2005 Regionals: London & Southern Counties - Preview: Fourth Section

A large old field of 22 bands for Stan Lippeatt to get his teeth into here, and he will have a difficult task for sure to seperate these bands into order. Rather him than us.

Date: Sunday March 20th
Adjudicator: Stan Lippeatt
Test Piece: Divertimento – Bryan Kelly
Commences: 10.00
Draw: 09.00

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

Amersham
Conductor: A. Fawbert

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 17th (A. Fawbert) (rel)
2002: 13th (A. Fawbert)
2001: 4th 4th Section (prom)
2000: 13th 4th Section
1999: 21st 4th Section
1998: 13th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Amersham certainly found life a bit tough in the Third Section, and after coming 17th in 2003, failed to make it to the tape for last year's contest. We hope they return stronger and more confident of doing well here, and looking for a result such as 2001 when they came 4th here.

Battle Town
Conductor: J. Penton

Last Five Years:
2004: 4th (J. Penton)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC

What a great result for Battle here last year when on their debut they came 4th and only missed out on a trip to the National Finals by a point. They will be keen therefore to go at least one place better this time around then.

Bletchington Silver
Conductor: S. Barwick

Last Nine Years:
2004: 18th (S. Barwick)
2003: 15th (S. Barwick)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Bletchington made their debut here in 2003 when they came 15th and last year that just fell a bit to 18th. They will be hoping to move up the prize table a bit this time then, and we wish them well.

Chalgrove
Conductor: I. Young

Last Nine Years:
2004: 14th (S. Sizeland)
2003: 8th (S. Sizeland)
2002: 6th (M. Fricker)
2001: 26th (N. Hall)
2000: 4th (N. Hall)
1999: 17th
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Chalgrove just fell away a little last year after making amazing progress here over the past few years when they leaped from 26th place in 2001 to 6th in a year and then maintained their form the following 12 months.  A new MD at the helm, and we will wait and see if the new team can make further progress.

Charles Church Camberley
Conductor: R. Cherry

Last Nine Years:
2004: 12th (R. Cherry)
2003: 13th (G. Hughes)
2002: 12th (G. Hughes)
2001: 20th (G. Hughes)
2000: 5th (G. Hughes)
1999: 17th
1998: 15th
1997: N/K
1996: 12th

Charles Church held their own in the midfield battle here once more last year when they came 12th. They will surely be looking for an improvement this time and a possible top six place perhaps, but a top 10 place may well be a more realistic ambition.  

Cobham
Conductor: D. Ruel

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 16th (T. Howard)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: 25th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Cobham has a bit of a chequered history here in the past few years, but it is nice to see them once more making the effort to make it to the starting line up again after a break away last year. How will they do this time with David Ruel at the helm? We will have to wait and see of course, but we wish them well in their efforts.

Cottenham Brass
Conductor: C. Watson

Last Nine Years:
2004: 17th (C. Watson)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

No trace of Cottenham at the contest from 1996 at least, and so we think they made their debut last year when they came home in 17th spot. Nice to see them back for a second successive year, and we think they will also be looking for a quick shift up the prize table for their efforts.

Fakenham
Conductor: D. Wakefield

Last Nine Years:
2004: 16th (D. Wakefield)
2003: DNC
2002: 27th (D. Wakefield)
2001: 15th (D. Wakefield)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Fakenham returned to the contest after a twelve month break away last year and came a respectable 16th, and given their patchy record here in the past few years, we think another mid table placing may well be the best they can hope for this time around. They may well prove us wrong though!

Fulham Brass
Conductor: P. McLaughlin

Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (P. McLaughlin)
2003: 5th (P. McLaughlin)
2002: 21st (W. Elsom)
2001: 19th (K. Forsyth)
2000: 17th (K. Forsyth)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 15th

Fulham will certainly be looking to maintain the form they showed here in the last two years and 12 months ago they booked themselves into Harrogate and enjoyed themselves  even though they came 19th overall. We think they wouldn't mind having another bash at it, and they could well be one of the bands to beat here this time around.  

Haslemere Town
Conductor: G. Wade

Last Nine Years:
2004: 10th (G. Wade)
2003: 17th (G. Wade)
2002: DNC
2001: 6th (G. Wade)
2000: 27th (G. Wade)
1999: 29th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 21st

Haslemere returned to the contest in 2003 after missing a year following their excellent 6th place in 2001. That was their best result here for many a year, but 12 months ago they showed that they could well be approaching that form again. Can they go a few places better this time and banish those years of coming 29th from their memories for good?

King's Lynn Town
Conductor: S. Ingham

Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th (S, Ingham)
2003: 13th (D. Taylor)
2002: 22nd (K. Mann)
2001: 12th (K. Mann)
2000: 8th (K. Mann)
1999: 27th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

King's Lynn continued on their improved form here last year when they came 9th - the second year in a row they have moved up the prize table, and a great leap from the 22nd place they got here in 2002. Another few places and a possible top six may be on the cards.  

Letchworth Garden City
Conductor: T. Welch

Last NineYears:
2004: 15th Third Section (T. Welch) (rel)
2003: 14th (T. Welch)
2002: 8th 4th Section (T. Welch) (prom)
2001: 8th 4th Section (T. Welch)
2000: 13th 4th Section (T. Welch)
1999: 17th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

A drop through the relegation trap door sees Letchworth compete here for the first time since 2002. They did find life a bit tough in the higher section, but a drop may be a good thing as they can rebuild once more and put in a stroger challenge for the prizes at this level.

Norfolk Wherry Brass
Conductor: A. Craze

Last Nine Years: Making debut this year 

Great to report that a band that has been set and running in less than a year will be making their contest debuts here this weekend, and we wish everyone connected to theband the very best of luck. Let's hope it will be the first of very many more appearances here.  

Royston Town
Conductor: G. Smith

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: DNC
2002: 25th (J. Jones)
2001: 27th
2000: 28th
1999: 17th  

Always nice to see a band making it back after a period away, and Royston have been missing from action since 2002 when they came 25th here. Nothing since, so we wish them well as they return back to the contest.

Pangbourne and District Silver
Conductor: D. Roberts

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: DNC
2902: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: 17th Third Section (D. Roberts) (rel)

We really did have to have a long hard look through the record books to find the last time Pangbourne competed here, and we found it in 2000 when they came 17th in the Third Section. Nothing since, but it is nice to report that they return this year and haven't as many bands do, gone into terminal decline. A great effort that, and we wish them all well on their return.

Somersham Town
Conductor: D. Chambers

Last Nine Years:
2004: 15th (D. Chambers)
2003: 9th (D. Wilson)
2002: 18th (D. Wilson)
2001: 16th (D. Wilson)
2000: 24th (K. Hopkins) 
1999: 28th
1998: 14th
1997: N/K
1996: 19th

Somersham have just bobbled a bit here in the last few years after making excellent progress from their lowly 28th place in 1999. Still, they are more than holding their own, although we think they wouldn't mind just getting back into the top 10 once more as they did in 2003.  

Sussex Brass (Hastings)
Conductor: S. Hollamby

Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (S. Hollamby)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Sussex Brass made what we believe was their debut here last year, and what a fine debut it was, with them coming in 6th. If they can repeat that it will be one heck of an effort, but they may well be looking to go a few places better even. Ones to listen out for perhaps.

Tadley Concert Brass
Conductor: P. Chapman

Last Nine Years:
2004: 11th (P. Chapman)
2003: 12th (P. Chapman)
2002: 16th (P. Chapman)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Tadley put in yet another good solid performance here last year when they just moved up the prize list again to come in 11th. That seems like solid enough progress for us, and we think it may well pay dividends as well this time around and a top 10 place may be the ambition.

Thundersley Brass
Conductor: K. Schroeder

Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th (K. Schroeder)
2003: Disqualified (K. Schroeder)
2002: 14th (D. Hirst)
2001: 14th (D. Hirst)
2000: 23rd (K. Nice)
1999: 25th
1998: 3rd
1997: N/K
1996: 17th

A bit of a liquorice allsort bag of results here for Thundersley in the past couple of years, what with a disaqualification to their name. However a good solid 7th place was more like it 12 months ago, and they will be keen to improve on that thistime around we are sure.  

Wantage Silver B
Conductor: P. Uzzell

Last Nine Years:
2004: 21st (P. Uzzell)
2003: 11th (D. Dullforce)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Wantage came 11th here on their debut back at the contest in 2003 and that would have given them the confience it seems to have done well in 2004. Not to be though and they fell away to come 21st. Can they bounce back - we hope so.

Waterbeach Brass
Conductor: J. Utting

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners (J. Utting)
2003: DNC
2002: 15th (C. Bell)
2001: 5th (C. Bell)
2000: 12th (P. Mead)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Last year's champions were very good value for their victory and went on to the Finals in Harrogate wher they found it a bittougher and came 20th. They will surely be keen therefore to make it a double this year, and they should if they show the form of 12 months ago, be up there come results time.

Watford
Conductor: M. France

Last Four Years:
2004: 19th (M. France)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC

Previously known as the Hosier & Dickinson (Watford) Band, Watford returned last year to come 19th. We think therefore that they will be extra keen to do well this time and opush themselves back up the prize table. We wish them well.   

Past Qualifiers:

2004:Waterbeach Brass, Potters Bar Town and Fulham Brass
2003: Great Yarmouth Brass, Woodbridge Excelsior, Hilgay
2002: Sandhurst Silver, Hungerford Town, Jubilee Brass, Ware Brass
2001: Sandhurst Silver, Fulbourn and Taversham, Ware Brass
2000: Canterbury Youth, St. Sebastian's Wokingham, Amersham
1999: Canterbury Youth, St. Sebastian's Wokingham, St. Albans
1998: Stonesfield, Becontree Brass,
1997: Brent Brass, Becontree Brass,
1996: Southend, Becontree Brass, Chichester City
1995: Southend, Crystal Palace, Chichester City

London bands at the Finals:

2004: 1st, 19th, 20th
2003: 13th, 16th, 21st
2002: 10th, 12th, 15th, 20th
2001: 3rd, 13th, 19th
2000: 11th, 15th, 16th
1999: 4th, 7th, 18th
1998: 5th, 8th

4BR Prediction:

It's anyone's guess who could win this contest – in a field this big, and with so many unknowns it could be a result no one could predict (let alone us).

Still, look waht happened last year, when the winners her went on to take the National title itself - so it would be wrong to disparage the bands and Stan Lippeatt may have a hard task of seperating them out.

So who do we think will win then? Well, we don't to be truthful really know do we, but having a sly look at the record books we have plumbed for  Fulham to go a few places better than last year and take the title, ahead we think from Haslemere and Thudersley in second and third. Making up the top six we have plumbed for Letchworth, Sussex and King's Lynn with a dark horse of Battle. Some picks eh? 

1. Fulham
2. Haslemere
3. Thundersley
4. Letchworth
5. Sussex Brass
6. King's Lynn

Dark Horse: Battle

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