2006 Welsh Regional Championships - Second Section

This could be hard work for the bands here. A very difficult test piece could cause a fair share of casualties for David Read to sort out?

Saturday 18th March
Adjudicator: David Read
Test Piece: Images of the Millennium – Howard Snell
Commences: After Section Three
Draw:  12.45pm

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

Briton Ferry
Conductor: Dr. Christian Jenkins

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (C. Jenkins)
2004: 8th (M. Faro)
2003: 3rd (M. Faro)
2002: 2nd 3rd Section (prom) (M. Faro)
2001: 2nd 4th Section (prom) (M. Faro)
2000: 7th (M. Faro)
1999: 7th
1998: N/K 4th Section
1997: N/K 4th Section
1996: N/K 4th Section

Dr Jenkins led Briton Ferry into5th place here last year and we are sure he will be keen to do the same again. A band that has come a long way in a short space of time, they could well push for a qualification place if things go their way. 

Conway Town
Conductor: Keith Jones

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (M. Hannan)
2004: 5th (K. Jones)
2003: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (K. Jones)
2002: Winners 4th Section (prom) (K. Jones)
2001: 6th 4th Section (K. Jones)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Conway just missed out on a trip to the National Finals last year when they came third under the baton of former YBS and Black Dyke cornet player Michael Hannan.  More of that would be great, but it is a stern test piece and they are up aganst a handful of decent solid bands. Perhaps another podium finish may be the best they can aim for. 

Lewis Merthyr
Conductor: Lyndon Price

Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (L. Price)
2004: 9th (B. Buckley)
2003: 7th (L. Harries)
2002: 4th (L. Harries)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: 8th Championship (rel)
1997: 7th
1996: 4th 1st Section (prom)

The excellent Lyndon Price is a fine musician and heads the band that are now thankfully back on the track to recovery. We have heard them quite a few times of late and there is a great deal of promise in the ranks and they are very well led. 4th last year was a good solid result and they came 8th at Butlins where perhaps they could count themselves a touch unlucky. Should be up there come results time if they play to form.  

Newbridge Celynen
Conductor: Paul Holland

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (P. Holland)
2004: 4th (P. Holland)
2003: Winners (P. Holland)
2002: 8th (K. Gibbs)
2001: 3rd 4th Section (prom) (K. Gibbs)
2000: 3rd 4th Section (D. Short)
1999: 8th 4th Section
1998: 12th (rel)
1997: 14th
1996: 2nd 4th Section (prom)

Possibly the favourites to win the title here this year. Lots of experience in the ranks with lots of old championship players enjoying themselves and a talented MD, they have shown plenty of good form over the past year to single them out as the band to possibly beat here. Can be a little complacent at times though as they showed at the National Finals last year in the Third Section where they came 5th. That was a disappointment given the band they have, but we think they should be more than comfortable qualifiers here.

Newtown Silver
Conductor: Steve Edwards

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners of Third Section (prom) (S. Edwards)
2004: Winners (S. Edwards)
2003: 8th in Second Section (rel) (H. Gibb)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: 4th 3rd Section (prom) (S. Edwards)
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: 2nd 3rd Section
1997: 10th (rel)
1996: 9th

Last year's Newtown won the Third Section here for the second year in a row, but also went onto Harrogate and failed to impress the judges. This time it was 18th place, which is not a true indicator of how good a band they really are. Steve Edwards is an excellent man in the middle and if they can cope with the extra demands off the test piece they should more than hold their own.  
 

RAF St. Athan Voluntary
Conductor: Alan Bourne

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd (A. Bourne)
2004: 3rd (A. Bourne)
2003: 6th (A. Bourne)
2002: 11th 1st Section (rel) (A. Bourne)
2001: 5th (prom) (A. Bourne)
2000: 4th (A. Bourne)
1999: Winners
1998: 8th
1997: 9th
1996: 5th

Alan Bourne continues to do excellent work with the lads and lasses from the RAF camp. Last year in particular they were very good and deservedly took the runners up spot and go on to claim 12th place at Harrogate. Lots of talented players around the stands and a solid ensemble of back up players, they should fancy their chances of another crack at the title both here and in Harorogate. 

Royal Buckley
Conductor: Paul Lovatt Cooper

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (S. Tighe)
2004: 2nd Third Section (G. Thomas) (prom)
2003: 5th (D. Roberts)
2002: 4th (D. Roberts)
2001: DNC
2000: 5th 2nd Section (rel) (G. Thomas)
1999: 9th
1998: 6th
1997: 6th
1996: 3rd

PLC comes to Wales. Paul Lovatt Cooper is a very talented bloke and it will be interesting to see how he gets on with the baton instead of a percussion stick in his hand. We have no doubt he will do well, but his band is up against some pretty good outfits here. 4th place at Brass at the Guild Hall contest should give them confidence and after the lowly 8th place of last year, this year could promise so much better.   

Tylorstown (Arriva Trains)
Conductor: Garry Davies

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th in First Section (rel) (L. Bowden)
2004: =8th (A. Morton)
2003: 3rd (L. Phillips)
2002: 8th (L. Phillips)
2001: 3rd (L. Phillips)
2000: 5th (L. Phillips)
1999: 7th
1998: 8th
1997: 5th
1996: 7th

The last time Tylorstown won a Regional title was back in 1989 when they took the Second Section title here. In recent times though they have just fallen off the pace a bit and lost their place in the First Section last year after coming 10th. Garry Davies, the fine soprano player at Cwmaman has since taken over the reins and instilled a great deal of confidence back in the band. That was shown in coming 7th at Butlins earlier this year, so they should be more than capable of doing well here if they can repeat that form.  

Ynyshir (Stack of Tiles)
Conductor: D. Evans

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (A. MacDonald)
2004: 6th (A. Gibbs)
2003: 3rd in Third Section (prom) (A. Gibbs)
2002: 3rd (A. Gibbs)
2001: 7th (A. Gibbs)
2000: 9th (B. Williams)
1999: 2nd
1998: 11th
1997: 10th
1996: 6th

Another band with a new man at the helm this year for this contest, and he will be looking to carry on the good work and the foundations placed by the experienced Alan Gibbs and carried on by Andy MacDonald lat time out. Two solid 6th places showed promise although that didn't really materialize at Butlins where they cam 18th and last. Hopefully that has been put behind them and they can show their true form here. 

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Deiniolen, RAF St. Athan Voluntary
2004: Llanrug, Markham
2003: Llanrug, Penclawdd
2002: Penclawdd, Rhyl
2001: Royal Oakley, Ammanford Town
2000: Rogerstone, Rhyl
1999: RAF St. Athans, Pontardulais Town
1998: Pontardulais, Deiniolen
1997: Rhos, Treherbert and District
1996: Burry Port, Rhos
1995: Burry Port, Rhos

Welsh bands at the Finals:

2005: 12th, 16th
2004: 4th, 16th
2003: 12th, 14th
2002: 10th, 17th
2001: 1st, 16th
2000: 13th, 14th
1999: 5th, 12th
1998: 5th, 10th

4BR Prediction:

Only a small field this year to tackle the very difficult set work but we think this could be one of the better Second Section contests of the whole Regional Championships. A lot of well matched bands here and more than a few of them should be more than capable of putting in a qualification performance at the very least.

Of the bands, Newbridge Celynen stand out in terms of the form book, but they are stepping up in class and are up against some experienced bands in the form of Lewis Merthyr, RAF St. Athan, Conway and Tylorstown. We still they will win through, but it could be a great battle. Lewis Merthyr should pick up second spot whilst RAF St. Athan, Tylorstown and Conway could push them close. Ynyshir may well surprise a few and our dark horses are Royal Buckley.

1. Newbridge Celynen
2. Lewis Merthyr
3. RAF St. Athan
4. Tylorstwon
5. Conway
6. Ynyshir

Dark Horses: Royal Buckley

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