2006 London and Southern Counties Regional Championships - Third Section

Its going to be a good band who can gets to grips with Gilbert Vinter’s great piece on the weekend, so Colin Hardy may have his work cut out on this one.

Saturday 18th March
Adjudicator: Colin Hardy
Test Piece: Entertainments – Gilbert Vinter
Commences: 10.00am
Draw: 9.00am

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

Bradwell Silver
Conductor: Chris Johnston

Last Ten Years:
2005: 11th (K. Durbin)
2004: 5th (B. Keech)
2003: 12th (B. Keech)
2002: 4th (B. Keech)
2001: 13th (B. Keech)
2000: 15th (B. Keech)
1999: 6th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 6th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

It has been a bit up and down here for Bradwell in the past couple of years, and 11th place last year meant that the up and down form of the band continued once more. However, if past history is anything to go by then a bad year is usually followed by a good one and a top six finish may well be on the books. 

Chinnor
Conductor: D. Pegram

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th (D. Pegram)
2004: 2nd (D. Pegram)
2003: 8th (D. Pegram)
2002: 12th (D. Williams)
2001: 10th (D. Pegram)
2000: 15th 2nd Section (D. Williams) (rel)
1999: 12th 2nd Section
1998: 14th 2nd Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 2nd

Chinnor gave a great performance here in 2004 to claim the runners up spot but they were not as good last year when they fell away to come a disappointing 10th. They will certainly want to put that behind them and return once more to a qualification place. 6th place at Butlins was a decent return and may be a good indicator to how they get on here.  

Croydon Brass
Conductor: P. Martin

Last Ten Years:
2005: 9th (A. Caldon)
2004: DNC
2003: 4th (M. Hackett)
2002: 8th
2001: 16th
2000: 12th
1999: 4th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 4th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Croydon returned last year and put in a decent enough performance to come home in 9th place. A new MD at the helm and possibly a new drive to clamber further up the prize table if they can.  

Enfield Motor Museum & Potters Bar Contest Band
Conductor: S. Groarke

Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (S. Groarke)
2004: 2nd Fourth Section (S. Groake) (as Potters Bar)
2003: 10th (S. Groarke)
2002: 24th
2001: DNC
2000: 31st
1999: 11th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Sarah Groarke made her mark with Potter's Bar band in the Fourth Section a couple of years ago, and since joining forces the band with perhaps the longest name in UK banding has continued to prosper. 4th twelve months ago was a decent return indeed and we think they could well be the band to beat here once again.  

Epsom and Ewell Silver
Conductor: E. Howard

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (E. Howard)
2004: 12th (E. Howard)
2003: 16th in Second Section (rel) (M. Winter)
2002: DNC
2001: 11th (E. Meuir)
2000: 7th (D. Richards)
1999: 10th
1998: 14th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 7th

Epsom are moving in the right direction it seems after falling through the relegation trap door in 2003. 12th in 2004 and then 6th last year promises much and another leap up the table like that here and they could well be booking themselves in to B&B in Harrogate in September.    

Fulham Brass
Conductor: Paul McLaughlin

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom) (P. McLaughlin)
2004: 3rd (P. McLaughlin)
2003: 5th (P. McLaughlin)
2002: 21st (W. Elsom)
2001: 19th (K. Forsyth)
2000: 17th (K. Forsyth)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 15th

The excellent progress of Fulham continues at a pace it seems and after coming third here last year they went off to Harrogate where they came a solid 16th off an early number 4 draw against a strong field of national contenders. They have come a very long way in a very short space of time (they were 21st in the bottom section in 2002) and after their exploits of last year we think they may well be in the mood for further prize winning success this time around.  

Hangleton
Conductor: J. Williams

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (J. Williams)
2004: 14th (C. Nonoo)
2003: 13th (C. Nonoo)
2002: 8th 4th Section (C. Nonoo) (prom)
2001: 11th 4th Section (C. Nonoo)
2000: 11th 4th Section (C. Nonoo)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Hangleton put in a excellent performance here last year when threatened by the possibility of relegation they really upped their game and came 7th .  A repeat of that would do nicely but we think they will be aiming for something just a bit higher this time around.  

Hemel Hempstead
Conductor: G. Weeks

Last Ten Years:
2005: 17th (G. Weeks)
2004: 8th Fourth Section (G. Weeks) (prom)
2003: 7th (G. Weeks)
2002: 7th (G. Weeks)
2001: 25th (G. Weeks)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Hemel Hempstead found life in the Third Section pretty tough last year and came home in 17th place. Mind you, just a few years previous they were coming in 25th in the Fourth Section so tat result should be seen in context. We are sure the experience would have done them a great deal of good though and we think it should set them up to more than hold their own this time around.  

Hilgay Silver
Conductor: Andrew Clarke

Last Ten Years:
2005: 12th (A. Clarke)
2004: 5th Fourth Section (A. Clarke) (prom)
2003: 3rd (A. Clarke)
2002: 11th (R. Smith)
2001: DNC
2000: 13th 3rd Section (A. Broadbent) (rel)
1999: 9th 3rd Section
1998: 18th 3rd Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 7th

Hilgay came 12th here last year, which was a result that confirmed the progress they had made over the past couple of years. They came 12th at Butlins earlier this year against a strong field of contenders, so perhaps too much should not be written into that at the moment.      

LBG
Conductor: I. Stewart

Last Ten Years:

LBG (Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham) are making their debut here this year and have been placed in the Third Section after consultation with the Southern Counties Brass Band Association. The band has competed on a number of occasions under their banner and it was felt their standard was appropriate for this section. They could be a dark horse then.   

Littleport Brass
Conductor: P. Mead

Last Ten Years:
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: 3rd   (J. Hammond)
2003: 10th (J. Hammond)
2002: 13th
2001: 12th 2nd Section (rel)
2000: 11th 2nd Section
1999: 7th 2nd Section
1998: 7th 2nd Section
1997: Winners (prom)
1996: 16th

Littleport return to the contest this year after failing to make it to the starting line up twelve months ago.  Before that though they were contenders for the top prizes and came 3rd in 2003, so we hope they return in style this time around.  

Norfolk Wherry Brass
Conductor: A. Craze

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (A. Craze) 

Great to report that a band that has been set and running in less than two years continues to go from strength to strength. Norfolk Wherry won the Fourth Section in some style here last year and they will be keen we are sure to continue that type of success here again this year. Last year they went on to Harrogate and came an excellent 5th off the number two draw – a great achievement. Ones to watch out for here we think once more.    

St. Sebastian's Wokingham
Conductor: Dave Richards

Last Ten Years:
2005: 3rd (D. Richards)
2004: 9th (B. Gentry)
2003: 11th (B. Gentry)
2002: 6th (B. Gentry)
2001: 15th (B. Gentry)
2000: 2nd 4th Section (B. Gentry)
1999: 2nd 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 19th

St. Sebastian Wokingham put in a fine performance here last year when they came 3rd and booked themselves a place at Harrogate for the Finals. There they came 13th against a strong field and they will be keen to return once more we are certain.     

Stantonbury Brass
Conductor: A. Jenkin

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (A. Jenkin)
2004: 7th (A. Jenkin)
2003: 6th (A. Jenkin)
2002: 11th (A. Jenkin)
2001: 4th (A. Jenkin)
2000: 16th 2nd Section (a. Jenkin) (rel)
1999: 13th 2nd Section
1998: 8th 2nd Section
1997: N/K
1996: Winners

Stantonbury has shown remarkable consistency here in the past three years although they have just inched further down the prize list on each occasion. However, they should come to the contest confident of doing well after coming 5th at Butlins earlier this year.  

Woodbridge Excelsior
Conductor: Alan Duguid

Last Ten Years:
2005: 15th (E. Howells)
2004: 6th (E. Howells)
2003: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom) (E. Howells)
2002: 5th (E. Howells)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Not a great result for Woodbridge here last year and they will need a good result this time around if they are to make sure they don't get dragged down into a relegation flight for survival. They will be headed by the talented Scotsman Alan Duguid who knows a thing or two about winning regional prizes, so don't bet against them possibly featuring very highly indeed if some of his magic can rub off on them.  

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Jersey Premier Brass, Hitchin, St. Sebastian Wokingham
2004: Sandhurst Silver, Chinnor and Littleport Brass
2003: Ware Brass, Fulbourn and Teversham, Sandhurst Silver
2002: Castleton Brass, Yiewsley and West Drayton
2001: Cantium Brass, Becontree Brass
2000: Stonesfield Silver, Cantium Brass
1999: Woking, Marconi
1998: Brent Brass, Broseley Brass
1997: Littleport Brass, Chichester City
1996: Stantonbury, Chinnor, Cawston
1995: Fairlop Brass, Cawston

London bands at the Finals:

2005: 1st, 13th, 17th
2004: 7th, 15th
2003: 5th, 18th, 20th
2002: 9th, 13th
2001: 7th, 11th
2000: 5th, 11th
1999: 6th, 8th
1998: 2nd, 5th

4BR Prediction:

As always here it could be just about an impossible task to separate the bands out before they play, as there are so many here who could very well make it to Harrogate or even win the title.

Looking at the form book here (and we have only looked at the form book here and not elsewhere) that doesn't really help us either, so it could be a stab in the dark so to speak in our predictions.

That said we opt for Enfield MM and Potters Bar to do us proud and take top honours whilst we think they will be pushed by Norfolk Wherry and St. Sebastians (Wokingham) for the all important qualification places. The rest of the top six could well belong to Fulham,  Stantonbury and Hilgay with LBG our mysterious dark horses.

1. Enfield MM and Potters Bar
2. Norfolk Wherry
3. St. Sebastians (Wokingham)
4. Fulham
5. Stantonbury
6. Hilgay

Dark Horses:  LBG

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