2005 Regionals: North of England - Preview: Second Section
21-Feb-2005Eight bands line up here to tackle one of the truly great test pieces for band. Who will overcome the variations from the VW master and book a place in Harrogate later this year.
Date: Sunday 27th February
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
Test Piece: Variations for Brass Band – Vaughan Williams
Commences: 13.30
Draw: 12.00
Cockerton Prize Silver
Conductor: G. Catherall
Last Year: 7th
Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th (A. Taylor)
2003: 7th (G. Catherall)
2002: 2nd (G. Catherall)
2001: 6th (C. Lawn)
2000: 6th (C. Lawn)
1999: N/K
1998: 8th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 2nd
Cockerton came away from Darlington last year with another 7th place, and so with the return of G. Catherall to head their assault they will be looking to repeat the form of 2002 at least when they came runners up here. A pretty consistent record here, but what would they give for a qualification place.
East Riding of Yorkshire
Conductor: A. Shipman
Last Year: DNC
Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 4th (T. Oldroyd)
2002: 9th (M. Davison)
2001: 3rd (T. Oldroyd)
2000: 9th Championship (rel) (T. Oldroyd)
1999: 9th Championship
1998: 5th 1st Section (prom)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
The band formerly known as Aunt Bessie's return once more this year after not competing in 2004. We don't know what real form they bring to the contest, but given their record over the years they will hopefully be putting out a strong team. We wish them well.
Flimby Saxhorn
Conductor: G. Evans
Last Year: 8th
Last Nine Years:
2004: 8th (D. Jones)
2003: 10th (D. Jones)
2002: 4th (H. Robinson)
2001: 5th (H. Robinson)
2000: 5th (P. Fligg)
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
After a very poor result in 2003 when they came 10th, Flimby Saxhorn recovered some of that lost ground a 12 month ago when they came 8th. They will be looking to do even better than that this time around though and under new MD G. Evans a return to the placings around the podium will be their ambition.
Flookburgh
Conductor: John Iveson
Last Year:DNC
Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 3rd First Section (J. Iveson)
2002: 10th (J. Iveson)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: 4th
1998: 3rd
1997: 4th
1996: N/K
A return this year for Flookburgh who seem to have a bit of an on/off relationship with this contest over the past few years. 3rd in 2003 and then no appearance last year, John Iveson and his band will hopefully return to the stage this time and put in the type of show that saw them as strong contenders here at the end of the 1990's. We hope so.
GT Group Peterlee
Conductor: B. Holden
Last Year: 4th
Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (B. Holden)
2003: 5th (B. Holden)
2002: 8th (B. Holden)
2001: DNC
2000: 2nd (T. Maddison)
1999: 2nd
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
A band moving in the right direction up the prize winners table it seems in the last three years and under B. Holden they will be looking to continue that once more and possibly gain a qualification place at least. They have done it before – both in 1999 and 2000, so time for it to happen again?
Lockwood Brass
Conductor: J. Roberts
Last Year: Winners Third Section
Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners of Third Section (prom) (J. Roberts)
2003: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (N. Barnes)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Can Lockwood make three out of three here this year and take away with them the Second Section title after winning the Fourth and Third in successive years? Don't bet against them doing it, what with a strong team of players and the experienced John Roberts at the helm. Could they be celebrating a hat trick on Sunday night?
Spennymoor Town
Conductor: J. Bell
Last Year: 5th
Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (D. Beckley)
2003: 3rd (D. Beckley)
2002: 11th 1st Section (rel) (P. Cutler)
2001: 10th 1st Section (M. Condron)
2000: 6th 1st Section (A. Exley)
1999: N/K
1998: 4th (prom)
1997: 4th
1996: 3rd
Spennymoor just fell away a couple of places last year to come 5th under the baton of Duncan Beckley, so they will be looking to force their way back into the prize reckoning this year when they are conducted by John Bell. They have shown the right form here in the past, but can they just up it this time to gain a qualification place?
Wansbeck's Ashington
Conductor: N. Stedman
Last Year: 6th
Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (N. Steadman)
2003: Winners of Third Section (prom) (N. Stedman)
2002: 5th (N. Stedman)
2001: 6th (C. Harris)
2000: DNC
1999: N/K
1998: 6th 2nd Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
A solid performance from Wansbecks last year saw them come 6th on their first appearance at this level since 1998. That should have given the confidence to make an even stronger assault this year under Nigel Stedman and they could well push for a qualification place if they are on top form.
Past Qualifiers:
2004: Ellington Colliery, Felling
2003: Langbaurgh Brass, Houghton Brass
2002: Langbaurgh Brass, Cockerton Silver
2001: Westoe (STHCT), York Railway Institute
2000: Harrogate, GT Group Peterlee
1999: Yarm and District, GT Group Peterlee
1998: Rowntree Band, Greggs Bakery
1997: Cottingham, Greggs Bakery
1996: Carlisle St. Stephens, Cockerton Silver
1995: Broughton's Brass, Flookburgh
North of England bands at the Finals:
2004: 8th, 9th
2003: 4th, 6th
2002: 5th, 12th
2001: 11th, 17th
2000: 11th, 15th
1999: 4th, 6th
1998: 3rd, 14th
4BR Prediction:
Although there are only eight bands taking part (hopefully) in this section, it should still prove to be a good contest for Derek Broadbent to judge.
A few of the bands do look a bit stronger than the others though and we think it could well be Lockwood, who seem to heading in the right direction who could well make it a third straight win here.
They should though be hard pushed by Wansbeck's Ashington and GT Group Peterlee who we think will battle it out for the other qualification place, whilst the rest of the top six should fall to Spennymoor, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cockerton. Flimby are our dark horse.
1. Lockwood
2. Wansbeck's Ashington
3. GT Group Peterlee
4. Spennymoor
5. East Riding of Yorkshire
6. Cockerton
Dark Horses: Flimby Saxhorn
