2006 Scottish Regional Championships - Championship Section
8-Mar-2006How will the best bands in Scotland get to grips with Peter Graham's thrilling test piece, and which one will take the additional European qualification place?
Sunday 12th March
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts and Alan Morrison
Test Piece: journey to the Centre of the Earth – Peter Graham
Commences: 1.50pm after First Section
Draw: N/K
No photo? Please send a JPEG to: general@4barsrest.com stating the conductors name, your band, your region and section.
Bon Accord
Conductor: John Roberts
4BR Ranking:90
Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (D. Beckley)
2004: 6th (A. Swainson)
2003: 2nd 1st Section (prom) (A. Swainson)
2002: 10th Championship (rel) (A. Swainson)
2001: 7th Championship (A. Swainson)
2000: Winners 1st Section (prom) (A. Swainson)
1999: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1998: 10th 1st Section (rel)
1997: 5th 1st Section
1996: 10th Championship (rel)
Bon Accord will be looking to maintain the type of form here that they have shown in the last two years. Duncan Beckley led them to 6th place last year, their best in the top level for some time, and they have taken the sensible step of engaging John Roberts who has the experience and cool head to make the most of his resources. Their best result in the Championship Section in the last twenty years or so was when they came 2nd in 1983. They may not be able to do that again this year, but a top six place may be on the books.
Bo'ness & Carriden
Conductor: Major Ian McElligott
4BR Ranking:98
Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (J. Hinckley)
2004: 8th (I. McElligott)
2003: 4th (I. Davey)
2002: 8th (A. Swainson)
2001: 2nd 1st Section (prom) (A. Swainson)
2000: 8th (rel) (S. Sykes)
1999: 8th
1998: 4th
1997: 7th
1996: 7th
A pretty consistent band at the Championships, Bo'ness came just out of the top six for the second successive year twelve months ago when John Hinckley led them to 8th place. They will need to up their form from that shown at the Scottish Open late last year when they propped up the prize table in 17th place, but Ian McElligott (a late replacement for Major G.O. Jones, due to ill health) will bring plenty of style and enthusiasm to the task we are sure. Not quite enough about them for a top six place this time we think so perhaps another number 8 on the CV will be the order of the day.
Johnstone Silver
Conductor: Raymond Tennant
4BR Ranking:89
Last Ten Years:89
2005: Winners of First Section (prom) (G. Lindsay)
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 return to the Championship Section after regrouping in the First for three years. They are now ready it would appear for the challenge that awaits them (after coming 8th at Harrogate) and with the experienced Raymond Tennant at the helm they should fancy their chances of more than making their mark. 10th place at the Scottish Open was a decent return indeed, beating five other major players here - so don't discount them.
Kingdom Brass
Conductor: Graham O'Connor
4BR Ranking:42
Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (R. Farr)
2004: 5th (D. Hirst)
2003: 7th (A. Duncan)
2002: 4th (A. Morrison)
2001: 4th (T. Wyss)
2000: 2nd 1st Section (prom) (T. Wyss)
(Kingdom Brass formed from amalgamation of Cowdenbeath and Kelty & Blairadam in 1999)
Kingdom certainly enjoy ringing in the changes with the MDs who front them at this contest, with the experienced Graham O'Connor number six in the last six years. Can he do better than the rest though, especially as Kingdom has been consistently in the prizes since gaining promotion in 2000? 12th place at the Scottish Open means they may have a little bit of work to do to repeat or better last year's Farr inspired performance, but we think they should be there or thereabouts once more.
Kirkintilloch
Conductor: Steve Bastable
4BR Ranking:13
Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (S. Bastable)
2004: 3rd (F. Renton)
2003: 2nd (F. Renton)
2002: Winners (F. Renton)
2001: 5th (F. Renton)
2000: 4th (F. Renton)
1999: 2nd
1998: 5th
1997: 3rd
1996: 3rd
This could be one of the more interesting performances of all the Regional contests. Steve Bastable is one of the most musical MDs around and when he and his band click they do tend to put on something special. When they don't though, they can sound pretty average indeed. Runners up at the Scottish Open, but only 4th here last time round and since winning in 2002 they have dropped one place per year since. We think that will be reversed this time around and they should push for a podium place at the very least.
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
Conductor: Alastair Orr
4BR Ranking:59
Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd in First Section (prom) (A. Orr)
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 came runners up in the First Section and went on to come a fine 7th place at Harrogate. That seemed to give them a huge boost of confidence and when it came to the Scottish Open they produced a cracking show to deservedly come home in 5th place and beat some notable big names. It may be a big ask of them to do that again, but with such confidence running through the veins they should be able to secure a top six place.
Newtongrange Silver
Conductor: Allan Ramsey
4BR Ranking:34
Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners (A. Ramsay)
2004: Winners First Section (K. Wilkinson) (prom)
2003: 9th (B. Hurdley) (rel)
2002: 3rd (R. Farr)
2001: 6th (R. Farr)
2000: 5th (D. Hirst)
1999: 6th
1998: 3rd
1997: 5th
1996: 4th
What a hat trick this would be if Newtongrange win here this year. Saying that, not many people tipped them to do well here last year and look what happened, so it would be foolish to underestimate their chances, especially as they have Allan Ramsay in front of them. He should give them all the inspiration they need, especially as they have the Europeans to look forward to as well. It is a big ask though, especially as they were pretty poor in coming 13th at the Scottish Open and didn't really shine at the Nationals last year when they came 14th. That was OK, but they will need much more to book themselves a return journey this time around.
Scottish Co-op
Conductor: Dr. Nicholas Childs
4BR Ranking:9
Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (N. Childs)
2004: Winners (N. Childs)
2003: Winners (N. Childs)
2002: 7th (D. King)
2001: Winners (N. Childs)
2000: Winners (H. Snell)
1999: 3rd
1998: Winners
1997: Winners
1996: Winners
The 16 times winners of this title and one of the most impressive regional records anywhere in the country over the past ten years. Last year though they really didn't play to form and came a disappointing 3rd, and whilst they redeemed themselves elsewhere they were pretty average at the Scottish Open where they limped home in 9th place. Dr. Childs will not stand for that though and he will determined to add to his impressive CV of regional wins for sure. Under him the band sound a different proposition as when directed by others, so they could well be the band to beat this time again.
Unison Kinneil
Conductor:
4BR Ranking:37
Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (R. Tennant)
2004: 4th (A. Ramsey)
2003: 3rd (A. Ramsay)
2002: 5th (E. Dunlea)
2001: 8th (J. Hinckley)
2000: 2nd (A. Hutchison)
1999: Winners 1st Section
1998: 9th (rel)
1997: 8th
1996: 2nd 1st Section (prom)
Unison Kinneil has already got 4 Scottish titles to its name in its history and in the last couple of years they have pushed the top bands hard to try and make it number 5. Last year though they fell away somewhat to come 6th – not a bad result, but one they would not have hoped for. Add to that a very poor showing at the Scottish Open late last year when they came 15th and you may wonder if they are starting to struggle a little. A return to past form is needed then.
Whitburn
Conductor: Andrew Duncan
4BR Ranking:12
Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd (A. Duncan)
2004: 2nd (A. Duncan)
2003: 6th (P. McCann)
2002: 2nd (P. McCann)
2001: 2nd (P. McCann)
2000: 3rd (P. McCann)
1999: Winners
1998: 2nd
1997: 2nd
1996: 2nd
It is now seven years since Whitburn won the last of their 13 Scottish Regional titles, and for them, that is seven years too many. 2005 wasn't the best of years for the band – they were too inconsistent to show their true form on their travels at major contests (although 11th at London off a number 2 draw wasn't too bad) and they were disappointing at the Scottish Open in particular where they should have shown their class but didn't. Runners up four times in the last five years tells you that they are good. But will they be good enough to win?
Past Qualifiers:
2005: Newtongrange, Whitburn
2004: Scottish Co-op, Whitburn
2003: Scottish Co-op, Kirkintilloch
2002: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn
2001: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
2000: CWS (Glasgow), Unison Kinneil
1999: Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
1998: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn, Kirkintilloch*
1997: CWS (Glasgow)*, Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
1996: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
1995: Bo'ness and Carriden, Newtongrange
1994: CWS (Glasgow), Newtongrange
1993: Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1992: Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1991: Newtongrange, Whitburn, Bo'ness and Carriden, CWS (Glasgow)*
1990: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1989: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
*Pre Qualified
How Scottish bands did in London:
2005: 11th, 14th
2004: 8th, 17th
2003: 8th, 9th
2002: 10th, 14th
2001: 8th, 10th
2000: 6th, 18th
1999: 9th, 11th
1998: 7th, 12th, 13th
1997: 4th, 11th, 16th
1996: 1st, 17th
1995: 13th, 15th
1994: 6th, 13th
1993: 6th, 8th
1992: 4th, 11th
1991: 4th, 10th, 12th 19th
1990: 1st, 5th, 19th
1989: 3rd, 10th
4BR Prediction:
It is now quite a while since Scotland sent down more than the two bands to try and wrestle the famous old trophy back over the border (1998 in fact) and since Scottish Co-op last won the title in 1996 the bands haven't really traveled too well down to Kensington.
Why that is so we don't really know (bad draws in some cases, but bad performances in most others), but there is enough quality here to frighten any band south of the border on their day. This year should be like any other on paper, with Scottish Co-op and Whitburn the two pre contest favourites to take the qualification places once more. Kirkintilloch can hit scorching form on their day and could either win by a margin or have to settle for a podium place. We think it could be the latter.
Behind them it will be a keen scrap with Kingdom Brass, Newtongrange and Kirkintilloch Kelvin the three we think will battle it out for the remaining top six places. Our dark horse? We opt for Unison Kinneil to return to a bit of form.
1. Scottish Co-op
2. Whitburn
3. Kirkintilloch
4. Newtongrange
5. Kingdom Brass
6. Kirkintilloch Kelvin
Dark Horse: Unison Kinneil
