2006 North West Regional Championships - Second Section

Which of the bands here will overcome the difficulties of Howard Snell’s stern ‘Images of the Millennium’ and book their hotel room for Harrogate.

Sunday 12th March
Adjudicator: Goff Richards
Test Piece: Images of the Millennium – Howard Snell
Commences: 10.30am
Draw:  9.30am

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

Blackpool Brass
Conductor: Andrew Warriner

Last Ten Years:
2005: 9th (S. Simpson)
2004: 8th (S. Simpson)
2003: 6th in Third Section (prom) (S. Simpson)
2002: 5th (G. Smith)
2001: 13th 2nd Section (rel) (S. Blair)
2000: 14th 2nd Section (S. Blair)
1999: 8th 2nd Section
1998: 11th 2nd Section
1997: 11th 2nd Section
1996: 8th 2nd Section

Andrew Warriner leads the home town band at the contest this year and they will be looking to make more of a mark here now they are firmly established in the section after their 2003 promotion. They certainly showed they are up for it at Brass at the Guild Hall recently where they came 3rd, so it will be interesting to see how they do.  

Boarshurst Silver
Conductor: David Hebb

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (J. Webster)
2004: 2nd (J. Webster)
2003: 2nd Third Section (prom)(J. Webster)
2002: 7th (J. Webster)
2001: 14th (B. Broadbent)
2000: 5th (D. Hebb)
1999: DNC
1998: 10th 2nd Section (rel)
1997: 11th 2nd Section
1996: 7th 1st Section (rel)

Following the fine work put in by Jonathan Webster over the past few years, Boarshurst opt to go with the talent David Hebb who usually plays his trade as a player with Brighouse to see if they return to the finals for the second time in three years.  They may need to up their form a touch though as they came in 5th at Brass at the Guild behind a couple of their rivals here.  

Bollington
Conductor: Peter Christian

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th in First Section (rel) (P. Christian)
2004: 9th (P. Christian)
2003: Winners of Second Section (prom) (P. Christian)
2002: 6th (P. Christian)
2001: 4th (T. Power)
2000: 7th (T. Power)
1999: 6th 1st Section (rel)
1998: 10th 1st Section
1997: 3rd 2nd Section (prom)
1996: 5th 2nd Section

The former Black Dyke, Fodens and Fairey's baritone player Peter Christian has been doing fine work with Bollington but they did struggle somewhat to make a mark in the First Section and they returned through the relegation trap door after coming 10th in that section last year.  Sometimes relegation can mean a band finding its feet again, and we hope that may be the case here.  

Delph
Conductor: Phil Goodwin

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (P. Goodwin)
2004: 7th (P. Goodwin)
2003: 3rd (P. Goodwin)
2002: 10th (P. Goodwin)
2001: 9th (P. Goodwin)
2000: 9th (P. Goodwin)
1999: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 6th 3rd Section
1997: 10th 2nd Section (rel)
1996: 9th 2nd Section

The Eb Tuba player of Black Dyke has done a great job with Delph over the years but Delph has just dropped off the pace in the last two years here and could only come 9th last time around.  They will be keen to turn things around this time and the old head in the middle may rally the troops for a return to form. 

Eagley
Conductor: David Thornton

Last Ten Years:
2005: 11th (S. White)
2004: 6th (S. Rodgers)
2003: Joint 8th (C. Andrews)
2002: 7th (N. Sheppard)
2001: 9th 1st Section (rel) (C. Roberts)
2000: 8th 1st Section (C. Roberts)
1999: 4th (prom)
1998: 5th
1997: 5th
1996: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)

Well now. David Thornton is a brilliant euph player, but what will he be like with a baton in his hand. Knowing the way he goes about everything he does, you can be sure he will leave nothing to chance and will bring all his talent experience to bear on a band in need of a decent result to make sure they don't flirt with relegation. Interesting this one.  

Greenalls
Conductor: John Ludden

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (J. Ludden)
2004: 10th (J. Ludden)
2003: 7th in Third Section (prom) (H. Bousfield)
2002: 4th (H. Bousfield)
2001: 10th 2nd Section (rel) (A. Jones)
2000: 12th 2nd Section (A. Jones)
1999: 14th 2nd Section
1998: 9th 1st Section (rel)
1997: 9th 1st Section
1996: 8th 1st Section

On of the real form bands if recent contesting success is anything to go by. Greenalls were runners up at Brass at the Guild, and beat off a good number of rivals in a strong field. John Ludden has worked wonders bringing the band up from a lowly 10th place in 2004 to the brink of qualification last year and that early season success this year. Ones to watch out for perhaps? 

Hawk Green (Marple)
Conductor: P. Pavey

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th (P. Pavey)
2004: 11th (J. Richardson)
2003: 13th in First Section (rel) (J. Richardson)
2002: 10th (J. Richardson)
2001: 3rd 2nd Section (prom) (D. Ashworth)
2000: 3rd 2nd Section (B. Harper)
1999: 11th 1st Section (rel)
1998: 6th 2nd Section (prom)
1997: 6th 2nd Section
1996: 3rd 2nd Section

Hawk Green will be looking for a further small step in the right direction here this time around after just nudging up the prize table twelve months ago. Hard workers and with a talented MD they should have enough about them to tke a few steps closer to safety, although a top six place may just be beyond them this year.  

Hoover (Bolton)
Conductor: Robbie Cargill

Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (C. Wormald)
2004: Winners (Third Section) (C. Wormald)
2003: 3rd (C. Wormald)
2002: 13th 2nd Section (rel) (S. Talbot)
2001: 12th 2nd Section (S. Talbot)
2000: 16th 2nd Section (S. Talbot)
1999: 6th 2nd Section
1998: 4th 2nd Section
1997: 4th (prom)
1996: 4th

You can never discount any band from Hoover, as you know they will be chock full of young playing talent and thoroughly well prepared. Hoover just missed out last year in coming 4th, but it didn't spoil what was again another fine year of achievement. They should, if they play to form, be up there battling for honours come the results once more. Robbie Cargill has taken over here and the former Fodens and Wingates solo horn will be looking to carry on the work of Chris Wormald. We are sure he can.

Manx Concert Brass
Conductor: I. Clague MBE

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (I. Clague MBE)
2004: 12th (I. Clague MBE)
2003: 2nd (I. Clague MBE)
2002: 9th (I. Clague MBE)
2001: Winners 3rd Section (prom) (I. Clague MBE)
2000: 4th 3rd Section (I. Clague MBE)
1999: Winners 3rd Section
1998: 16th 3rd Section
1997: 3rd 3rd Section
1996: Winners 4th Section

Ian Clague brings his band once more over the Irish Sea, and will be hoping this year to make more of a mark than he did 12 months ago when they came 6th. That was an improvement on the year before when they came a very lowly 12th, so things are looking up. And a possible return to the prize winning performances of 2001 and 2003 may be due again.   

Silk Brass AstraZeneca (Macclesfield)
Conductor: Martin Obermuller

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (K. Mackintosh)
2004: 4th (K. Mackintosh)
2003: 10th (K. Mackintosh)
2002: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)(K. Mackintosh)
2001: 3rd 3rd Section (K. Mackintosh)
2000: 10th 3rd Section (K. Mackintosh)
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: 9th 3rd Section
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Martin Obermuller takes over the reins at Silk Brass this year and will be looking to give them that little extra push up the prize table and a possible qualification place at least. The band continue to make excellent progress and the last two years has seen them challenge for a podium place at least. More of that would be great, but we think they may well be aiming higher. 

United Co-operatives 2000 Brass
Conductor: Jamie Meredith

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (J. Meredith)
2004: 2nd (J. Meredith)
2003: 11th (A. Helleur)
2002: 8th (A. Helleur)
2001: 8th (A. Helleur)
2000: 17th 2nd Section (rel) (A. Helleur)
1999: 10th 2nd Section
1998: Winners (prom)
1997: 6th
1996: 11th

This is one band that will surely be making the trip to Blackpool with very high hopes of doing well. Jamie Meredith is a very talent musician and has really propelled the band skywards since taking over in 2004. Runners up in the Third Section here last year they then went on to come 6th off an early draw in Harrogate. Lots of potential here and a band to look out for.  

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Wire Brass, Diggle
2004: Old Hall Brass, Wire Brass
2003: Bollington, Manx Concert Brass
2002: Moston and Beswick, Lancashire Life Morecambe
2001: Dobcross Youth, Poulton le Fylde
2000: Oldham Brass, Pemberton Old Wigan
1999: United Norwest Co-op Milnrow, Oldham Brass ‘97
1998: Ashton Under Lyne, Flixton
1997: Haydock Travel, Tyldesley
1996: Berisford Cardway, Mossley
1995: United Co-op Crewe, Moston and Beswick

North West bands at the Finals:

2005: 2nd, 4th
2004: 6th. 12th
2003: 2nd, 8th
2002: 4th, 6th
2001: 7th, 13th
2000: 1st, 5th
1999: 2nd, 9th
1998: 1st, 11th

4BR Prediction:

Another cracking contest could be on the books here, and Goff Richards should enjoy the task of separating the bands out. The standard in the lower sections in the North West is about the best throughout the country and there are any number of bands here who could go on to Harrogate and do very well indeed.

There can only be one winner though, and it may well come from a group that includes Blackpool, Greenalls, Hoover, Silk Brass, Boarshurst and United Co-operatives 2000 Brass. We think recent form may be a decent indicator but Hoover may well pip them all and take yet another top prize. Greenalls and United Co-operatives are two that should push them the closest, with the rest a close batch inn pursuit. Our dark horse is Mr Thornton and his Eagley Band.

1. Hoover (Bolton)
2. United Co-operatives
3. Greenalls
4. Blackpool Brass
5. Silk Brass AstraZeneca
6. Boarshurst

Dark Horses: Eagley

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