2005 Regionals: Scotland - Preview: First Section

The Scots have a dry sense of wit, and this may be put to the test with this particular test piece. Who will be left laughing come Sunday night?

Date: Sunday March 13th
Adjudicators: David Read and Steve Pritchard Jones
Test Piece: Comedy Overture – John Ireland
Commences: 11.00am
Draw: 9.30am

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

Arbroath Instrumental
Conductor: M. Robertson

Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (M. Robertson)
2003: 2nd 2nd Section (prom) (M. Robertson)
2002: 2nd 3rd Section (prom) (M. Robertson)
2001: Winners 4th Section (prom) (M. Robertson)
2000: 9th 4th Section (M. Robertson)
1999: 10th 3rd Section (rel)
1998: 11th 3rd Section
1997: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1996: 8th 2nd Section

A fine result here last year for Michael Robertson and his band on their debut in the First Section. Arbroath are one of the rising stars in Scottish banding and if they show the same type of form that they have been showing in recent times they should be in line for a trip to Harrogate at least. Ones to listen out for.

Barrhead Burgh
Conductor: B. Keachie

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners Second Section (B. Keachie) (prom)
2003: 3rd  (B. Keachie)
2002: 5th in 1st Section (rel) (B. Keachie)
2001: 7th 1st Section (E. Drysdale)
2000: 8th 1st Section (C. McKenzie)
1999: 2nd (prom)
1998: 8th 1st Section (rel)
1997: 8th 1st Section
1996: 2nd (prom)

Brian Keachie has revitalised Barrhead Burgh in the last couple of years and after being relegated from the First Section in 2002 they immediatley bounced back by coming 5th in 2003 and then winning the Second Section last year. That led them to Harrogate where they came a fine 3rd, and they will be looking to take that form into the contest here for sure.

Broxburn and Livingston
Conductor: A. Samson

Last NineYears:
2004: 10th Championship Section (A. Hutchison) (rel)
2003: 5th (M. Marzella)
2002: Winners First Section (prom) (M. Marzella)
2001: 9th (rel) (M. Marzella)
2000: 9th (M. Marzella)
1999: 4th
1998: 6th
1997: Winners 1st Section
1996: 4th 1st Section

Broxburn have bounced a bit between the Championship Section and the First Section here in the last couple of years and after gaining promotion to the top level in 2003 they could only manage a two year stay. That did however include a fine 5th place in 2003, but last year they were some way off the pace and they came 10th and last. They will be very keen to return once more though and Alan Samson will be keen to ensure they do especially now they are teamed up with Livingston.

Clackmannan District Brass
Conductor: J. Scott

Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (J. Davies)
2003: 10th Championship (rel) (J. Smith)
2002: 2nd 1st Section (prom) (N. Law)
2001: 3rd 1st Section (N. Law) 
2000: 10th Championship (rel) (J. Davies)
1999: 2nd 1st Section (prom)
1998: 4th 1st Section
1997: 9th Championship (rel)
1996: 8th Championship

Great to see James Scott making an appearance on the conductors rostrum this year. Perhaps the most experienced man in the country now, he will bring all that and more to Clackmannan in their attempt to improve on the 6th place they gained here last year. Make sure you go and see him conduct - they don't make them like him anymore and he should inspire his band to do very well indeed.

Dalmellington
Conductor: Archie Hutchison

Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th Championships Section (R. Evans) (rel)
2003: 8th (R. Evans)
2002: 6th (R. Evans)
2001: 3rd (R. Evans)
2000: 6th (R. Newsome)
1999: 5th
1998: 8th
1997: 4th
1996: 5th

The experienced Archie Hutchison takes over the helm at one of the most famous bands in Scotland, which this year finds itself in the First Section for the first time since 1993. The former Scottish Champions (they were winners in 1978) they will also be looking to make sure it is a very brief stay as well, and a repeat of their 1993 win in this section here could be the ambition of the weekend.

Dunaskin Doon
Conductor: J. Boax

Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (J. Boax)
2003: 3rd (J.Boax)
2002: 4th (D. Hirst)
2001: 10th Championship (rel) (B. Keachie)
2000: 7th Championship (A. McCutcheon)
1999: 8th Championship
1998: 2nd (prom)
1997: 3rd
1996: 9th Championship (rel)

Dunaskin Doon has been trying very hard to get out of the First Section here in the past few years, but have just missed out. John Boax takes the band for the third succesive time and he will be looking to just up the ante a tad and claim at least one of the qualification places that are on offer. A repeat of their 1994 victory here could also be a realistic ambition this weekend.

Johnstone Silver
Conductor: G. Lindsay

Last Nine Years:
2004: 8th (R. Tennant)
2003: 5th (R.Tennant)
2002: 9th Championship (rel) (R.Tennant)
2001: Winners First Section (prom) (R.Tennant)
2000: Winners 2nd Section (prom) (R.Tennant)
1999: 10th (rel)
1998: 6th
1997: 6th
1996: 3rd

Johnstone will be looking to return to better form here this year after they dropped away a touch to come 8th last year. That was a drop of three places from 2003 and has meant that they have been going the wrong way a bit since dropping out of the Championship Section. Gavin Lindsay, the former soprano player at Scottish Co-op takes over the helm this year and he should bring a good degree of stability to the band as they regroup.

Kilmarnock Concert Brass
Conductor: A. Keachie

Last NineYears:
2004: 2nd Second Section (A. Keachie) (prom)
2003: 7th (A. Keachie)
2002: 6th (A. Keachie)
2001: 3rd (A. Keachie)
2000: 3rd (A. Keachie)
1999: 7th 1st Section (rel)
1998: 9th 1st Section
1997: Winners (prom)
1996: Winners 3rd Section (prom)

Andrew Keachie brings his band back here to the First Section after a five year period away. Nice to see them on the way back as well after they dropped through the sections after losing their championship status in 1991. The former Scottish Champions in 1979 will therefore be looking to take yet another step back towards those glory days here this week, although a more solid ambition may be a chance to claim a top six place.   

Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
Conductor: A. Orr

Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (A. Orr)
2003: 6th  (C. Bradley)
2002: 2nd 2nd Section (prom) (A. Ramsey)
2001: 5th 2nd Section (R. Tennant)
2000: 2nd 3rd Section (prom) (R. Tennant)
1999: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
1998: 3rd 4th Section
1997: 9th 4th Section
1996: 10th 4th Section

Alastair Orr took the band here last year when they produced a fine performance to come home in third place and just miss out by a couple of points from gaining a trip to Harrogate. They will therefore return once more with high hopes of going at least one place better.

Past Qualifiers:

2004: Newtongrange Silver, Newmilns and Galston
2003: Bathgate, Bon Accord
2002: Broxburn Public, Clackmannan District Brass.
2001: Johnstone Silver, Bo'ness and Carriden
2000: Bon Accord, Kingdom Brass
1999: Unison Kinneil, Clackmannan and District
1998: Longannet Colliery, Dunaskin Doon
1997: Broxburn Public, Newmilns and Galston
1996: Dalkeith and Monktonhall, Unison Kinneil
1995: Bon Accord, Clackmannan and District

Scottish Bands at the Finals:

2004: 4th, 11th
2003: 10th, 17th
2002: 12th, 17th
2001: 6th, 9th
2000: 8th, 9th
1999: 2nd, 5th
1998: 2nd, 4th

4BR Prediction:

This has the makings of an intriguing contest as there are a host of bands here who could very well fancy their chances of more than making a name for themselves.

After a couple of years in the late 1990's when bands here came runners up for two successive years, the qualifiers have found life a bit tougher when they go the Finals, and the best they have done is last year's 4th place by Newtongrange. Whoever gets the nod this time from the judges wil have to play to the top of their form if they are to make an impression come September.

That said, there are some bands here who should do very well indeed and we think that Dalmellington could prove too strong for the oposition here and come away with the title. Joining them at Harrogate should be Barrhead Burgh, whilst they will be hard pressed by the likes of Broxburn, Kirkintilloch Kelvin, Johnstone and Clackmannan. Our dark horses are Dunaskin Doon.

1. Dalmellington
2. Barrhead Burgh
3. Broxburn and Livingston
4. Kirkintilloch Kelvin
5. Johnstone
6. Clackmannan

Dark Horse: Dunaskin Doon

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