2006 West of England Regional Championships - First Section

A good strong line up of bands will take to the stage here with just the one aim in mind - a voyage to Harrogate.

Saturday 18th March
Adjudicator: Geoffrey Whitham and Denis Wilby
Test Piece: Voyage of Discovery –Goff Richards
Commences: 3.30pm
Draw: 2.15pm

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

Chalford
Conductor: S. Tubb

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th (S. Tubb)
2004: 7th (S. Tubb)
2003: 3rd in Second Section (prom) (S. Tubb)
2002: 4th (S. Tubb)
2001: 4th (S. Tubb)
2000: 15th
1999: 11th 1st Section (rel)
1998: 14th 1st Section
1997: 13th
1996: N/K

Having come up from the First Section in 2003,  Stephen Chubb and Chalford have continued to make move forwards with a 7th place in 2004 and 6th last year.  So what are the chances of an improvement this time around?  It wouldn't be a surprise if Chalford improved on the past couple of years, but you know 4BR, when we predict something, it doesn't always go true to form.  Chalford though will be confident of a good show this weekend and a possible trip to Harrogate may well be on the cards. 

Cinderford
Conductor: Dave Lea

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd (D. Lea)
2004: 11th (W. Jarrett)
2003: 9th in Championship Section (rel) (W. Jarrett)
2002: 10th ((L. Baglin)
2001: 2nd 1st Section (prom) (L. Baglin)
2000: 8th (rel)
1999: 9th
1998: 3rd 1st Section (prom)
1997: 2nd 1st Section
1996: N/K

Having had a bit of a struggle in the Championship Section and a lowly eleventh place in 2004, Dave Lea revived the fortunes for Cinderford last year with a great performance bringing them second place.  That led the to Harrogate where they came a disappointing 16th off the dreaded number 1 draw. They'll be hoping to catch the ears of Messrs Whitham and Wilby this weekend once more and go one better than last year and take the title. 

Forest of Dean
Conductor: Jackie Gwynne

Last Ten Years:
2005: 6th in Second Section (prom) (J. Gwynne)
2004: 2nd (J. Gwynne)
2003: 11th in First Section (rel) (J. Gwynne)
2002: 15th (J. Gwynne)
2001: 11th Championship (rel) (C. Hogg)
2000: 10th Championship
1999: 2nd (prom)
1998: 4th
1997: 2nd 2nd Section (prom)
1996: Winners 2nd Section

Jackie Gwynne's efforts and dedication at Forest of Dean has certainly paid dividends recently.  Having been relegated into the Second Section, the MD has turned the bands fortunes around and promotion last year sees them return and the challenge of Voyage of Discovery.  We suspect they will be looking to consolidate their place in this section to start, but the way they are going you never know. 

Helston Town
Conductor: John Hitchens

Last Ten Years:
2005: 11th (J. Hitchens)
2004: 3rd Second Section (J. Hitchens) (prom)
2003: 5th (J. Hitchins)
2002: 3rd 3rd Section (prom) (E. Ashton)
2001: 2nd 3rd Section (E. Ashton)
2000: 17th (rel)
1999: 12th
1998: 11th 1st Section (rel)
1997: 12th 1st Section
1996: N/K

John Hitchens has been doing some excellent work here with Helston in the past few years and but having gained promotion they found it tough going in this section last year.  They will have been working hard of course, but they'll have to produce a fine show to maintain their status. No news as yet to who is taken them though. 

Hyde
Conductor: Jonathan Camps

Last Ten Years:
2005: 12th in Championship Section (rel) (P. Evans)
2004: 9th (P. Wise)
2003: 8th (P. Wise)
2002: 8th (J. Wise)
2001: 8th (J. Wise)
2000: 6th 1st Section (prom)
1999: Winners 1st Section
1998: 9th 1st Section
1997: 7th 1st Section
1996: N/K

Jonathan Camps is the man Hyde are hoping will help them bounce back into the Championship Section after coming down last year.  The talented MD - multi talented in fact is an old hand at this level and will bring his experience to bar we are sure, although bouncing straight back though could be tough. Could well feature though come results time. 

Lydbrook
Conductor: John Berryman

Last Ten Years:
2005: 4th (S. Sykes)
2004: 6th (D. Williams)
2003: 8th (B. Hurdley)
2002: 10th (A. Cukshaw)
2001: 10th (S. Lippeatt)
2000: 5th
1999: 9th
1998: 10th Championship (rel)
1997: 7th Championship
1996: N/K

The experienced John Berryman takes the helm  with Lydbrook - the sixth MD to take the band in as many years. This could well be a fine decision (he has already got Kibworth through) as he has the talent and experience to more than mould a top class performance from this test piece. Lydbrook have been a bit unlucky here over the years (2003 especially), so they are due a change of fortune. Will this be their year then?  

Lydmet Lydney
Conductor: Tim Cooper

Last Ten Years:
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: 10th
2003: 10th (Wayne Ruston)
2002: 4th 1st Section (prom)
2001: 4th 1st Section
2000: 8th 1st Section
1999: 11th (rel) 
1998: 8th
1997: Winners 1st Section (prom)
1996: N/K

It's good to see Lydmet Lydney back here this year after they didn't compete in 2005. How they'll fare is a mystery to us though they have been busy of late in the recruitment stakes.  After a year out, consolidation could be the ticket required but if they have retained sme of that Championship quality in the ranks they could well fancy their chances.

Otterbourne Brass
Conductor: Lt. Col. C. Davies

Last Ten Years:
2005: 8th (Lt Col. C. Davies)
2004: Winners Second Section (Lt. Col. C. Davies) (prom)
2003: 4th (Lt. Col. C. Davies)
2002: 8th (Lt. Col. C. Davies)
2001: 9th (L. Sale)
2000: 2nd in Third Section (prom)
1999: 3rd in Third Section
1998: 7th in Third Section
1997: DNC
1996: N/K

A band certainly moving in the right direction under the direction of Lt Col Chris Davies, who surprisingly conducts in a very enjoyable non military sort of way in front of a brass band. He is good too, and that was proved here in 2004 when they were the clear winners of the Second Section.  Having gone up a section, they gained a credible 8th place last year and you wouldn't bet against them improving on that, this time around. Ones to watch out for. 

Poole Borough
Conductor: Phil Randell

Last Ten Years:
2005: 5th (P. Randell)
2004: 3rd (P. Randell)
2003: 12th (P. Randell)
2002: 6th (P. Randell)
2001: 5th (A. Carcary)
2000: 11th
1999: 3rd
1998: 8th
1997: 8th
1996: N/K

The talented Phil Randell continues to do a very decent job with Poole and after finishing twelfth in 2003, they have produced two top 6 finishes here with a third place in 2004 and fifth last year.  If they're on their game another top four finish could be on the cards, but with plenty of talent around and in front of the stands this could be their year?  

Solent Concert
Conductor: Wesley Garner

Last Ten Years:
2005: 7th (W. Garner)
2004: 8th (W. Garner)
2003: 6th (W. Garner)
2002: 9th (W. Garner)
2001: 6th (W. Garner)
2000: 4th
1999: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1998: 4th 2nd Section
1997: 14th (rel)
1996: N/K

The fantastic partnership that is Wes Garner and Solent continues to run and run, although in the past three years in particular they have just been off the pace a touch here. They are more than capable of holding their own and in the last three years, its been a 6th, 8th and 7th place on the day.  They'd love to repeat the form of 2000 when it was a top four berth for them.  One thing for sure, the combination won't stop trying. 

St. Keverne
Conductor: Derek Greenwood

Last Ten Years:
2005: Winners of Second Section (prom) (D. Greenwood)
2004: 12th First Section (D. Greenwood) (rel)
2003: DNC
2002: 8th (D. Greenwood)
2001: 3rd (D. Greenwood)
2000: DNC
1999: 6th
1998: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1997: Winners of Third Section (prom)
1996: N/K

The National Champions of the Second Section come back into the First after being relegated here in 2004.  Having won in 2005 at Torquay, they conquered again in quite brilliant style in Harrogate, so this is a band that is more than capable of putting in a performance of note. We suspect that they'll not be happy to just take a few scalps this time around either, and with Derek Greenwood at the helm again we think they could be a band to look out for.

Swindon Pegasus Brass
Conductor: J. Winterflood

Last Ten Years:
2005: 10th (J. Winterflood)
2004: 9th (J. Winterflood)
2003: 4th (J. Winterflood)
2002: 5th (J. Winterflood)
2001: 9th Championship (rel) (J. Winterflood)
2000: 9th Championship
1999: 4th (prom)
1998: 6th
1997: 3rd
1996: N/K

John Winterflood returns once more with Swindon Pegasus in the hope that they can regain their form here and avaoid any possibility of falling through the relegation trap door. They have just about held their own in the past few years but in the last two outings they have just fallen a bit further back each time. A bit of work to do then.

Woodfalls Concert Brass
Conductor: Steve Dunster

Last Ten Years:
2005: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (S. Dunster)
2004: 4th (S. Dunster)
2003: 10th (R. Bligh)
2002: 13th 1st Section (rel) (R. Bligh)
2001: 11th 1st Section (R. Bligh)
2000: 4th 1st Section
1999: 5th (prom)
1998: 11th
1997: 8th
1996: N/K

Steve Dunster returns for a second successive year with Woodfalls Concert Brass and has done a cracking job.  Fourth place in the Second Section in 2004 was then eclipsed with second place last year and promotion into the First Section and a trip to Harrogate where they came a very fine third off the number 2 draw. That was an excellent achievement indeed. .   

Past Qualifiers:

2005: Aldbourne, Cinderford
2004: Bournemouth Concert, Lanner and District
2003: City of Bristol, Test Valley Brass
2002: St. Austell, Ocean Brass
2001: Thornbury, Cinderford Swanbrook
2000: Thornbury, Yeovil Town
1999: Hyde, Forest of Dean
1998: Yeovil Town, Aldbourne
1997: Lydmet Lydney, Cinderford Swanbrook
1996: St. Austell, N/K
1995: Swindon Pegasus, Lydbrook

West of England bands at the Finals:

2005: 4th, 16th
2004: 9th, 14th
2003: 11th, 12th
2002: 3rd, 7th
2001: 11th, 13th
2000: 3rd, 4th
1999: 12th, 15th
1998: 3rd, 5th

4BR Prediction:

This should be an entertaining contest, although we think there are one or two bands that do stand out from the rest. It is a difficult old test piece though, and good quality solo playing from the soprano down to the basses is resquired.

One or two as we said do stand out for us, and we think it could well be a fight between Lydbrook and Otterbourne for the title, and if they play to form they should clean up with the qualification places. Pushing them close though will be the likes of  Cinderford , Poole, Woodfalls and Chalford with our dark horse being Hyde. 

1. Lydbrook
2. Otterbourne
3. Cinderford
4. Poole
5. Woodfalls
6. Chalford

Dark Horse: Hyde

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