2006 North of England Regional Championships - Third Section

Nine bands take to the stage here to try and impress Brian Buckley with their entertaining renditions of the test piece by Gilbert Vinter.

Sunday 19th March
Adjudicator: C. Brian Buckley
Test Piece: Entertainments – Gilbert Vinter
Commences: Starts after Fourth Section
Draw: 12.15pm

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

Billingham Silver
Conductor: Vaughan Evans

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (V. Evans)
2004: Winners Fourth Section (prom) (V. Evans)
2003: 3rd (V. Evans)
2002: 10th 3rd Section (rel) (V. Evans)
2001: 10th 2nd Section (rel) (V. Evans)
2000: 7th 2nd Section (V. Evans)
1999: N/K
1998: 3rd 3rd Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Billingham showed last year that they could hold their own at this level when they came home in 7th place.  The 2004 winners of the Fourth Section should have learnt a lot form that experience and it should put them in good stead for the battle ahead this time around. 

Carlisle St. Stephens
Conductor: D. Dye

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (D. Dye)
2004: 2nd (D. Dye)
2003: 5th (D. Dye)
2002: 8th 2nd Section (rel) (G. Kydd)
2001: 9th 2nd Section (G. Kydd)
2000: 9th 1st Section (rel) (A. Lewis)
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: 3rd 2nd Section
1996: Winners 2nd Section

A famous name in the brass band history books, Carlisle were National Champions back in 1927 and 1929. Last year they just fell away a little at the contest and came home in 6th place. A return to the form that saw them go to the National Finlas in 2004 will be the least of their ambitions this time around we think.  

Dearham
Conductor: Mark Condron

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners (M. Condron)
2004: 7th (M. Condron)
2003: 8th (M. Condron)
2002: 7th (J. Ireland)
2001: 3rd 4th Section (prom) (J. Ireland)
2000: 4th 4th Section (S. Tighe)
1999: N/K
1998: 2nd 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Last years winners should be one of the favourites this time around as well. That win saw them head to Harrogate where to be truthful they would have been disappointed to have come home only in 14th place. Well led from the front and plenty of quality around the stands they should be looking for a return trip this time around.  

Durham Constabulary
Conductor: K. MacDonald

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom) (K. MacDonald)
2004: 2nd (K. MacDonald)
2003: 8th (K. MacDonald)
2002: 14th (rel) (P. Cuff)
2001: DNC
2000: 10th 3rd Section (P. Gommersall)
1999: N/K
1998: 4th 3rd Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

The lads and lasses from the long arm of the law will be looking for a repeat performance of last year for certain when they gained promotion on the back of coming 3d in the Fourth Section. They have the quality in the ranks and are well led from the podium, so they may well spring a surprise or two here.  

Five Rivers Brass
Conductor: Duncan Beckley

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (D. Beckley)
2004: 4th (T. Griffiths)
2003: 7th (T. Griffiths)
2002: 7th (T. Griffiths)
2001: 8th (T. Griffiths)
2000: DNC
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Duncan Beckley takes last years winners of the Fourth Section here again this year, and they will be confident of doing well indeed. Mr Beckley is on fire at present and last year they were very good indeed and went on to come 14th at the Harrogate Finals. 11th at Butlins showed that they may have their work cut out though.   

Flimby Saxhorn
Conductor: G. Evans MBE

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th in Second Section (rel) (G. Evans)
2004: 8th (D. Jones)
2003: 10th (D. Jones)
2002: 4th (H. Robinson)
2001: 5th (H. Robinson)
2000: 5th (P. Fligg)
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Flimby will be keen to return to better days here at the Regional contest after dropping through the relegation trap door after coming 7th in the Second Section last year. It has been a battle in recent years but perhaps 2006 will signal a return to winning ways.  

Hetton Silver
Conductor: K. Wheatley

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd (K. Wheatley)
2004: DNC
2003: 7th (K. Wheatley)
2002: Winners 4th Section (prom) (K. Wheatley)
2001: DNC
2000: 6th (rel) (K. Wheatley)
1999: N/K
1998: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Hetton produced a fine performance here last year to come home in second place and book themselves a place at the National Finals in Harrogate. There they came 19th, but Ken Wheatley will have certainly used that experience to make sure his band are even better prepared this year. Ones to watch out for.  

Stape Silver
Conductor: Garry Hallas

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (M. Breckon)
2004: 5th (M. Breckon)
2003: 2nd (M. Breckon)
2002: 3rd 4th Section (prom) (M. Breckon)
2001: 4th 4th Section (M. Breckon)
2000: 6th 4th Section (M. Breckon)
1999: N/K
1998: 10th
1997: 4th 4th Section (prom)
1996: 4th 4th Section

Stape just fell away a little last year again when they came in 8th place. A change of MD means that the talented Garry Hallas takes over the reins and he will bring a touch of class to proceedings for sure with his excellent baton work and direction. Hope it pays off.   

Swinton and District Excelsior
Conductor: P. Carter

Last Ten Years:
2005: 9th (R. Rutter)
2004: 6th (R. Rutter)
2003: 6th (R. Rutter)
2002: 9th (R. Rutter)
2001: Winners 4th Section (prom) (R. Rutter)
2000: 5th 4th Section (R. Rutter)
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

A bit of a disappointment for Swinton last year when they could only come home in 9th place. They will need to produce the type of form that saw them come 6th two years in a row in 2003 and 2004 if they are to stave off the possible threat of relegation.  A new MD at the helm may well help the cause.  

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Dearham, Hetton Silver
2004: Lockwood Brass, Carlisle St. Stephens
2003: Wansbeck's Ashington, Stape Silver
2002: Houghton Brass, Ellington Colliery
2001: Ferryhill Town, Langbaurgh
2000: Felling, Westoe (STHCT)
1999: Langbaurgh, South Milford Brass
1998: Yarm and District, Vaux Samson Band
1997: Barrow Concert, Yarm and District
1996: Cottingham, Harrogate
1995: GT Group Peterlee, Greggs Bakery

North of England bands at the Finals:

2005: 14th, 19th
2004: 3rd, 12th
2003: 14th, 16th
2002: 16th, 18th
2001: 4th, 16th
2000: 12th, 13th
1999: 4th, 13th
1998: 7th, 8th

4BR Prediction:

Should be a great contest for Brian Buckley to cast his experienced ears over and there are enough good solid bands here to make it a very interesting contest too.

Of the bands on show a few do stand out and we think it could well be a battle between the likes of reigning champions Dearham, Hetton and Five Rivers for the top spots. Behind them it could well be a close scrap between Stape, Billingham and Carlisle St. Stephens with Flimby as our dark horses.

1. Dearham
2. Five Rivers
3. Hetton
4. Stape
5. Billingham
6. Carlisle St. Stephens

Dark Horses: Flimby Saxhorn

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