2005 Regionals: Yorkshire - Preview: Championship Section
1-Mar-2005A fantastic contest is in prospect here as 14 bands tackle Rienzi and try and claim one of the two extra qualification places on offer for the best bands chosen by Nigel Boddice and David Horsfield.
Date: Sunday 6th March
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice and David Horsfield
Test Piece: Overture to Rienzi - Wagner
Commences: 17.00
Draw: 15.30
Black Dyke
Conductor: Dr. Nicholas Childs
4BR Ranking: 2
Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd (N. Childs)
2003: 13th (N. Childs)
2002: Winners (N. Childs)
2001: Winners (N. Childs)
2000: 3rd (J. Watson)
1999: 7th
1998: Winners
1997: 5th
1996: DNC
Black Dyke return to Bradford as the reigning National Champions, and there seems to be something of a flow with them at present. Can they win here for the first time since 2002 though and give them their 18th Regional title? A win would give Dr Childs his 16th and push him up to joint second in the all time conductors winners list of total Regional titles. Wait and see but you won't bet against them would you?
Brighouse & Rastrick
Conductor: James Gourlay
4BR Ranking: 10
Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (J. Gourlay)
2003: Winners (I. McElligott)
2002: 3rd (A. Withington)
2001: 3rd (A. Withington)
2000: 5th (A. Withington)
1999: 2nd
1998: 7th
1997: Winners
1996: 2nd
A fine record of achievement here over the years for Brighouse and they will be looking to add to their total of 15 Regional titles here this weekend as well. Last year they came and just about fired on all cylinders, and they will be keen to provide James Gourlay with a Yorkshire title to his name as well. When they are hot, they are very hot, but if they are not, then against this quality field they could well struggle to qualify.
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
Conductor: Brian Grant
4BR Ranking: 25
Last Nine Years:
2004: 8th (W. Rushworth)
2003: 10th (W. Rushworth)
2002: 9th (J. Hinckley)
2001: 10th (J. Hinckley)
2000: 10th (J. Hinckley)
1999: Winners
1998: 9th
1997: 4th
1996: 11th
Carlton Main should approach this year's Regional Championships with a high degree of confidence after their performances in Butlins earlier this year. Not a great record here over the past few years, but they have won in 1999. It may be asking a bit much of them this time to do that again, but they will certainly be looking for a top six place at least.
Grimethorpe Colliery (U.K.Coal)
Conductor: Richard Evans
4BR Ranking: 9
Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (F. Renton)
2003: 5th (J. Gourlay)
2002: 2nd (J. Gourlay)
2001: 4th (G. Cutt)
2000: 2nd (G. Cutt)
1999: DNC
1998: 3rd
1997: DNC
1996: Winners
It is now nearly ten years since Grimethorpe won the title here, and although they have come close a few times since that 1996 win, the last couple of years have seen them promise much but really fail to deliver. Last year they started so brilliantly but then just had error after little error that cost them dearly. This time though they have Richard Evans in front of them, and their form of late on the contest and concert stage has been brilliant. A repeat of 1996 and a 10th victory here may be on the cards.
Hade Edge (J & E Dickinson)
Conductor: Simon Wood
4BR Ranking: 126
Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th First Section (prom) (S. Wood)
2003: 2nd (S. Wood)
2002: Winners 2nd Section (prom) (S. Wood)
2001: 2nd 2nd Section (S. Wood)
2000: 11th 2nd Section (S. Wood)
1999: 9th (rel)
1998: 10th
1997: 5th
1996: 4th
Could it be a year too late for Hade Edge and Simon Wood? At the end of 2003 they were flying very high indeed, but 2004 was only a decent year by their high standards and they only managed 5th place in the First Section. That gained them promotion, but they will have to be on the best of their form for them to make a real mark against this quality opposition. They can do it, but it will be a very hard task.
Hepworth (Persimmon Homes)
Conductor: Mark Bentham
4BR Ranking: 15
Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th (M. Bentham)
2003: 11th (M. Bentham)
2002: 5th (M. Bentham)
2001: 9th (A. Duncan)
2000: 9th (N. Law)
1999: 5th
1998: 5th First Section (prom)
1997: 3rd First Section
1996: 3rd First Section
Could this be the year that Hepworth really make that breakthrough and push for both a place at the National Finals and the British Open. They have shown in the past here that they can perform very well indeed, but last year they were disappointing. The quality is there, and so is the motivation, but so also are a number of very good rivals.
Innovate Skelmanthorpe
Conductor: J. Hinckley
4BR Ranking: 54
Last Nine Years:
2004: 10th (K. Wadsworth)
2003: 7th (K. Wadsworth)
2002: 11th (K. Wadsworth)
2001: 5th (K. Wadsworth)
2000: 11th (S. Fawcett)
1999: 3rd First Section (prom)
1998: 4th First Section
1997: 6th First Section
1996: 5th First Section
A little bit up and down here for Skelmanthorpe, although they are more than capable of holding their own against these quality bands. They have come as high as 5th in 2001 and 7th in 2003, so will the odd year form come back again this time and see a good return or will they fall away into the midfield places like 12 months ago.
Lindley
Conductor: Neil Jowett
4BR Ranking: 127
Last Nine Years:
2004: 12th (N. Jowett)
2003: 8th (N. Jowett)
2002: 4th First Section (N. Jowett)
2001: 4th First Section (N. Jowett)
2000: 12th (rel) (N. Jowett)
1999: 9th
1998: 8th
1997: 4th First Section
1996: Winners First Section
Lindley have put in two solid accounts here in the past two years to come 8th in 2003 and 12th last year and they will need to do that again this time around as they battle against some strong contenders in the 15 band field. Neil Jowett continues to do the business though and if they play to form they could well move back into the top 10 again.
Pennine Brass
Conductor: Ian Porthouse
4BR Ranking: 53
Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th (I. Porthouse)
2003: 12th (I. Porthouse)
2002: 10th (I. Porthouse)
2001: 2nd First Section (prom) (I. Porthouse)
2000: Winners Second Section (I. Porthouse)
Pennine Brass has been a bit quiet of late it seems, and that may suit them as in the past few years they have had a meteoric rise up through the sections. They have more than held their own at this level though and came a well deserved 7th last year. Can they improve on that result this time around and give themselves a top six place? Wait and see.
Rothwell Temperance
Conductor: David Roberts
4BR Ranking: 23
Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (D. Roberts)
2003: 4th (D. Roberts)
2002: 7th (D. Roberts)
2001: 8th (D. Roberts)
2000: 8th (D. Roberts)
1999: 3rd
1998: Winners First Section
1997: 2nd First Section
1996: Winners Second Section
A fine record here for Rothwell in the past few years, and they seem to like Bradford and St. George's Hall. Solid and well constructed musical performances have come under Dave Roberts baton and if they can repeat the form of both 2003 and 2004 they could well feature high up the prize list once more. A dark horse for sure.
Sellers International
Conductor: Phillip McCann
4BR Ranking: 7
Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (P. McCann)
2003: 3rd (P. McCann)
2002: 6th (P. McCann)
2001: 12th (A. Exley)
2000: 6th (A. Exley)
1999: 4th
1998: 6th
1997: 6th
1996: Joint 6th
The last two years has seen Sellers provide the audience here with high-class performances that would surely have given them a qualification place anywhere else in the country. It gives you some idea of the standard though that they are up against, but there are four places up for grabs this time and if they can continue the form of 2004 here, then one of them could very well be theirs.
Stocksbridge
Conductor: William Rushworth
4BR Ranking: 40
Last Nine Years:
2004: 11th (D. Renshaw)
2003: 2nd (D. Renshaw)
2002: 14th (D. Renshaw)
2001: Winners First Section (D. Renshaw)
2000: Winners First Section (D. Renshaw)
1999: 12th
1998: DNC
1997: 8th
1996: 4th
The fine result of 2003 seems a long time ago for Stocksbridge, as last year they didn't perform at all to the form they were expecting of themselves and came home11th. They cannot afford another display like that this year, and they will come to the contest with a new MD, William Rushworth to try and ensure they don't. They have the quality in the ranks, as do many others here - but they should do enough to more than hold their own.
United Co-op Yorkshire Brass
Conductor: John Roberts
4BR Ranking: 69
Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th First Section (prom) (J. Roberts)
2003: 3rd (J. Roberts)
2002: 13th Championship (rel) (J. Roberts)
2001: 11th Championship (J. Roberts)
2000: 4th 1st Section (prom) (J. Roberts)
1999: 2nd 1st Section
1998: 7th 1st Section
1997: 10th 1st Section
1996: 10th Championship (rel)
It would be easy to suggest that this band may have their minds on things thousands of miles away as they prepare for a trip of a lifetime to New Zealand. However we are sure they will want to leave on a high and show that following their promotion up from the First Section that can more than hold their own here.
YBS Band
Conductor: Professor David King
4BR Ranking: 1
Last NineYears:
2004: Winners (D. King)
2003: 6th (D. King)
2002: 4th (D. King)
2001: 2nd (D. King)
2000: Winners (D. King)
1999: 6th
1998: 2nd
1997: 3rd
1996: DNC
What a year this could be for the YBS Band. Now lacking a sponsor, but certainly not lacking quality, brilliance or a MD who has an insatiable drive for contest victories. They should be ever more determined to show their rivals that they are still the band to beat and will be looking to retain their Yorkshire Regional title and give their MD his seventh Regional title as well. Watch out then.
Past Qualifiers:
2004: Yorkshire Building Society, Black Dyke*, Brighouse and Rastrick*
2003: Brighouse and Rastrick, Asda Stocksbridge, Black Dyke*
2002: Black Dyke*, Grimethorpe, Brighouse and Rastrick, YBS*
2001: Black Dyke, YBS, Brighouse and Rastrick*
2000: YBS, Grimethorpe Colliery, Brighouse and Rastrick*
1999: Carlton Main, Rothwell Temperance, Brighouse and Rastrick*, YBS*
1998: Black Dyke, YBS, Brighouse and Rastrick*
1997: Brighouse and Rastrick, Wallace Arnold Rothwell, Grimethorpe*
1996: Grimethopre Colliery, Brighouse and Rastrick, Black Dyke*, YBS*
1995: Brighouse and Rastrick, Sellers Engineering, Black Dyke*, Brighouse and Rastrick*
1994: YBS, Black Dyke
1993: DUT Yorkshire Imperial, British Steel Dodworth, Grimethorpe Colliery*
1992: Brighouse and Rastrick, Grimethorpe Colliery
1991: Grimethorpe Colliery, Stocksbridge Engineering, IMI Yorkshire Imperial
1990: Black Dyke, Sellers Engineering, Stocksbridge Engineering
1989: Brighouse and Rastrick, Black Dyke, Grimethorpe Colliery
*Pre Qualified
How Yorkshire bands did in London:
2004: 1st, 2nd, 14th
2003: 4th, 6th, 13th
2002: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th
2001: 1st, 3rd, 11th
2000: 4th, 10th, 17th
1999: 2nd, 6th, 8th, 17th
1998: 1st, 2nd, 5th
1997: 1st, 7th, 15th
1996: 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th
1995: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th
1994: 1st, 3rd
1993: 4th 7th, 14th
4BR Prediction:
What a cracking contest we are in store for at Bradford. There is a whole group of bands that are out to prove to themselves and their supporters that they are not only good enough to qualify for London, but also to get an early season one over' their rivals right down the prize list.
YBS and Black Dyke are the two who can really turn on the class, and we think once more they will be the two to fight it out for the top prize. YBS need to win here to show that the their recent sponsorship loss hasn't affected their playing, whilst Dyke will surely want to start their 150th year on a winning note.
Grimethorpe meanwhile has been playing with a real touch of magic of late under Richard Evans and Sellers were excellent throughout 2004 and will be looking to maintain that here as well. Brighouse are always a class act, although they can be infuriatingly inconsistent, whilst the likes of Hepworth, Rothwell, Skelmanthorpe and Pennine cannot be discounted, or the good form of Carlton Main. It could come down to a toss of a coin from the two men in the box to see which two other bands join the top two in London.
Still, we have to stick out necks out, and this year we put them on the line with our nomination of Black Dyke for victory, followed closely by YBS, with Grimethorpe and Sellers to fill the other two qualification places and Brighouse and Hepworth filling the top six. Our dark horse is Rothwell.
1. Black Dyke
2. YBS
3. Grimethorpe Colliery (UK Coal)
4. Sellers International
5. Brighouse and Rastrick
6. Hepworth (Persimmon Homes)
Dark Horse: Rothwell Temperance
