Spring Festival - Grand Shield - How the Open qualifiers have performed

4BR takes a look at how the qualifiers from the Grand Shield to the British Open have done since 1991.

Bands may take years to get to the most prestigious contest in the World, but the survival rate once they get there isn't too great. This makes sobering reading for those who think their band has finally made it by getting to Birmingham.

1991

The 1991 winners were Whitburn, conducted by Peter Parkes who pipped Wallace Arnold Rothwell and Stocksbridge to the title, whilst all three gained a trip to the Free Trade Hall in Manchester.

Whitburn lasted just the one year after coming 20th on "Paganini Variations" and were relegated back to the Grand Shield (the 2 year safety period didn't come in until a few years later), whilst the same fate befell Wallace Arnold who came 18th.

Stocksbridge however kept their end up for a six-year period that lasted from 1991 until 1996 when they disappeared from the face of the earth somewhat - they have since resurfaced and are competing at the Shield this year, whilst they also hold the somewhat unique record of winning the Grand Shield twice, although it was under the different name of Andrews Heat for Hire. That six-year period saw them come 7th, 11th, 7th, 8th, 15th and 10th.

1992

1992 saw Dodworth take the title under the baton of Graham O'Connor (a man with a bit of a knack in getting bands to the Open – he has won the title twice and got two other to qualify since 1992) whilst Besses o' th' Barn were second and Wingates under John Hudson third. All three got the invite to the Open.

Dodworth lasted four years to 1995 after coming 8th on their debut and following up with 18th, 19th and 20th to get relegated. Besses meanwhile lasted until 1999, a 8 year period that saw a results sequence of 12th, 19th, 20th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 17th and 21st. They dropped out for two years before making a return in 2002 under Lynda Nicholson.

Wingates lasted four years and after coming 17th, 6th, 17th and finally 21st in 1995, they dropped out only to win their place back the next year in 1996 under Nicholas Childs. Since that time they came 9th, didn't compete at the 1997 event and then came 15th and 23rd in 1999 to drop out again. This year saw them drop further as they came last at the Grand Shield and so 2003 will see them compete at the Senior Cup.

1993

1993 saw victory go to William Davis Construction who beat Point of Ayr by three points under the direction of Keith Wilkinson and the Rhodian Band. This was the last time three bands got the invite to the contest.

William Davis came 17th on their debut and followed this with 13th, 22nd and finally 21st (under the name of Markfield Band as they lost their sponsorship) and they were relegated. Within the year they had ceased to exist.

Point of Ayr lasted just two years and after coming 20th and 21st they too were relegated never to return and although they continued to compete with success in other contests they too are now defunct as a contesting band.

The third band, Rhodian also lasted just the two years and came 22nd and 18th before being relegated. They continue to compete though and are still going strong.

1994

1994 was the year of the Welsh with Cory taking the title under Graham O'Connor by two points from Tredegar. Both are still at the Open, with Cory taking the title in 2000 and 2002 and Tredegar coming runners up in 1996.

However, Cory struggled in their first year at the Open and came 22nd before following up with 12th, 19th, 7th, 13th, 6th, 1st, 3rd and 1st again. Tredegar meanwhile came 16th, 12th, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 7th, 8th, 13th and 8th last year. They remain the only pair of original qualifiers from 1991 to 2001 to remain in the contest.

1995

1995 was the year of YBS and David King to win through with Whitburn coming second under Philip McCann. YBS came 3rd on their debut, have won the title three times and have only come out of the top 6 twice since, whilst Whitburn's second spell has seen them be comfortable competitors, with a results sequence that reads 12th, 17th, 13th, 20th, 11th, 17th, 5th and 10th last year – one good year followed by one bad year.

1996

1996 saw Wingates return to the Open under Nicholas Childs, but they lasted just four years as we said previously and now have a very hard task to return, whilst Polypipe Rossington who were second under Bryan Hurdley lasted just the one year after coming 18th in 1996. They didn't compete at the delayed 1997 contest and never returned again. Their current whereabouts are not known.

1997

1997 saw Rothwell (Leeds) and Douglas Blackledge take the top prize with NSK Ransome and Brian Grant claiming the other qualification spot. Rothwell came 14th , then 19th before joining forces with Yorkshire Imps to become known as DUT Yorkshire Imperial Rothwell, where they have come 15th in 1999, 19th in 2000, 14th in 2001 and 7th last year.

Ransome lasted just four years after a very impressive 4th place on their debut and following an 11th, 20th and 21st in 2000 they too dropped back to the Grand Shield. They didn't compete at the Shield in 2001 as they were at the European Championships but were 5th last year.

1998

1998 was the year of the Flowers Band from the West country (the last from that area to play at the Open) who were led by Bryan Hurdley to victory at the first Grand Shield were points were not awarded.

They too lasted just the four years, coming 14th on their debut, followed by 19th, 18th and 21st in 2001 to drop out. They just missed out on a return in last year to the contest after coming third at the Grand Shield.

BT who came second (under Graham O'Connor again!) lasted just the three years and after coming 9th on their debut, they fell to 16th and 23rd to drop out. They are currently fighting it out in the Grand Shield this year after coming 11th in 2001 to seek their return.

1999

1999 saw Carlton Main take the title with Rolls Royce (Coventry) take the other qualification spot. Carlton Main are back at the Grand Shield after coming 14th, 9th and 17th and 19th in 2002 at the Open to be relegated, but Rolls Royce came 22nd on their debut and 16th in 2000 to drop back out of the top flight. They came 16th in 2001 back in the Grand Shield and dropped to the Senior Cup where they came 10th last year.

2000

The Millennium Champions were Todmorden Old under Dennis Hadfield, but the band that had come so far are now no more and after coming 15th on their debut and 11th in 2001, they imploded and didn't make the following years contest and folded in unfortunate circumstances.

Glossop Old however still remain but after three years in which they came 14th and 20th and 18th, they were relegated back to the Grand Shield. This year they will try and get get back to Birmingham at the first attempt.

2001

2001 saw victory 10 years after Whitburn, go to another Scottish band, when Allan Ramsey steered Kirkintilloch to victory over Ever Ready and Ray Farr. Both did well enough on their debuts in 2001 coming 16th and 12th respectively and followed that up with 12th and 15th last year to remain in the top flight.

2002

Last years winners were Cwmaman Institute Silver (Tower Colliery) who surprised many to take the title back to South Wales, but then shocked nearly everyone by coming 5th at the Open itself. They will be looking to show that the result was no one off this year.

Runners up were Besses (their third qualification since 1990) and they went on to come 13th at the Open who survive just the two years before dropping back down.

2003

The latest bands to make it back to the British Open are Carlton Main who last won the Grand Shield in 1999 and Scottish Co-op who were winners in 1988 and who had a fine record at the contest. Just one year out for both again then, and they will be hoping to make sure they do not return.

So how will this years winners and runners up fare come the British Open itself?

Given that since 1991, only two bands have actually gone on to the win the contest – YBS on three occasions and Cory twice, you may think things will be easy. However, it is important to note that both of these bands are heavily sponsored (although Cory only got theirs a few years after their promotion, and before that they did struggle somewhat) and apart from them, only Tredegar who came runners up in 1996 has a qualifying band come in the top three.

In the eleven years since 1991, qualifying bands have come in the top six on 15 occasions out of a total of 72 places on offer. Of these YBS has taken 6 of them, Cory 3, Tredegar 2 and Ransomes, Whitburn, Wingates and Cwmaman 1 each. The rest have come nowhere.

The bad news is that many just don't survive – Whitburn (first time around), Wallace Arnold, Stocksbridge, Dodworth, Besses (first time around), Wingates (twice), William Davis, Point of Ayr, Rhodian, Polypipe Rossington, Rothwell Leeds (although they amalgamated), Ransomes, Flowers, BT, Rolls Royce Coventry, Carlton Main and Todmorden Old. The even worse news is that some don't even exist anymore.

That's a very, very sobering thought as the bands get ready for their attempts at getting to the "promised land" of Birmingham and the Symphony Hall in September.

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