2006 Midlands Regional Championships - First Section

A large field of seventeen bands line up to battle it out on Goff Richards colorful Voyage of Discovery. Which one will find the key and book their place at Harrogate though?

11th March
Adjudicator: Malcolm Brownbill and David Horsfield
Test Piece: Voyage of Discovery – Goff Richards
Commences: 11.00am
Split Draw: 10.00am & 12.00pm

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

Bedworth Brass
Conductor: Colin Randle

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd (C. Randle)
2004: 13th (D. Williams)
2003: 10th (D. Williams)
2002: 6th
2001: 16th
2000: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
1999: 15th 2nd Section
1998: Winners 2nd Section
1997: N/K

This time last year Bedworth went into this contest hoping for a better result than in 2004 when they came 13th, and by heck did they get it, coming runners up and booking themselves a place at Harrogate. There they found it tough going aginst strong opposition and came 17th and last, but it was still a fine achievement given their form over the past few years. It may well be hard to see them doing that again this time but they did come 6th at Pontins late last year, so there is plenty of hope.    

Bilton Silver (Rugby)
Conductor: B.E. Clarke

Last Ten Years:
2005: 14th (B. Clarke)
2004: 7th in Second Section (prom) (B. Clarke)
2003: 7th (B. Clarke)
2002: 4th
2001: 14th
2000: 20th 1st Section (rel)
1999: 12th 1st Section
1998: 12th 1st Section
1997: 11th 1st Section

After returning to the First Section last year Bilton found life a little bit more difficult at the higher level and came home in 14th place. That may not have been too surprising given that they were promoted on the back of two 7th places in the Second Section, and you feel they will have to pull something out of the hat here this time if they are to avoid a return.  

Brackley & District
Conductor: Jason Glynn

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (J. Glynn)
2004: 7th (J. Glynn)
2003: 9th (J. Glynn)
2002: 3rd 2nd Section (prom)
2001: 6th 2nd Section
2000: 4th 2nd Section
1999: 12th 2nd Section
1998: 4th 2nd Section
1997: 14th 2nd Section

The two previous years have seen really solid performances from Brackley at the Regionals.  A 7th place in 2004 was followed by 6th last year and the band will again be looking for improvement once again and a possible qualification place.  Jason Glynn directs once more and a top six will be the least of their ambitions as they definitely see to be a band moving in the right direction. 

City of Coventry
Conductor: Stephen Cooper

Last Ten Years:
2005: 15th (S. Lippeatt)
2004: 12th Championship section (P. Bailey) (rel)
2003: 10th (P. Bailey)
2002: 2nd 1st Section (prom)
2001: 5th 1st Section
2000: 4th 1st Section
1999: 17th 1st Section
1998: 8th 1st Section
1997: 6th 1st Section

City of Coventry found life in the First Section hard work last year and they played with a real lack of confidence to come home in 15th place. Just a year before they had been in the Championship Section, and although they struggled to make a mark there you would have still have thought they may have held their own in the section below. This year they will certainly have to up their game if they are not to face yet another drop through the relegation trap door.  

Derwent Brass
Conductor: Keith Leonard

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th in Championship Section (rel) (K. Leonard)
2004: 10th (K. Leonard)
2003: 4th in First Section (prom) (K. Leonard)
2002: 3rd (K. Leonard)
2001: 12th (K. Leonard)
2000: 7th (K. Leonard)
1999: 5th
1998: 2nd, 2nd Section (prom)
1997: 3rd, 2nd Section

Derwent Brass could count themselves a little unfortunate to be back in the First Section this year after giving two solid performances at Championship level in the past two years here.  Return they do though but with an experienced and intelligent MD and players who have tasted the delights of top section banding we think they will be keen to get back there as soon as possible.  

Enderby
Conductor: H. Thomas

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th (M. Vause)
2004: 9th (S. Cooper)
2003: 13th (S. Cooper)
2002: 7th
2001: 7th
2000: 11th
1999: 10th
1998: 9th Championship (rel)
1997: 11th Championship

Enderby pulled their socks up quite a bit in 2004 but didn't really build on that last year and had to be content with a drop of one place to 10th overall. A busy band with plenty of talented players in the ranks and well led, they will be keen to try and force their way well into the top ten at least and even possibly pinch a top six pace.  

Foss Dyke
Conductor: Gary Wyatt

Last Ten Years:
2005: 9th (W. Ritchie)
2004: 8th (W. Ritchie)
2003: 6th (W. Ritchie)
2002: DNC
2001: 12th Championship (rel)
2000: 8th (prom)
1999: 6th
1998: 5th
1997: 16th

In and around the top six for the past three years, Foss Dyke have just faltered a little here and came 9th last time out. A change of MD may be the key to get things back on track and they have shown in the past that they are more than capable of putting in a solid performance.  

Glossop Old
Conductor: Jon Davies
 
Last Ten Years:
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: 13th in Championship Section (J. Cant)
2003: 7th (J. Cant) (11)
2002: 6th
2001: 10th
2000: 4th
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th
1997: 2nd

Glossop Old seem to fallen away in recent years at the contest and a band that not too long ago was playing at the British Open, it was sad to see that they couldn't make it to the starting line up last year. They return this year though and if they have picked up some good players then they may fancy their chances to make their mark once more here. Lets hope this is the start of the good days coming back and with the talented tuba player John Davis at the helm and with his top banding experience they should be in with a shout.  

Gresley Old Hall
Conductor: David Hutchinson

Last Ten Years:
2005: 13th (D. Hutchinson)
2004: 11th (D. Hutchinson)
2003: 3rd (D. Hutchinson)
2002: 17th
2001: 8th
2000: 16th
1999: 17th
1998: 9th 2nd Section (prom)
1997: 2nd 2nd Section

Gresley will be looking for a good show this time round after a really disappointing 13th place last year.  Always busy and proactive they have recruited players and moved others. It showed that it may have worked too at Butlins where they came a well deserved 5th, so they will be keen to bring that form here this year and banish any lingering thoughts of possible relegation trouble.  

Hathern
Conductor: Dave Newman

Last Ten Years:
2005: 11th (D. Newman)
2004: Winners Second Section (D. Newman) (prom)
2003: 16th in First Section (rel) (R. Evans)
2002: 13th
2001: 9th
2000: 9th
1999: 7th
1998: 12th Championship (rel)
1997: 9th Championship

The National Champion Band of Great Britain for the Second Section in 2004 found their feet at the contest last year when they came 11th. That was a solid enough start to their life here and with plenty of quality players in the ranks and well led they will be confident of making another move up the prize table this time around. Ones to watch out for perhaps? 

Ibstock Brick Brass
Conductor: Dave Jones

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (D. Jones)
2004: 14th (D. Jones)
2003: 11th (P. Northey)
2002: 11th
2001: 10th
2000: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1999: 3rd 2nd Section
1998: 10th 2nd Section
1997: 15th 2nd Section

After all that nonsense of last year it was great to see Ibstock produce a well controlled and solid performance on the stage – and that's where it really mattered. Now that is all behind them we think they will be keen to show how good a band they really are and push hard for a qualification place.  

Kibworth
Conductor: John Berryman

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (J. Berryman)
2004: 11th Championship Section (J. Berryman)(rel)
2003: Winners (prom) (J. Berryman)
2002: 8th
2001: Winners
2000: 12th Championship (rel)
1999: Winners (prom)
1998: 9th
1997: 4th

Kibworth were unlucky not to have won here last year – and we do mean unlucky. Theirs was a championship section standard performance that everyone except the man in the box recognized as the stand out performance of the day. John Berryman lead a compact and solid band with his usual subtle touches of nuance and flair and we can see them doing very well again as long as the judges are listening.  

Raunds Temperance
Conductor: John Fletcher

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners (J. Fletcher)
2004: 2nd (J. Fletcher) (prom)
2003: 5th (J. Fletcher)
2002: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
2001: 2nd 3rd Section
2000: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1999: 3rd 4th Section
1998: 10th 4th Section
1997: DNC

Raunds have continued to move through the sections in recent years under the excellent direction of John Flecther and there doesn't seem to be anything stopping their progress. Winners here last year they went on to come 13th at the Nationals. It would be hard to bet against them doing that again this year and a place in the top six or even Harrogate again is well within their capabilities.    

Riddings
Conductor: Kevin Steward

Last Ten Years:
2005: 12th in Championships (rel) (J. Davis)
2004: 2nd First Section (prom) (J. Davis)
2003: 2nd (S. Jones)
2002: 9th  (J. Davis)
2001: 9th Championship (rel) (J. Davis)
2000: 10th Championship (J. Davis)
1999: 2nd 1st Section (prom)
1998: 6th
1997: 10th

Riddings struggeled to make an impression at Championship level last year and came 12th to find themselves relegated, but since then they have regrouped well and have shown plenty of promise. Butlins was a case in point where Graham O'Connor worked his usual brand of no nonsense musical management and the band came a well deserved 4th. More of that and they could well be back on the bus to Harrogate come September.  

Shirley Band
Conductor: Martyn Ford

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (D. Lea)
2004: 10th (D. Lea)
2003: Winners 2nd Section (prom) (D. Lea)
2002: 2nd
2001: 9th
2000: 19th 1st Section (rel)
1999: 13th 1st Section
1998: 14th 1st Section
1997: 12th Championship (rel)

Shirley seem to be a band that is moving in the right direction here and since being promoted up from the Second Section they first found their feet in coming 10th in 2004 and them came 8th last year. A new MD this year and another step up the prize list may well be the order of the day on the weekend.  

Stourport on Severn
Conductor: Barry Pope

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th in Second Section (prom) (S. Gittins)
2004: 3rd (D. Maplestone)
2003: 3rd (D. Maplestone)
2002: 13th (D. Maplestone)
2001: 6th 3rd Section (prom) (D. Maplestone)
2000: 8th 3rd Section (N/K)
1999: 3rd 3rd Section
1998: 12th 3rd Section
1997: 11th 3rd Section

Stourport find themselves in the higher division this year after not playing particularly well here last year in the Second Section where they could only come 8th. That was the first time in seven years that they hadn't improved on the previous year's result.  Still, you must take promotion when it is offered it seems and they will want to make a good impression here this time and under the experienced Barry Pope they should hold their own.  

Tintwistle
Conductor: D. Shutter

Last Ten Years:
2005: 12th (D. Shutter)
2004: 5th (D. Shutter)
2003: 12th (D. Shutter)
2002: 10th
2001: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
2000: 7th 2nd Section
1999: 10th 2nd Section
1998: 18th 1st Section (rel)
1997: DNC

After a couple of disappointing shows here the band bounced back in 2004 with a performance that brought them 5th place.  Last year they fell back somewhat and came 12th so they will be in need of a decent run this time around to stave off any threat of possible relegation.  Some encouraging signs were shown at Brass at the Guild Hall where they came 13th in a strong field, but they will need to up the form to do well here.  

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Raunds Tempeance, Bedworth Brass
2004: Langley, Riddings
2003: Kibworth, Riddings, Gresley Old Hall
2002: Staffordshire, City of Coventry, Derwent Brass
2001: Kibworth, Ratby Co-operative
2000: Ratby Co-operative, Thoresby Colliery
1999: Kibworth, Riddings
1998: Thorntons Brass, Unity Brass
1997: Ratby Co-operative, Glossop Old, Thorntons Brass
1996: Glossop Old, Hathern, Enderby
1995: Rolls Royce (Coventry), Kibworth
1994: Ancient Order of Foresters, Rolls Royce (Coventry)

Midlands Bands at the Finals:

2005: 13th, 17th
2004: 15th, 17th
2003: 7th, 9th
2002: 1st, 4th, 6th
2001: 5th, 10th
2000: 1st, 5th
1999: 8th, 9th
1998: 12th, 13th

4BR Prediction:

This should prove to be an entertaining contest for Malcolm Brownbill and David Horsfield to get to grips with. The test piece should prove to a good test of the bands, but should also prove to be well within very nearly all of their capabilities. A large field will also ensure that the judges will have their work cut out to separate a number of them outside the top six. 

As for the fancied runners and riders, a couple of bands should have that extra bit of quality about them to gain the qualification places on offer, and we think the overall title could well go to John Berryman and Kibworth for the fourth time since 1999 – but we said that last year too and look what happened.

This time we opt for them again (fingers crossed) but we think they will be hard pressed by the likes of Riddings, Raunds and Ibstock for the qualification places, whilst Hathern, Brackley should battle it out for the rest of the places. Gresley are our dark horses this time.

1. Kibworth
2. Riddings
3. Raunds Temperance
4. Ibstock
5. Hathern
6. Brackley

Dark Horse: Gresley Old Hall

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