2004 Spring Festival - Senior Cup - Band by band analysis
5-May-20044BR casts its eye over the bands trying to get one of the four promotion places up for grabs in the Senior Cup. These are the bands taking part on Saturday.
Ashton Under Lyne
Conductor: Philip Chalk
4BR Ranking: 87
Principal Cornet: Debbie Woods
Soprano Cornet: Phil Ramsden
Solo Horn: Matthew Maines
Solo Euphonium: Nigel Lawless
Solo Trombone: Dave Priestley
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 10th (J. Maines)
2002: 16th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Maines)
2001: 7th Grand Shield (M. Evans)
2000: 5th Grand Shield (M. Evans)
Didn't take part at these contests before 2000.
2004 Form Guide:
Ashton will certainly be looking for a good result here this year as 2004 did not start in the best of circumstances as the band were forced to withdraw from the North West Regional Championships. Hopefully that is all behind them now and with a new MD taking them here they will be keen to improve on the 10th place they achieved a twelve-month ago under the direction of John Maines. It won't be for the want of trying their socks off for sure.
BTM
Conductor: David Hirst
4BR Ranking: 23
Principal Cornet: Jeff Hutcherson
Soprano Cornet: John Evans
Flugel: Trevor Isaac
Solo Horn: Sarah Freeman
Solo Euphonium: Mark Hutcherson
Solo Trombone: Suzanne Cherrington
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 7th (D. Stowell)
2002: 9th (D. Stowell)
2001: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (G. Pritchard)
2000: 4th Grand Shield (G. Pritchard)
1999: DNC
1998: N/K Grand Shield (A. Morrison)
1997: 11th Grand Shield (A. Morrison)
1996: 11th Grand Shield (S. Sykes)
1995: 5th Grand Shield (S. Sykes)
1994: DNC
1993: 6th Grand Shield (M. White)
2004 Form Guide:
The Welsh band have something of an up and down relationship with this contest over the past few years. They just missed out on promotion to the British Open itself in 2000, but the following year they slid out of the Grand Shield. Since David Stowell has taken over the reins things have certainly looked up, but we don't know as yet who will be taking the band here. They missed out though at the recent Welsh Regional Championships where they could only come a disappointed 5th place when a London place was theirs for the taking. Still, a band to look out for on their day, and that could be Saturday.
BT
Conductor: Mike Fowles
4BR Ranking: 40
Principal Cornet: Peter Shaw
Solo Euphonium: Jamie Meredith
Solo Horn: Helen Varley
Soprano: N/K
Flugel: Kate Chisholm
Solo Trombone: Gary Walsh
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 15th Grand Shield (rel) (M. Fowles)
2002: 11th (M. Fowles)
2001: 12th (M. Fowles)
2000: 23rd British Open (rel) (P. Bailey)
1999: 16th British Open (P. Bailey)
1998: 2nd (prom) 9th British Open (G. O'Connor)
1997: 8th (A. Lawton)
1996: DNC
1995: 20th (J. Maines)
1994: 4th (J. Maines)
1993: 16th (J. Maines)
2004 Form Guide:
The talented Michael Fowles keeps BT battling against the much more fancied bands in the North West, and at the recent North WEST regional Contest they were a fine 5th place. That should give the band a boost for this outing especially as they were relegated after unluckily coming 15th last year in the Grand Shield. Plenty of good quality throughout the band, they should be there or thereabouts come results time for a promotion spot.
Bo'ness and Carriden
Conductor: David James
4BR Ranking: 75
Principal Cornet: Iain Culross
Soprano Cornet: Richard Tobin
Flugel: Diane Waugh
Solo Horn: Suzanne Robertson
Solo Euphonium: Scott Cameron
Solo Trombone: Garry Kennedy
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 5th in Senior Trophy (prom) (I. Davey)
2002: 10th (I. Davey)
2004 Form Guide:
The Scots make the long trip down south hoping to continue the good work of last year when they gained promotion on their second outing in the Senior Trophy. David James takes over the reins and that should mean that the music will flow from the man in the middle. 8th place at the Regional Championships under Ian McElligott was a decent result, but they will have to up their game here if they are to challenge for a promotion place.
Bournemouth Concert
Conductor: David Hayward
4BR Ranking: 117
Principal Cornet: Roland Wright
Soprano: James Cooper
Flugel: Gerald Whittingham
Horn: Janet Squibb
Euph: Christiaan Squibb
Trombone: Richard Curren
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 2nd in Senior Trophy (prom) (D. Hayward)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (N. Taken)
2004 Form Guide:
A tremendous result last year under the baton of David Hayward saw the lads and lasses from the South Coast come runners up and gain promotion. Bournemouth are a First Section band nationally, so it shows how good they are with plenty of talented players around the stand. The band won the First Section at the West of England Regional Championships in some style, although they didn't quite play as well we have heard them. That added to a decent show at Yeovil should lift the confidence for the trip here, and they could be a band to look out for.
Burry Port Town
Conductor: David Evans
4BR Ranking: 36
Principal Cornet: Roger Boyle
Solo Euphonium: Ceri John
Solo Horn: Gareth Davies
Soprano: Jayne Thomas
Flugel: Mark Smith
Solo Trombone: Marc Scaife
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 14th Grand Shield (rel) (D. Evans)
2002: 3rd Senior Cup (prom) (D. Evans)
Before 2002 the band did not compete in these contests
Form Guide:
The band from West Wales will be making the trip to Blackpool hoping to dust off the disappointment of the recent Welsh Regional Championships where they could only manage 8th place. That was a poor show by the bands proven standards of late and meant they missed a golden chance to return to the Royal Albert Hall. They have plenty of fine individual players around the stand and a top rate MD in David Evans. It just needs them to tame the over enthusiasm and propensity to overblow and they could well return to the Grand Shield.
Dalmellington
Conductor: Richard Evans
4BR Ranking: 78
Principal Cornet: Stephen Reid
Soprano Cornet: David Roxburgh
Flugel: John Boax
Solo Horn: Christopher Dale
Solo Euphonium: David McKellar
Solo Trombone: Derick Kirkwood
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 3rd Senior Trophy (prom) (R. Evans)
2002: 7th (D. Hirst)
2004 Form Guide:
Richard Evans once more takes the Scots at Blackpool and he and the band will be looking for a repeat performance of twelve months ago when they came a very well deserved 3rd place and gained promotion. At the recent Scottish Regional Championships the band came 7th, so they will need to up their game a bit to make a mark against this strong field.
Drighlington
Conductor: Phil Shaw
4BR Ranking: 91
Principal Cornet: Richard Halliwell
Soprano Cornet: Robert Batty
Flugel: Martin Tromans
Solo Horn: Suzanne Stockwell
Solo Euphonium: Winston Sutcliffe
Solo Trombone: Ian Clough
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 6th Senior Trophy (prom) (C. Hardy)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 22nd Grand Shield (rel) (A. Whitaker)
2004 Form Guide:
Phil Shaw, the ex Black Dyke and YBS cornet player, as well as very successful conductor of the Wardle Anderson Brass Band takes over the helm this year at Drighlington, and they will be hoping that some of his prize winning from of late will rub off on them. Coin Hardy did splendid work with the band over the past few years and led them to promotion from the Senior Trophy, but the change has proven a good one and at the recent Yorkshire Regional Championships the band gained promotion from the First Section with a fine 2nd place. They have one final to look forward to, so what are the changes of a promotion to add to it.
Freckleton
Conductor: Paul Dalton
4BR Ranking: 47
Principal Cornet: Mike Pritt
Solo Euphonium: Alison Slater
Solo Horn: Chris Redman
Soprano: Phil Symonds
Flugel: Vicky Byrne
Solo Trombone: Stephen Lord
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 19th Grand Shield (rel) (P. Dalton)
2002: 2nd Senior Cup (prom)
2001: 18th Senior Cup
The band didn't compete at these contests before 2001.
Form Guide:
Freckleton will be looking to improve things here this year after they were relegated from the Grand shield after coming 19th a twelve month ago. Paul Dalton is a talented MD and there is talent around the stands, but they had a disappointing start to the year at Yeovil where they came 9th and they came 9th at Blackpool at the North West Regional Contest against a strong field it must be said. They will need to perform to the top of their form if they are to make a real impact here this time out.
Haydock
Conductor: Lynda Nicholson
4BR Ranking: 38
Principal Cornet: Mark Jones
Soprano Cornet: N/K
Flugel: Lisa Thompson
Solo Horn: Phil Lancaster
Solo Euphonium: Ian Scotson
Solo Trombone: Gareth Westwood
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 4th Senior Trophy (prom) (I. Brownbill)
2003: 11th (I. Brownbill)
2004 Form Guide:
After a fantastic 2003 under the baton of Ian Brownbill, Haydock just fell off the pace they set themselves a twelve month ago when they could only come 6th at the recent North West Regional Championships. That was still a very fine result though and should give them plenty of confidence of doing well here, although it is up against a stronger field of competitors than the Senior Trophy.
Kingdom Brass
Conductor: Alan Duguid
4BR Ranking: 44
Principal Cornet: Lee Bathgate
Soprano Cornet: Martin Edwards
Flugel: Laura McConnell
Solo Horn: Stuart McKenzie
Solo Euphonium: Brian Paterson
Solo Trombone: Bill Giles
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 13th (A. Hutchinson)
2002: 15th (S. Kerwin)
2001: 13th (I. Davey)
Didn't compete at the contests before 2001.
2004 Form Guide:
The Scots make the trip south to Blackpool hoping to do well this year after David Hirst took them to 5th place at the Scottish Regional Championships. That was a fine return and with talented players dotted around the stands, they will be confident of moving further up the prize list after coming 15th in 2002 and 13th last year. No news as yet though to who will be fronting the band.
Laganvale
Conductor: Ernie Ruddock
4BR Ranking: 149
Principal Cornet: Philip Whiteside
Soprano Cornet: Mark Ruddock
Flugel: Andrew McQuiggan
Solo Horn: Lana Kaymac
Solo Euphonium: Richard Ruddock
Solo Trombone: Maria Savage
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 15th (E. Ruddock)
2002: 12th (S. Cairns)
2001: 9th (S. Cairns)
Didn't compete at the contest before 2001
2004 Form Guide:
Laganvale make the short trip across the Irish Sea hoping to make an impression here after three years in which they have slid slowly down the prize list. 2004 saw them come runners up at the Irish Championships so they should come well prepared to take a few more scalps this time around.
Newtongrange
Conductor: Alan Morrison
4BR Ranking: 53
Principal Cornet: Angus Edmond
Soprano Cornet: Graham Williamson
Flugel: John Brown
Solo Horn: Kevin Smith
Solo Euphonium: Gareth Ross
Solo Trombone: Alex Philip
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 9th (A. Swainson)
2002: 14th Grand Shield (rel) (R. Farr)
2001: 5th (prom) (S. Kerwin)
2000: DNC
1999: 19th Grand Shield (D. Hirst)
1998: N/K (T. Swainson)
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
1995: 16th Grand Shield (D. Broadbent)
1994: 15th Grand Shield (T. Swainson)
1993: 12th Grand Shield (R. Tennant)
2004 Form Guide:
Newtongrange will certainly be coming to Blackpool on a high after they stormed to a fine win in the First Section of the Scottish Regional Championships under the baton of DR. Keith Wilkinson, the old MD of GUS and who is now a resident in the USA working for the Salvation Army. That really was a fine performance and showed the quality that could well feature highly here if they play to that kind of form once more. No news though on who will be taking them at present, but a band to look out for possibly.
Pennine Brass
Conductor: Ian Porthouse
4BR Ranking: 58
Principal Cornet: JJ Lees
Soprano Cornet: Mark Wears
Flugel: N/K
Solo Horn: Laura Lea
Solo Euphonium: Mike Fox
Solo Trombone: Lisa Sarasini
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: Winners Senior Trophy (prom) (I. Porthouse)
2002: 12th (I. Porthouse)
2004 Form Guide:
After the disappointment of 2002 when they literally blew it at the Senior Trophy, Pennine came back a twelve month later and showed plenty of class in winning the contest and gaining promotion to the Senior Cup. Plenty of fine young talent around the stands and a MD building a reputation for himself. The band came 7th at the Yorkshire Regional Championships – a good result indeed against a very strong field, so they should be up amongst the top few promotion places come results time here if they repeat that form.
Ransome
Conductor: Russell Gray
4BR Ranking: 16
Principal Cornet: Tony Wyatt
Solo Euphonium: Dave Belshaw
Solo Horn: George Thackrey
Soprano: David Bird
Flugel: Della Pearce
Solo Trombone: Carl Shephard
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 21st Grand Shield (rel) (B. Grant)
2002: 5th (P. Parkes)
2001: DNC
2000: 21st British Open (rel) (R. Gray)
1999: 20th British Open (B. Grant)
1998: 11th British Open (S. Wood)
1997: 2nd (prom) 4th British Open (B. Grant)
1996: DNC
1995: 13th (D. Hirst)
1994: 12th (D. Hirst)
1993: 10th (S. Appleton)
Form Guide:
Perhaps the favourites to at least gain promotion from this section and even top the prize list. Ransome are a very fine band on their day, but in recent months they have not had too many of them it must be said. Russell Gray has returned and has started to move things in the right direction, bringing in quality players and giving the band a chance to show their musical qualities. 4th place at the Midlands Regional Contest was a big disappointment, but you feel they have more than enough class to ensure a quick promotion back to the Grand Shield.
Ratby Co-operative
Conductor: David Maplestone
4BR Ranking: 107
Principal Cornet: Shiela Coates
Soprano Cornet: Mark Tarry
Flugel: Kat Adams
Solo Horn: Matthew Taylor
Solo Euphonium: Geoff Newman
Solo Trombone: Rebecca Plant
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 18th (K. J. Steward)
2002: 8th (K. J. Steward)
2001: 15th (K. J. Steward)
2000: 15th Grand Shield (rel) (K. J. Steward)
1999: 6th Grand Shield (K. J. Steward)
2004 Form Guide:
Ratby come to the Senior Cup after gaining a fine 5th place at the Midlands Regional Championships in March where they were conducted by Michael Fowles. There has been a change in the musical direction of the band as they have ended their long term association with Kevin Steward, so they will be looking to open a new and successful chapter here this time around. 18th last year was a major let down so they will be looking for a better return for sure.
Thoresby Colliery
Conductor: John Hudson
4BR Ranking: 60
Principal Cornet: David Jones
Solo Euphonium: Ciaran Young
Solo Horn: Christine Gent
Soprano: Simon Oates
Flugel: Matthew Challender
Solo Trombone: Malcolm Portman
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 20th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Hudson)
2002: 4th Senior Cup (prom) (S. Lippeatt)
2001: 14th Senior Cup (S. Lippeatt)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: 21st Grand Shield (rel) (S. Lippeatt)
1996: DNC
1995: 19th Grand Shield (S. Lippeatt)
1994: DNC
1993: 17th Grand Shield (S. Lippeatt)
Form Guide:
It's always nice to see John Hudson on parade with the baton in the UK, and it must be said he is usually pretty successful when he does so. He took Cwmaman to London qualification at the Swansea, but could only manage 9th place with Thoresby at the Midlands Championships. He likes it here though, as his record at the Grand Shield suggests and Thorseby have enough quality throughout the band to make a mark. Promotion last year shows they can do it on the day, but will it be another one on Saturday?
United Co-op Crewe
Conductor: Jef Sparkes
4BR Ranking: 71
Principal Cornet: Andy Welsh
Soprano Cornet: Jon Worths
Flugel: Gordon Bell
Solo Horn: Annette Sparkes
Solo Euphonium: Dave Mason
Solo Trombone: Clare Bennett
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 12th (J. Sparkes)
2002: 4th Senior Trophy (prom) (J. Sparkes)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: N/K (J. Sparkes)
Didn't compete at the contests before 1998.
2004 Form Guide:
Jef Sparkes has done a wonderful job at United Co-op Crewe over the years and after gaining promotion from the Senior Trophy in 2002 they put in a workmanlike performance to come 12th here last time out. 2004 started poorly though with 11th and last place here at the North West Regional Championships. They will be looking to put that behind them and at least better their performance of a twelve month ago.
Wingates
Conductor: Roy Curran
4BR Ranking: 27
Principal Cornet: Andy MacDonald
Flugel: John Dickinson
Solo Euphonium: Matthew Hill
Solo Trombone: Kevin Holgate
Soprano: David Chadwick
Solo Horn: Robbie Carhill
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 8th (R. Curran)
2002: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Gourlay)
2001: 9th Grand Shield (B. Grant)
2000: 6th Grand Shield (J. Gourlay)
1999: 23rd British Open (rel) (J. Davies)
1998: 15th British Open (C. Wormald)
1997: DNC
1996: Winners Grand Shield (prom) (N. Childs) 9th British Open (G. Whitham)
1995: 21st British Open (rel) (J. Hudson)
1994: 17th British Open (J. Hudson)
1993: 6th British Open (J. Hudson)
2004 Form Guide:
A resurgent Wingates perhaps gave the shock of the whole 2004 Regional Championships when they qualified for the Royal Albert Hall after coming 3rd here at the North West Regional Championships, a point ahead of Fodens Richardson. There may have been many a raised eyebrow, but you cannot deny that under Roy Curran the famous old band has been making progress in the right direction for some time. If they click again as they did in March then a promotion to the Grand Shield may well be on the cards.
Wooley Pritchard Sovereign Brass
Conductor: Trevor Jones
4BR Ranking: 63
Principal Cornet: Claire Hutchison
Soprano: Steve Lee
Euphonium: Steve Parsons
Flugal: Claire Mumford
Solo Horn: Robert Allen
Trombone: Julian Turner
Form Guide at Blackpool:
2003: 11th (W. Ruston)
2002: 14th (J. Hinckley)
2001: 10th (D. Beckley)
2000: DNC
1999: 13th Grand Shield (rel) (S. Roberts)
1998: DNC
1997: 15th Grand Shield (D. Maplestone)
1996: 7th Grand Shield (D. Maplestone)
1995: 7th Grand Shield (D. Maplestone)
1994: 6th Grand Shield (D. Maplestone)
1993: 12th Grand Shield (D. Maplestone)
2004 Form Guide:
Wooley Pritchard Sovereign Brass are another band who we think can't wait for the contest to come on Saturday as they are certainly playing to the top of their form. The band just missed out on a trip to the National Finals when they came 3rd at the Midlands Regional Championships, beating some notable rivals in the process and under Trevor Jones they are starting to make a real mark. He is the fourth new stick for the band here at Blackpool and they will be looking to better a best of 10th in 2001 for sure.
