2006 Yorkshire Regional Championships - Third Section

Nine bands will try and break the secret of the entertainment business here and book a place at Harrogate.

Date: Sunday 5th March
Adjudicators: Chris Houlding and Barry Thompson
Test Piece: Entertainments – Gilbert Vinter
Commences: 2.30pm
Draw: 12.30pm

No photo? Please send a JPEG to: general@4barsrest.com stating the conductors name, your band, your region and section. 

Armthorpe Elmfield
Conductor: Haydn Griffiths MBE

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (H. Griffiths)
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 a few times in recent years and after being relegated back last year they held their own to just make it into the top six. Haydn Griffiths continues to do sterling work with the band, and it may be the time to gain a qualification place once again.  

Clifton & Lightcliffe
Conductor: John Clay

Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (R. Collinson)
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

Ex Black Dyke man and author John Clay takes over the helm at Clifton and will be looking to improve on last year's encouraging result when the band came 4th under Rob Collinson.  Since coming up from the Fourth Section they have yo-yo'd a bit from year to year, but if they can just up their form a touch a qualification place may be the order of the day.   

Elland Silver
Conductor: Morgan Griffiths

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th in Second Section (rel) (M. Griffiths)
2004: 6th (M. Griffiths)
2003: 9th (D. Essex)
2002: 10th (T. Whitaker)
2001: 8th (T. Whitaker)
2000: 6th (T. Whitaker)
1999: 10th
1998: 8th
1997: 6th
1996: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)

Star euph player Morgan Griffiths is making a name for himself as a talented MD and his busy band will fancy their chances of doing well after the disappointment of relegation last year. A good showing at Brass at the Guild showed the potential is there and they could well be the band to beat here this time round. 

Garforth Brass
Conductor: Steven Bailey

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom) (S. Bailey)

It was fantastic see and hear Garforth Brass here last year when they really showed their talents to the full in coming second and booking a place at Harrogate. There they were excellent and were just pipped for the National title itself. Steven Bailey has done a tremendous job and if that talent has continued to bloom under his guidance another trip to the finals may be on the cards.  

Gawthorpe Brass
Conductor: Derek Hoyle

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (D. Hoyle)
2004: 2nd (D. Hoyle)
2003: 4th (D. Hoyle)
2002: 3rd (G. Hallas)
2001: 8th (D. Flatman)
2000: 4th (R. Larder)

Derek Hoyle has really put together a good band here over the past three years, and they certainly showed that twelve months ago when they won the Fourth Section in fine style. That led to a well deserved 3rd place at Harrogate and so they should come here full of confidence. Ones to watch out for we think.  

Gawthorpe Brass '85'
Conductor: John Edward

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (J. Edward)
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 Brass didn't quite do themselves justice here last year and came a slightly disappointing 7th. That may only be a temporary set back though as John Edward has built up a good strong nucleus of players who can perform well at this level. Back in the top six should be well within their capabilities, and who knows? 

Horbury Victoria
Conductor: Bob Walker

Last Ten Years:
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: DNC (rel)
2003: 10th (Ian Shires)
2002: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
2001: 2nd 2nd Section
2000: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1999: 10th 3rd Section
1998: 7th 3rd Section
1997: 6th 3rd Section
1996: 8th 3rd Section

Bob Walker brings Horbury Victoria back to the Bradford contest after two years away. In 2003 they wre as high as 10th in the First Section, but since them things started to go slightly awry and they now find themselves having to work their way back. Well done to them all though for not throwing in the towel and if they can rekindle some of that old spirit and quality of performance they could come back with a bang.  

Huddersfield Brass
Conductor: S. Platten

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (A. Holdsworth)
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 dropping down into this section in 2004, Huddersfield have shown that they are more than capable of putting up a strong challenge and to move in the right direction. 5th last year was another step forward under Alan Holdsworth, and although Steve Platten is the new man in front of them this year, the new combination should be confident of a possible podium finish if they play to form.

Maltby Miners Welfare
Conductor: Terry Clifford

Last Ten Years:
2005: 9th (T. Clifford)
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

Terry Clifford and his Maltby band just fell off the pace here last year and dropped down into 9th place. They won't  want a repeat of that for certain as it could mean possible relegation, but if they can reclaim the type of form they have shown here over the past couple of years they should push for a top six finish or better. 

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Grange Moor, Slaithwaite
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:

2005: 10th, 15th
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, and it will take some doing to tickle the fancy of the experienced Chris Holding and Barry Thompson who are in the box.

Elland Silver should come to the contest full of confidence and could be the band to beat though both Garforth and Gawthorpe should fancy their chances too of another trip to Harrogate. Maltby, Armthorpe Elmfield and Huddersfield should fill the remaining places, but we think it could be the dark horses of Horbury Victoria that may spring a surprise or two.

1. Elland Silver
2. Gawthorpe
3. Garforth
4. Maltby Miners
5. Armthorpe Elmfield
6. Huddersfield Brass

Dark Horses: Horbury Victoria

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