two year break – one
for a disqualification and one for a withdrawal, so it will be interesting
to see what form they bring with them here following their relegation.
We hope its good.
Hangleton
Conductor: C. Nonoo
Last Eight Years:
2003: 13th (C. Nonoo)
2002: 8th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 11th 4th Section
2000: 11th 4th Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Hangleton gave a good solid performance here last year, their
first at this level and a repeat of that should be well within
their capabilities. They come to contest with some good form
behind them after coming 4th at the Autumn SCABA contest. A
repeat of that result will be most welcome.
Hitchin
Conductor: G. Carney
Last Eight Years:
2003: 5th (G. Carney)
2002: 7th
2001: 9th
2000: 13th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 15th 2nd Section
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: DNC
1996: 14th 1st Section (rel)
Hitchin are a band moving in the right direction here – five
consecutive years when the results have improved year on year. If
they can carry that form on then a possible qualification place
may be on the cards.
Hungerford Town
Conductor: T. Crouter
Last Eight Years:
2003: 9th (T. Crouter)
2002: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
2001: 12th 4th Section
2000: 7th 4th Section
1999: 15th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 20th 4th Section
Hungerford made a decent start to their contesting life at this
level last year when they came 9th here. After gaining promotion
from the Fourth Section in 2002 that was a good result and
they will be looking to improve on that this year as well.
Jersey Premier Brass
Conductor: T. Pritchard
Last Eight Years:
2003: 17th 3rd Section (West of England)
2002: 15th 2nd Section (West of England)
2001: DNC
2000: 14th 2nd Section (West of England)
1999: 4th 2nd Section (West of England)
A strange one this, as Jersey Premier Brass came 17th in the
3rd section in the West of England last year. Why they are now
competing in Stevenage is a mystery to us! Perhaps the change of
venue will bring better results. In Tim Pritchard, they have a
talented and enthusistic conductor who owes me a pint of beer!
Jubilee Brass (Oxford)
Conductor: K. Membury
Last Eight Years:
2003: 16th (K. Membury)
2002: 3rd 4th Section (prom)
2001: 22nd 4th Section
2000: 6th 4th Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Jubilee Brass found life up from the Fourth Section a bit difficult
here last year when they could only manage 16th place. They will
therefore need a decent result to ensure that they don’t get
drawn into a relegation battle.
KM Medway Concert Brass
Conductor: TBA
Last Eight Years:
2003: 15th (T. Andrew)
2002: 9th
2001: 12th
2000: 14th
1999: 4th
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: 16th
KM Medway have dropped away from the prizes herein the last couple
of years and since coming 4th in 1999 they fell to 15th last
time out. They will be looking to improve on that this time,
or they could face possible relegation to the Fourth Section.
They came 7th at the SCABA Autumn contest, so they will be
looking to bring that kind of form here.
Letchworth Garden City
Conductor: T. Welch
Last Eight Years:
2003: 14th (T. Welch)
2002: 8th 4th Section (prom)
2001: 8th 4th Section
2000: 13th 4th Section
1999: 17th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Letchworth are another band that are in need of a decent result
here if they are to avoid possible relegation. They have been
improving year on year since 1999, so if they can maintain
that record they should be more than safe.
Littleport Brass
Conductor: J. Hammond
Last Eight Years:
2003: 10th (J. Hammond)
2002: 13th
2001: 12th 2nd Section (rel)
2000: 11th 2nd Section
1999: 7th 2nd Section
1998: 7th 2nd Section
1997: Winners (prom)
1996: 16th
This will be the third year that Littleport will contest the
Third Section here, and if the form of the past two years is
anything to go by they should be challenging for a top six
place at least. They have some good recent form as well, with
a fine runners up place at the SCABA Autumn contest.
Sandhurst Silver
Conductor: R. Burke
Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd (R. Burke)
2002: Winners 4th Section (prom)
2001: Winners 4th Section
2000: 16th 4th Section
1999: 24th 4th Section
1998: 28th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: 16th 4th Section
Sandurst booked themselves a trip to Dundee last year after gaining
third place here, and they returned home with a very good 5th place
off the number 1 draw. If they can repeat that form then another
trip to Harrogate could be on the cards. They came 9th at the SCABA
contest in October.
St. Sebastian’s Wokingham
Conductor: B. Gentry
Last Eight Years:
2003: 11th (B. Gentry)
2002: 6th
2001: 15th
2000: 2nd 4th Section
1999: 2nd 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 19th
After coming in the top six in 2002, St Sebastian’s fell away
a little last year when they could only manage 11th place at the
contest. A return to the form of 2002 would be great then, and if
they repeat the form of October when they came third at Folkestone
then it shouldn’t be beyond them.
Stantonbury Brass
Conductor: A. Jenkin
Last Eight Years:
2003: 6th (A. Jenkin)
2002: 11th
2001: 4th
2000: 16th 2nd Section (rel)
1999: 13th 2nd Section
1998: 8th 2nd Section
1997: N/K
1996: Winners
Stantonbury turned things around last year when they improved
their 11th place of 2002 to 6th place. Another lift this year
and they could well be looking to book some hotel rooms in
Harrogate.
Woodbridge Excelsior
Conductor: E. Howells
Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom) (E. Howells)
2002: 5th
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Two years contesting – one promotion and a trip to the National
Finals to boot. That third place last year meant a long haul to
Dundee where they 16th. Not bad at all, and we think they may be
hungry for more.
Results archive:
Full results of previous year's contests together with a results summary can
be found in our results archive.
Past
Qualifiers:
2003: Ware Brass, Fulbourn and Teversham, Sandhurst Silver
2002: Castleton Brass, Yiewsley and West Drayton,
2001: Cantium Brass, Becontree Brass,
2000: Stonesfield Silver, Cantium Brass,
1999: Woking, Marconi,
1998: Brent Brass, Broseley Brass
1997: Littleport Brass, Chichester City
1996: Stantonbury, Chinnor, Cawston
1995: Fairlop Brass, Cawston
London bands at the Finals:
2003: 5th, 18th, 20th
2002: 9th, 13th
2001: 7th, 11th
2000: 5th, 11th
1999: 6th, 8th
1998: 2nd, 5th
4BR Prediction:
As we said, this should be a real open contest. There is a lot
of pressure on the solo cornet players and euphoniums in this
piece so they may hold the key to bands nearly making it to Harrogate
or ensuring the Band Secretary is on the phone on Monday morning
looking for B&B.
There is some form to go on though, so we have plumbed for a win
for the lads and lasses of Sandhurst, followed by Fulbourn and Taversham
and Hitchin on the trip to Yorkshire. The top six should be finalised
with Littleport, St Sebastian Wokingham and Chinnor, with our dark
horse, Bradwell.
1. Sandhurst
2. Fulbourn and Taversham
3. Hitchin
4. Littleport
5. St. Sebastian Wokingham
6. Chinnor
Dark Horses: Bradwell
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