2006 North of England Regional Championships - Championship Section

It would appear to be a question of who can challenge Reg Vardy on paper to stop them notching up yet another Regional win, but it may be a lot closer than you may think come the results on this one.

Sunday 19th March
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
Test Piece: Journey to the Center of the Earth – Peter Graham
Commences: Commences after Third Section
Draw: 3.15pm 

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

Barrow Shipyard
Conductor: John Durrant
4BR Ranking:outside top 200 

Last Ten Years:
2005: DNC
2004: 2nd in First Section (prom) (J. Durrant)
2003: 2nd (J. Durrant)
2002: 4th  (D. Broadbent)
2001: 8th (B. Maginn)
2000: 7th Championship (rel) (B. Maginn)
1999: 10th Championship
1998: 6th Championship
1997: 2nd (prom)
1996: 3rd

Barrow didn't compete here last year and will therefore want to make a real mark this time around and show that they can make the jump in class from the First Section to the top without a problem. John Durrant is a very talented musician and a fine conductor and he will know exactly what his band will need to do to make the most of their resources.   

BHK (UK) Ltd. Horden
Conductor: Major Peter Parkes
4BR Ranking:62 

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (P. Parkes)
2004: 4th (P. Parkes)
2003: Winners of First Section (prom) (W. Beddell)
2002: 7th (W. Beddell)
2001: 4th 2nd Section (prom) (W. Beddell)
2000: 4th 2nd Section (W. Beddell)
1999: 4th 2nd Section
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
1996: 4th 3rd Section

The upward rise of BHK (UK) Ltd. Horden continues and last year they certainly showed that they were more than able to make a mark at the highest level when they put in a fine show under the experienced Major Peter Parkes to come 3rd and book a trip to the Royal Albert Hall.

There they were not overawed in the slightest and put in a very creditable show to come home in 17th place. The Major is back again this year and his vast experience and know how should make the band into strong contenders once more.  

East Yorkshire Motor Services
Conductor: Jim Davies
4BR Ranking:69

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (G. Pritchard)
2004: 2nd (G. Pritchard)
2003: 2nd (G. Pritchard)
2002: 2nd (G. Pritchard)
2001: 2nd (A. Morrison)
2000: 3rd (G. O'Connor)
1999: 2nd
1998: Winners
1997: Winners
1996: Winners

What a fine record for one of the most hard working bands in the land, but last year the wheels came off somewhat and they rather slumped to 6th place. That signaled the end of the Gareth Pritchard era with the band and they have since gone through the mil a bit in trying to recover. Thankfully they seem to have done that in fine style and have teamed up with the great Jim Davis to see if they can return once more to London and they will fancy their chances too of adding to their current total of three regional titles.   

Fishburn
Conductor: Russell Gray
4BR Ranking:19

Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (I. McElligott)
2004: 3rd (G. O'Connor)
2003: 3rd (G. O'Connor)
2002: 3rd (G. O'Connor)
2001: Winners (I. Robinson)
2000: 2nd (I. Robinson)
1999: 3rd
1998: 5th
1997: 3rd
1996: 8th

Another fine record of achievement here, but because over the years the bands who have made the trip from the North down to London haven't made a mark, coming third or a very unlucky fourth as they did last year wasn't enough.

They really were unlucky here last year, but they used that to their advantage and by the end of 2005 they had been crowned Scottish Open Champions (under Ray Farr) and come 3rd at Pontins. 10th at Butlins earlier ths year wasn't too grand though, but with Russell Gray at the helm we think they will fancy their chances of making it back to Kensington or even picking up their 5th regional title.  

Gregg's Bakery
Conductor: Duncan Beckley
4BR Ranking:199

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th in First Section (prom) (J. Durrant)
2004: 3rd (T. Swainson)
2003: 10th in Championship Section (rel) (D. Marshall)
2002: 7th (G. Cutt)
2001: 7th (N/K)
2000: 8th (D. Marshall)
1999: Winners 1st Section (prom)
1998: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
1997: 2nd 2nd Section
1996: N/K

Greggs came 5th in the First Section here last year and went on to be promoted back to the top tier after a couple of years away. The step in class is big though and they will have to play above themselves to make a mark. Duncan Beckley is a top choice to lead however and he is on something of a hot streak at present. May not be qualification material quite yet, but you never know. 

Harrogate
Conductor: David Lancaster
4BR Ranking:114

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (D. Lancaster)
2004: 6th (D. Lancaster)
2003: 6th (D. Lancaster)
2002: 2nd 1st Section (prom) (D. Lancaster)
2001: Winners 1st Section (D. Lancaster)
2000: Winners 2nd Section (D. Lancaster)
1999: N/K
1998: 3rd 2nd Section
1997: 4th 3rd Section (prom)
1996: 2nd 3rd Section

Another band who will surely be looking to make the breakthrough here this year and gain one of the two qualification places on offer and book a place at the Royal Albert Hall.

David Lancaster continues to improve his band year on year and they could well be in with a realistic shout if they can just up their form here this year. Didn't play too well at Yeovil early in the season, but with plenty of talented players in the ranks and a fine MD at the helm they should feature once again.  

Kirbymoorside
Conductor: J. Woodward
4BR Ranking:outside top 200

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd in First Section (prom) (J. Woodward)
2004: Winners (J. Woodward)
2003: 6th (J. Woodward)
2002: 8th (J. Woodward)
2001: 5th (J. Woodward)
2000: 5th (J. Woodward)
1999: 3rd
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Last year Kirbymoorside came 3rd in the First Section to claim promotion up to the Championship Section for what we believe is the first time in their history.  John Woodward continues to undertake excellent work with the band, but he is faced with a stiff task this weekend of making a mark against some pretty strong contenders.  

Reg Vardy
Conductor: Ray Farr
4BR Ranking:11

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners (R. Farr)
2004: Winners (R. Farr)
2003: Winners (R. Gray)
2002: Winners (N. Childs)
2001: 3rd (B. Grant)
2000: Winners (N. Childs)
1999: Winners
1998: 3rd
1997: 2nd
1996: 6th

Can there be a shorter priced favourite to win a Regional title this year? Last year a great deal was expected of Reg Vardy and to be fair they tried hard but just seemed unable to up their form to that of twelve months earlier. They are though very strong and powerful and more than capable of mixing it with the big boys. 10th at London was a touch disappointing for them given their expectations but they should have more than enough about them under Ray Farr to make it back to Kensington again and add a 29th title to their CV. It won't be as easy as some years though.  

Tavistock Chester le Street Riverside
Conductor: Ian Robinson
4BR Ranking:67 

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd (I. Robinson)
2004: 5th (I. Robinson)
2003: 9th (D. Hirst)
2002: 6th (R. Evans)
2001: 4th (A. Swainson)
2000: 4th (R. Payne)
1999: 4th
1998: 7th
1997: 4th
1996: 4th

The band that formally wore the colours of their  famous sponsor Newcastle Brown Ale have been consistent performers here over the years, and apart from a lowly 9th place in 2003 they have always been up and around the podium places come results time.

Last year they came second and booked themselves a place at London where perhaps because of unfortunate circumstances they didn't quite play as well as they could and came 20th. Ian Robinson is a quite excellent MD and he has brought a great deal to the band in the past couple of years. Another qualification may well be on the cards.   

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Reg Vardy*, Chester le Street Riverside, BHK Horden
2004: Ever Ready, EYMS
2003: Ever Ready, EYMS
2002: Ever Ready, EYMS
2001: Fishburn, EYMS
2000: Ever Ready, Fishburn
1999: Ever Ready, EYMS
1998: EYMS, British Steel Teeside
1997: EYMS, Ever Ready
1996: EYMS, British Steel Teeside
1995: Fishburn, Ever Ready
1994: Ever Ready, British Steel Teeside
1993: Ever Ready, Fishburn
1992: Fishburn, Ever Ready
1991: Ever Ready, North Skelton
1990: Ever Ready, North Skelton
1989: Ever Ready, Coal Products (CPL)
*Pre Qualified

How North of England bands did in London:

2005: 10th, 17th, 20th
2004: 3rd, 20th 
2003: 12th, 14th
2002: 9th, 20th
2001: 14th, 18th
2000: 13th, 19th
1999: 15th, 19th
1998: 10th, 17th
1997: 5th, 13th
1996: 8th, 19th
1995: 16th, 19th
1994: 16th, 18th
1993: 17th, 20th
1992: 15th, 16th
1991: 8th, 20th
1990: 14th, 23rd
1989: 17th, 20th

4BR Prediction:

Can't really look farther than the usual suspects here can you?

Reg Vardy should have the class about them to make it back to London once more, although we think it will a closer than many may expect. Fishburn are the closest on paper and after their recent upturn in fortunes they have booked a top class MD to spearhead their challenge.   It's these two for London for us.

Behind them it could be a good old battle for the honours with EYMS, Tavistock and Harrogate and BHK all in the mix for certain. The final top six place may well go to Kirkbymoorside with our dark horse being Greggs Bakery.

1. Reg Vardy
2. Fishburn
3. Tavistock
4. EYMS
5. Harrogate
6. Kirkbymoorside

Dark Horse: Greggs Bakery

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