2006 Yorkshire Regional Championships - First Section

The bands who want to try and make it to Harrogate will have to overcome a bit of seafaring music making this year from Goff Richards. Anchors away!

Date: Saturday 4th March
Adjudicators: Colin Hardy and Denis Wilby
Test Piece: Voyage of Discovery – Goff Richards
Commences: 2.30pm
Draw: 1.00pm

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

Barnsley Building Society
Conductor: John Hopkinson

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (J. Hopkinson)
2004: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (J. Hopkinson)
2003: 9th in First Section (rel) (C. Hirst)
2002: 9th in First Section (C. Hirst)
2001: DNC
2000: 5th in First Section (I. Craddock)
1999: Winners in First Section
1998: 6th in First Section
1997: 7th in First Section
1996: N/K

Barnsley more than held their own here last year on their return back to the First Section, and will be keen to improve on that further this time around. John Hopkinson has moulded a solid band under his command with talented players spread around the ranks they could well fancy their chances of coming in the top six or even push for a qualification place.  

Chapeltown Silver Prize
Conductor: Phil Shaw

Last Ten Years:
2005: 13th (D. Renshaw)
2004: 15th Championship Section (rel) (I. Scott)
2003: 4th in First Section (prom) (Andrew Holland)
2002: 3rd in First Section (A. Dennis)
2001: 3rd in First Section (A. Dennis)
2000: 10th in First Section (D. Neil)
1999: 4th in First Section
1998: 9th in First Section
1997: 8th in First Section
1996: 8th in First Section

Chapletown Silver seemed devoid of confidence here last year after their fall from the top tier of Yorkshire banding and they came in last. They will certainly not want a repeat of that this time around and they have teamed up with Phil Shaw to provide them with strong direction from the middle.  He will bring with him experience and the ability to make the most out of the resources at his finger tips, so a move up the prize list should be on the cards.  

Drighlington
Conductor: Shane Foster

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (P. Shaw)
2004: 2nd (P. Shaw)
2003: 15th Championship Section (rel) (C. Hardy)
2002: 12th (C. Hardy)
2001: 6th First Section (prom) (A. Eastwood)
2000: 2nd First Section (M. Bentham)
1999: 13th Championship (rel)
1998: 10th Championship
1997: 9th Championship
1996: Joint 6th Championship

Talking of Phil Shaw, Drighlington cam 6th with him last year, a bit of a disappointment as they were runners up the year before and certainly fancied their chances. They seem to be one of those bands that yo-yo back and forth between the top two sections, but they have enough quality about themselves to make sure that they should be in the mix here again come results time. 

Hebden Bridge 
Conductor: Prof. Philip Wilby

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners of Second Section (prom) (I. Craddock)
2004: 8th (I. Craddock)
2003: Winners of Third Section (prom) (I. Craddock)
2002: Winners of Third Section (I. Craddock)
2001: 10th of Third Section (I. Coleman)
2000: 8th of Third Section (I. Coleman)
1999: 3rd of Third Section
1998: 10th of Third Section
1997: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
1996: N/K

This will be an interesting combination and one to watch out for. Hebden took the Second Section title here last year and went on to come 9th at Harrogate, but since then they have parted company with the man who did so much to mould them into a solid contesting band, Ian Craddock.  Not a bad replacement though, and you can be sure the MD will know his way around this tricky score. It could well signal another strong performance.    

Holme Silver (Disposables UK Group)
Conductor: William Rushworth

Last Ten Years:
2005: 9th (W. Rushworth)
2004: 7th (G. Hetherington)
2003: 6th (S. Tighe)
2002: 6th (I. Scott)
2001: 8th (D. Beckley)
2000: 8th (D. Beckley)
1999: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: 8th 2nd Section
1996: 3rd 2nd Section

Since coming up from the Second Section Holme has been a consistent performer at Bradford without ever suggesting that they could really challenge for the qualification places. 9th last year was perhaps a touch unlucky as they sounded strong and purposeful under the baton of William Rushworth. He certainly brings the music out of the scores in front of him, but this one is a touch more on the technical side, so who knows? Ones to watch out for though.  

Knottingley Silver
Conductor: Kevin Belcher

Last Ten Years:
2005: 11th (K. Belcher)
2004: 14th Championship Section (rel) (K. Belcher
2003: Winners of First Section (prom) (K. Belcher)
2002: 5th in First Section (K. Belcher)
2001: Winners 2nd Section (prom) (K. Belcher)
2000: 2nd 2nd Section (K. Belcher)
1999: 7th 2nd Section
1998: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
1997: 4th 3rd Section
1996: 9th 3rd Section

Knottingley returned to the First Section last year after tasting the dizzy heights of the Championship Section and struggled somewhat surprisingly. That may have been just one of those days as Kevin Belcher has worked hard with the band to produce solid stage performances. There is enough quality about them to do well here, so don't bet against them challenging for a qualification place.    

Lindley
Conductor: Neil Jowett

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th in Championship Section (rel) (N. Jowett)
2004: 12th (N. Jowett)
2003: 8th (N. Jowett)
2002: 4th First Section (prom) (N. Jowett)
2001: 4th First Section (N. Jowett)
2000: 12th (rel) (N. Jowett)
1999: 9th
1998: 8th
1997: 4th First Section
1996: Winners First Section

Lindley can count themselves a little unlucky to have been relegated from the Championship Section after they put in a good account to come 10th last year and take some notable scalps. Neil Jowett continues to produce solid performances with the band and they should fancy their chances of doing well here if they can repeat the type of form they showed a twelve month ago. 

Marsden Silver (Riverhead Brass)
Conductor: Glyn Williams

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (G. Williams)
2004: 6th (A. Widdop)
2003: 14th in Championship Section (rel) (A. Widdop)
2002: 15th in Championship Section (A. Widdop)
2001: 5th First Section (prom) (A. Widdop)
2000: 3rd First Section (A. Widdop)
1999: 6th Second Section (prom)
1998: 3rd Second Section
1997: Winners Third Section (prom)
1996: 6th Third Section

The last twelve months or so have been meteoric for Marsden under the direction of Glyn Williams, and they were rather unlucky not to have qualified for Harrogate last year after giving a fine performance.  They were recently runners up at Butlins, where perhaps they tired just a bit too much to try and how that they were a Championship band in waiting. If they can control that aggression they could be the band to beat.    

Pennine Brass
Conductor: Ian Porthouse

Last Ten Years:
2005: 11th in Championship Section (rel) (I. Porthouse)
2004: 7th (I. Porthouse)
2003: 12th (I. Porthouse)
2002: 10th (I. Porthouse)
2001: 2nd First Section (prom) (I. Porthouse)
2000: Winners Second Section (I. Porthouse)

Like Lindley, Pennine could count themselves more than a little unlucky to have fallen through the relegation trap door from the Championship Section after coming 11th last year. Ian Porthouse has built a talented band under his command and they are a band that has more than enough quality about it to book a place at Harrogate – early draw or not.   

Stannington Brass
Conductor: Derek Renshaw

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (R. Morgan)
2004: 8th (R. Gray)
2003: 7th (J. Hopkinson)
2002: 7th (J. Hopkinson)
2001: 6th 2nd Section (prom) (J. Hopkinson)
2000: 5th 2nd Section (J. Hopkinson)
1999: 2nd 2nd Section
1998: 11th 2nd Section
1997: 5th 2nd Section
1996: 6th 2nd Section

Stannington has flirted with the top six here for the past four years, and it seems they are looking to find just tat right combination to give them that extra boost and challenge for a podium place. Derek Renshaw is the third new MD in as many years to try and he has plenty of experience and knowhow at this level to bring the best out of his resources. A top six place at least could well be on the cards at last. 

United Co-op Yorkshire Brass 
Conductor: Kevin Wadsworth

Last Ten Years:
2005: 14th in Championship Section (rel) (J. Roberts)
2004: 4th First Section (prom) (J. Roberts)
2003: 3rd (J. Roberts)
2002: 13th Championship (rel) (J. Roberts)
2001: 11th Championship (J. Roberts)
2000: 4th 1st Section (prom) (J. Roberts)
1999: 2nd 1st Section
1998: 7th 1st Section
1997: 10th 1st Section
1996: 10th Championship (rel)

Yorkshire Co-op didn't really do themselves justice here last year in the top section and as a result they found themselves being relegated. That may not be too much of a bad thing though and they will fancy their chances of doing well here under the baton of Kevin Wadsworth. Talented players dotted around the stands and the ability to sound like a quality band, they should challenge strongly.    

West Yorkshire Police
Conductor: Captain G. Clegg

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (B. Thompson)
2004: 4th (B. Thompson)
2003: 6th (B. Thompson)
2002: 5th (B. Thompson)
2001: 3rd 3rd Section (prom) (B. Thompson)
2000: 5th 3rd Section
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: N/K
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

West Yorkshire Police take to the Bradford stage under the direction of their new MD Captain Clegg, and he will be keen to ensure his new band can more than hold its own against a higher class of opposition. They didn't set the world on fire at Harrogate last year at the Finals, but the experience should put them in good stead for the difficulties that lie ahead with this test piece.   

Yorkshire Building Society Concert
Conductor: R. Savage

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (M. Hannan)
2004: Winners Second Section (prom) (M. Hannan)
2003: 3rd (M. Hannan)
2002: 9th (A. McLaughlan)
2001: 12th 1st Section (rel) (B. Broadbent)
2000: 6th 1st Section (B. Broadbent)
1999: 7th 1st Section
1998: 2nd (prom)
1997: 2nd
1996: 10th

Michael Hannan may no longer be at the helm with the band, but that may not hold them back this year. YBS Concert sounded a band moving in the right direction twelve months ago and they had a couple of players in the ranks who wouldn't have been out of place playing with the other YBS Band. If that progress has been maintained they could well feature here once more in the top six.   

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Hatfield Main, Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel,
2004: Hatfield Coal Power, Drighlington
2003: Knottingley Silver, Hade Edge (Disposables UK Group)
2002: Wakefield Metropolitan, Kippax
2001: ASDA Stocksbridge, Pennine Brass
2000: ASDA Stocksbridge. Drighlington
1999: Barnsley BS, Yorkshire Co-operatives
1998: Rothwell Temperance, Todmorden Old
1997: Jayess '87, Rothwell Temperance
1996: Priest Lindley, Kippax
1995: Stocksbridge, Barnsley BS

Yorkshire Bands at the Finals:

2005: 1st, 6th
2004: 5th, 7th 
2003: 4th, 13th
2002: 10th, 15th
2001: 1st, 4th
2000: 6th, 11th
1999: 3rd, 4th
1998: 1st, 8th

4BR Prediction:
This should make for one of the most intriguing contests of the whole Yorkshire weekend as there are a number of bands here who will certainly be fancying their chances of winning or at the very least gaining a qualification place for Harrogate.

The test piece should also sort out the real dealers from the pretenders and the two experienced men in the box will surely weed out those who can handle a difficult test piece and those who can't.

Three bands stick out though from the rest on paper and we think it could be a dog fight between them to gain the two qualification places. Marsden, Pennine and United Co-op Yorkshire are the three we think will be on the podium come results time, with Lindley, Holme Silver and Stannington just behind. Knottingley are our darkest of horses.

1. Pennine Brass
2. Marsden (Riverhead Brewery)
3. United Co-op Yorkshire
4. Lindley
5. Holme Silver
6. Stannington

Dark Horse: Knottingley

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