2005 Regionals: Yorkshire - Preview: Third Section

Nine bands will try and balance their ability to have a wee dram and meddle with the Devil's business to overcome a very difficult test on Tam O'Shanter's Ride.

Date: Sunday 6th March
Adjudicators: Stan Lippeatt and Derek Broadbent
Test Piece: Tam O'Shanter's Ride - Denis Wright
Commences: 10.00
Draw: 09.00

No photo? Please send a JPEG to: stating the conductors name, your band, your region and section.

Armthorpe Elmfield
Conductor: Hayden Griffiths

Last Nine Years:
2004: 10th Second Section (rel) (H. Griffiths)
2003: 11th (H. Griffiths)
2002: 5th 3rd Section (prom) (H. Griffiths)
2001: Winners 3rd Section (H. Griffiths)
2000: 3rd 3rd Section (H. Griffiths)
1999: 13th 3rd Section
1998: 8th 3rd Section
1997: 12th 2nd Section (rel)
1996: 13th 2nd Section

Armthorpe has been up and down between the Second and Third Sections more times than the servants in ‘Upstairs, Downstairs', but they have shown in the past that they are more than strong enough to make an impression here at this level. They fell through the relegation trap door last year, but don't bet against them making a swift return if they can get a decent result this time around.

Clifton & Lightcliffe
Conductor: Rob Collinson

Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th (R. Collinson)
2003: 4th (R. Collinson)
2002: 6th (R. Collinson)
2001: Winners 4th Section (prom) (R. Collinson)
2000: 7th 4th Section (R. Collinson)
1999: 8th (rel)
1998: 14th
1997: 8th
1996: 7th

Clifton will surely be hoping that last years result here was a one off, as prior to this they were showing the type of form that should have hopefully led to a qualification place at least. It wasn't to be, but they will travel in hope and with confidence that they can once more show the type of form that gave them 4th place in 2003. 

Dinnington Colliery
Conductor: Toby Bannan

Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (T. Bannan)
2003: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (T. Bannan)
2002: 4th (T. Bannan)
2001: 4th (T. Bannan)
2000: 8th (D. Fretwell)
1999: 4th

Toby Bannan is a very gifted young conductor who has certainly turned around the fortunes of Dinnington Colliery in the past few years.  3rd place last year meant they just missed out on a return trip to Harrogate after they won the Fourth Section in 2003, so don't bet against them putting that right this time around.  

Gawthorpe Brass '85'
Conductor: John Edward

Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (J. Edward)
2003: 5th (J. Edward)
2002: 9th (J. Edward)
2001: 10th 2nd Section (rel) (J. Edward)
2000: 12th 2nd Section (J. Edward)
1999: 5th (prom)
1998: 6th
1997: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1996: Winners 4th Section

Gawthorpe are a band heading in the right direction it seems here, although last year they could only equal the 5th place of 2003. You sense though that they could well be on the verge of form that could push them even higher this year and a place on the podium or even a qualification spot isn't out of the question. 
 

Grange Moor
Conductor: Duncan Beckley

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners Fourth Section (prom) (M. Early)
2003: 2nd (G. Hallas)

Certainly a band moving in the right direction, and who would bet against them making it three consecutive trips to Harrogate this year? Duncan Beckley is the man charged with bringing yet further success and he has a hard act to follow it seems after the last two years.  They may once more be in line for the winner's laurels this time, and they should feature in the shake up come results time. 

Huddersfield Brass
Conductor: Alan Holdsworth

Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (A. Holdsworth)
2003: 10th in Second Section (rel) (I. Tiffany)
2002: 11th (S. Derrick)
2001: 11th (S. Derrick)
2000: 3rd (S. Bradnum)
1999: 9th
1998: 5th
1997: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1996: 5th 4th Section (prom)

After a long period in the Second Section, Huddersfield dropped into the Third Section here last year and more than held their own. If they have the appetite to return to the higher division though they will have to show it here, and after coming 6th last year under Alan Holdsworth they should fancy their chances of making a charge for the top couple of qualification places at least. 

Maltby Miners Welfare
Conductor: Terry Clifford

Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (T. Clifford)
2003: 7th (T. Clifford)
2002: 11th (T. Clifford)
2001: 2nd 4th Section (prom) (T. Clifford)
2000: 6th 4th Section (T. Clifford)
1999: Winners 4th Section
1998: 8th 4th Section
1997: 8th 4th Section
1996: 9th 4th Section

Maltby will certainly be looking forward to this years trip to Bradford after the last three years producing a series of year on year improvements here in the results table. 4th place last time out meant that they had jumped seven places in two years, so what would be the odds on them doing that again and picking up a qualification place at least.

Oughtibridge
Conductor: P. Chapman

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 6th (D. Moore)
2002: 2nd (D. Moore)
2001: 7th (D. Moore)
2000: 2nd 4th Section (prom) (D. Moore)
1999: 5th 4th Section
1998: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
1997: 13th 3rd Section
1996: 13th 3rd Section

A return for Oughtibridge this year after a year away from the fray in 2004. What shape they are in come 2004 we do not know, but we wish them well. They were certainly contenders the last time they appeared, so if they have picked up a good sprinkling of a few old players and some new talent in the 12 month absence they could well feature again.  

Slaithwaite
Conductor: Barry Hudson

Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd (B. Hudson)
2003: 8th (K. Lever)
2002: 7th (K. Lever)
2001: 4th (K. Lever)
2000: 9th (K. Lever)
1999: 9th
1998: 12th
1997: 3rd
1996: 3rd 4th Section (prom)

One of the real old famous names in an Yorkshire banding – one that is having a bit of a renaissance as well given that they came runners up here last year.  That led to them coming 18th at Harrogate, but they return here once more, determined to do even better and they could well by in with a good shout come the announcement of the results. 

Past Qualifiers:

2004: Stanley Newmarket Colliery, Slaithwaite
2003: Hebden Bridge, Stanley Newmarket Colliery
2002: Hebden Bridge, Oughtibridge
2001: Armthorpe Elmfield, Horbury Victoria
2000: Wilfreda Beehive Hatfield, Horbury Victoria
1999: Old Silkstone, Crofton Silver
1998: Frickley/South Elmshall, Yeadon Old
1997: Marsden Silver, Huddersfield Brass Ensemble
1996: Todmorden Old, Elland Siver
1995: Rothwell Temperance, Stannington

Yorkshire bands at the Finals:

2004: 13th, 18th
2003: 7th, 9th
2002: 11th, 15th
2001: 2nd, 9th
2000: 6th, 15th
1999: 3rd, 7th
1998: 9th, 13th

4BR Prediction:

This one is really up for grabs. There is not really one band that stands out from the rest here, but there are quite a few who could win without too much trouble. It is though a very difficult set work that will take come playing, but if the bands can tickle the fancy of the experienced Stan Lippeatt and Derek Broadbent they should mark themselves out as one of the favourites for Harrogate.

That said, we go for a top two that could read Grange Moor followed by Dinnington Colliery, with Maltby Miners and Gawthorpe challenging them strongly. The rest of the top six for us should go to Slaithwaite and Huddersfield Brass with out dark horses, Clifton and Lightcliffe. 

1. Grange Moor
2. Dinnington Colliery
3. Maltby Miners
4. Gawthorpe Brass
5. Slaithwaite
6. Huddersfield Brass

Dark Horses: Clifton and Lightcliffe

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