2005 Regionals: Wales - Preview: First Section

The Welsh have a great sense of humour, but who will be the bands laughing all the way to Harrogate after this Comedy?

Date: Saturday 12th March
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison
Test Piece: Comedy Overture – John Ireland
Commences: Follows Second Section
Draw: 3.15pm

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

Ammanford Town
Conductor: Colin Hogg

Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (C. Hogg)
2003: 5th (C. Hogg)
2002: 7th (C. Hogg)
2001: 2nd 2nd Section (prom) (T. Jenkins)
2000: 6th 2nd Section (J. Davies)
1999: 7th 2nd Section
1998: DNC
1997: 6th (rel)
1996: 6th

Ammanford will be looking to pick up their first Regional title in Swansea since 1992 when they won the Third Section here, and in the past couple of years under Colin Hogg they have been showing the type of form that could put them in the frame for Harrogate at least. Two consecutive fifth places in the last two years, could well herald a strong challenge this time round.  

Llanrug
Conductor: Thomas Wyss

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners Second Section (prom) (G. Saynor)
2003: Winners (G. Saynor)
2002: 3rd (P. Hughes)
2001: 3rd 3rd Section (prom) (P. Hughes)
2000: 2nd 3rd Section (P. Hughes)
1999: 7th 3rd Section
1998: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1997: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
1996: N/K

Llanrug have impressed many observers over the past coupe of years when they were double winners of the Second Section titles in 2003 and 2004. Thomas Wyss is the experienced man at the helm, and they will be sure to be in with a shout  come results time if they play to form.  

Markham and District
Conductor: Nigel Seaman

Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd Second Section (prom) (N. Seaman)
2003: 7th in First Section (rel) (A. Jones)
2002: 10th (N. Seaman)
2001: 4th 2nd Section (prom) (N. Seaman)
2000: 3rd 2nd Section (N. Seaman)
1999: 3rd 2nd Section
1998: 7th 2nd Section
1997: 5th 2nd Section
1996: 8th 2nd Section

A famous name in Welsh banding, Markham were last regional champions back in 1984 when they won the Third Section here. They were Championship winners in the late 1960's though and are on a good run of form of late under the baton of Nigel Seaman, who makes a welcome return to the stage here after his serious illness.  

Northop Silver
Conductor: Brett Baker

Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th Championship Section (rel) (B. Baker)
2003: 9th (C. Roberts)
2002: 7th (C. Roberts)
2001: 3rd (I. Porthouse)
2000: 8th (I. Porthouse)
1999: 4th
1998: DNC
1997: 6th
1996: 2nd

Brett Baker of Black Dyke fronts the North Walians who returned to the First Section after coming 9th in the top section last year. Reports of good form though have been filtering down from the North and they will be looking to take the top prize here and repeat their wins of 1991 and 1992.  

Parc and Dare
Conductor: Craig Roberts

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners (C. Roberts)
2003: 10th in Championship Section (rel) (C. Roberts)
2002: 8th (C. Roberts)
2001: 6th (C. Roberts)
2000: 5th (C. Roberts)
1999: 7th
1998: 5th
1997: 9th
1996: 4th

Last years winners return to see if they can retain their title, with what looks like an even stronger band this year. Last years victory saw them go onto Harrogate and come runners up, so they will be full of confidence of doing that again. The clear favourites in many people's eyes.  

Penclawdd
Conductor: Tony Small

Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (T. Small)
2003: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (T. Small)
2002: Winners in Second Section (N. Seaman)
2001: 8th 1st Section (rel) (T. Small)
2000: 6th 1st Section (T. Small)
1999: 6th 1st Section
1998: 7th 1st Section
1997: 8th Championship (rel)
1996: 8th Championship

Nice to see Penclawdd doing well again after a few years when they dropped down through the sections after being Championship Regional winners back in 1986. In the last few years the young band has been maturing very nicely under Tony Small and they will be confident of doing well here this time around and gaining a possible qualification place at least.  

Pontardulais Town
Conductor: Andrew Jones

Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (M. Faro)
2003: 8th (D. Mahoney)
2002: 6th (B. Buckley)
2001: 5th (B. Buckley)
2000: 3rd (B. Buckley)
1999: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
1998: Winners 2nd Section
1997: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1996: 3rd 3rd Section

Andrew Jones is the third new MD in as many years to take the band from ‘The Bont' at this contest and they have a good record to maintain here of late – just missing out on a podium place twelve months ago. Lots of talented players around the stands and with a quality MD in front of them, they should feature highly once more.  

Rogerstone
Conductor: C. Thomas

Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th (C. Thomas)
2003: 4th (C. Thomas)
2002: 4th (C. Thomas)
2001: 4th (C. Thomas)
2000: Winners 2nd Section (prom) (A. MacDonald)
1999: 5th 2nd Section
1998: 5th 2nd Section
1997: 3rd (rel)
1996: 8th

Rogerstone have more than held their own in this section since gaining promotion off the back of heir Second Section title win here in 2000. Just outside the top podium places until last year when they fell away somewhat, they will be keen to show that they are more than capable of challenging for a podium place or even a qualification place at least.  

Tylorstown (Valley Lines)
Conductor: L. Bowden

Last Nine Years:
2004: =8th (A. Morton)
2003: 3rd (L. Phillips)
2002: 8th (L. Phillips)
2001: 3rd (L. Phillips)
2000: 5th (L. Phillips)
1999: 7th
1998: 8th
1997: 5th
1996: 7th

The last time Tylorstown won a Regional title was back in 1989 when they took the Second Section here and they have a decent record at the contest in the past few years. A little up and own maybe, but on their day, more than capable of making an impression – as they showed in 2003 when they came 3rd. A repeat of that would be most welcome.  

Wrexham Brass
Conductor: Wayne Ruston

Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd (W. Ruston)
2003: 6th (W. Ruston)
2002: 9th Championship (rel) (W. Ruston)
2001: DNC
2000: Winners First Section (as Rhos Silver) (prom) (I. Davey)
1999: 2nd (as Rhos) First Section
1998: 2nd (as Rhos) First Section
1997: Winners 2nd Section (as Rhos) (prom)
1996: 2nd 2nd Section (as Rhos)

Wayne Ruston and his band will be confident of making the long tri down south worthwhile this year and once more making a strong play for the overall title and at least a qualification place. They certainly did that last year and went on to come 13th at Harrogate. Ones to watch out for then. 

Past Qualifiers:

2004: Parc and Dare, Wrexham Brass
2003: Treherbert and District, Abergavenny Borough
2002: Abergavenny Borough, Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda
2001: Beaumaris, Treherbert and District
2000: Rhos Silver, Tongwynlais Temperance
1999: Burry Port, Rhos Silver
1998: Thomas Coahes Mid Rhondda, Rhos Silver
1997: Beaumaris, Burry Port
1996: Abergavenny, Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda
1995: Beaumaris, Tongwynlais Temperance

Welsh Bands at the Finals:

2004: 2nd, 13th
2003: 13th, 16th
2002: 2nd, 11th
2001: 3rd, 12th
2000: 10th, 16th
1999: 6th, 14th
1998: 11th, 14th

4BR Prediction:

This has the real makings of a cracking little contest. A whole host of bands on the up are here this year and will be fighting it out like made to get one of the two qualification places up for grabs for Harrogate.   There is a very strong North Wales contingent, some quality bands from the West and more than a couple that fancy their chances from the South of the country, so you can see why it promises so much.

There are however a couple of bands that do stick out, and it will be a bit of a surprise if the resurgent Parc and Dare do not feature highly, whilst Northop Silver are another who have a fine chance of making t through to Harrogate.

That said, there are the likes of Wrexham who come with excellent form to their name, Penclawdd and Pontardulais as well as Ammanford and Markham – all of whom have enough about them to make their mark.

Still, we'll put our necks on the line and go for Parc and Dare and Northop for the top two places, with Wrexham, Ammanford and Pontardulais just behind and Penclawdd making up the top six. Markham are our dark horses.

1. Parc and Dare
2. Northop
3. Wrexham
4. Ammanford
5. Pontardulais
6. Penclawdd

Dark Horse: Markham

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