2006 Spring Festival - Senior Cup Runners and Riders
9-May-200620 quality bands line up here to tackle a very difficult set work, and try to gain one of the four promotion places to the Grand Shield. Some famous names mix with some rising stars for what should be a keenly fought contest.
Pavilion Theatre: 10.00am
Test Piece: Harmony Music – Phillip Sparke
Adjudicators: Not known at present
Aldbourne
Conductor: Steve Sykes
4BR Ranking: 96
Principal Cornet: Kevin Robbins
Soprano Cornet: Paul Bilkey
Flugel: Claudia Tomkins
Solo Horn: Clare Smith
Solo Euphonium: David Johnson
Solo Trombone: Steve Sykes
Tuba: Gareth Jones
Blackpool Guide:
2005: 3rd Senior Trophy (prom) (S. Sykes)
2004: 11th (N. Seaman)
2003: 17th Senior Cup (rel) (I. Holmes)
2002: 6th Senior Trophy (prom) (I. Holmes)
Form Guide:
Aldbourne showed fine form here last year when they gained promotion up from the Senior Trophy. Hopefully they can stay here and make more of a mark and if the form of 2006 is anything to go by they should be OK. 7th place against a strong Yeovil field was followed by a well earned 5th place at the Regional Championships.
Alliance Brass
Conductor: John Clark
4BR Ranking: 83
Principal Cornet: David Hilton
Soprano Cornet: Bill Cooper
Flugel: Ed Pascal
Solo Horn: Ben Benson
Solo Euphonium: Lauren Petriz-Watts
Solo Trombone: Robb Tooley
Tuba: Mike Levis
Blackpool Form:
2005: Winners Senior Trophy (prom) (J. Clark)
Form Guide:
Alliance Brass won the Senior Trophy in fine style last year and will be looking for more of the same here in the Senior Cup. What form they bring is hard to fathom though as they are not the busiest contesting band and on their last showing at the Regional Championships at Stevenage they came a disappointing 9th. Still ones to watch out for though.
BTM
Conductor: Jason Katsikaris
4BR Ranking: 28
Principal Cornet: Jeff Hutcherson
Soprano Cornet: Meirion Davies
Flugel: Trevor Isaac
Solo Horn: Bruce Myers
Solo Euphonium: Mark Hutcherson
Solo Trombone: Nick Jones
Tuba: Kate James
Blackpool Form:
2005: 5th (T. Wyss)
2004: 5th (D. Hirst)
2003: 7th (D. Stowell)
2002: 9th (D. Stowell)
2001: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (G. Pritchard)
2000: 4th Grand Shield (G. Pritchard)
1999: DNC
1998: N/K Grand Shield (A. Morrison)
1997: 11th Grand Shield (A. Morrison)
1996: 11th Grand Shield (S. Sykes)
1995: 5th Grand Shield (S. Sykes)
1994: DNC
1993: 6th Grand Shield (M. White)
Form Guide:
If BTM click then they could walk away from Blackpool as comfortable winners. They haven't had the best of luck here in the last few years either and so things are due to change, hopefully for the better. 2006 hasn't seen them really hit top form as yet and they came 11th at Yeovil, 3rd at Porthcawl and 6th at the Regional Championships. If they haven't broken any mirrors, kicked a black cat or walked under any ladders then this could the year they gain promotion at least.
Bo'ness and Carriden
Conductor: Stan Lippeatt
4BR Ranking: 79
Principal Cornet: Gordon McFarlane
Soprano Cornet: Richard Tobin
Flugel: Diane Waugh
Solo Horn: Suzanne Robertson
Solo Euphonium: Scott Cameron
Solo Trombone: Garry Kennedy
Tuba: Toni Pacher
Blackpool Form:
2005: 16th (D. Hirst)
2004: 12th (D. James)
2003: 5th in Senior Trophy (prom) (I. Davey)
2002: 10th (I. Davey)
Form Guide:
Bo'ness has struggled here in the past two years and just missed the relegation trap door twelve months ago. On their day they can more than hold their own although they didn't really play to form at the Scottish Regional Championships where they came 7th, although they put in a good performance to come behind an inspired Kirkintilloch at the recent Fife Contest.
Bournemouth Concert
Conductor: Chris Davies
4BR Ranking: 64
Principal Cornet: Roland Wright
Soprano: James Cooper
Flugel: Steve Rowland
Horn: Phil Randal
Euph: Steve Didcott
Trombone: Richard Curren
Tuba: Bill Willis
Blackpool Form:
2005: 7th (P. Cosh)
2004: 9th (D. Hayward)
2003: 2nd in Senior Trophy (prom) (D. Hayward)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (N. Taken)
Before 2002 the band did not compete in these contests
Form Guide:
Bournemouth are making progress in the right direction here and pushed for a top six place last year, eventually coming home in 7th place under Paul Cosh. 2006 didn't start too well for the band though and they could only manage 13th place at Yeovil and then went on to unsuccessfully defend their West of England Championship title where under Luc Vertommen they came 6th at Torquay.
Dalmellington
Conductor: Archie Hutchinson
4BR Ranking: 77
Principal Cornet: Eleanor Ferguson
Soprano Cornet: David Roxburgh
Flugel: John Boax
Solo Horn: Christopher Dale
Solo Euphonium: David McKellar
Solo Trombone: Derick Kirkwood
Tuba: Ian Taylor
Blackpool Form:
2005: 13th (A. Hutchison)
2004: 14th (R. Evans)
2003: 3rd Senior Trophy (prom) (R. Evans)
2002: 7th (D. Hirst)
Form Guide:
The current Scottish Regional First Section champions haven't really hit top form at this contest in the past couple of years and came 13th last time out. They will need to improve on that this time around, but they showed their class in Motherwell when they won the First Section title in some style. Could be a band to listen out for here if they can repeat that type of form.
Dobcross Silver
Conductor: Dennis Hadfield
4BR Ranking: 51
Principal Cornet: Laura Hirst
Soprano Cornet: Darren Jones
Flugel: N/K
Solo Horn: Christina Jones
Solo Euphonium: Nigel Atwell
Solo Trombone: Peter Moore
Tuba: Matthew Mills
Blackpool Form:
2005: 11th (D. Hadfield)
2004: 2nd Senior Trophy (D. Hadfield) (prom)
Form Guide:
Dennis Hadfield continues to develop Dobcross in fine fashion and they put in a very solid show here last year to come home in 11th place. 2006 started well with a hard earned 5th place at Butlins and they followed that up with another good showing at Blackpool where they were placed 5th at the Regional Championships. A band full of talent, they will fancy their chances of a possible promotion here.
Drighlington
Conductor: Shane Foster
4BR Ranking: 95
Principal Cornet: Richard Halliwell
Soprano Cornet: Darren Blake
Flugel: Lynne Walsh
Solo Horn: Chris Foster
Solo Euphonium: Mic Tyler
Solo Trombone: Ian Clough
Tuba: Dave Houghton
Blackpool Form:
2005: 15th (S. Lippeatt)
2004: 16th (P. Shaw)
2003: 6th Senior Trophy (prom) (C. Hardy)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 22nd Grand Shield (rel) (A. Whitakker)
Form Guide:
The Yorkshire First Section champions will come to Blackpool on something of a high after their Bradford win. They have found life a bit tough here in the last couple of years, but Shane Foster has really drawn the band together since his appointment and with a 6th place at Buxton they could well feature if they can just up their game a bit more.
East Yorkshire Motor Services
Conductor: Jim Davies
4BR Ranking: 54
Principal Cornet: Steve Rudhall
Solo Euphonium: Liz Grosvenor
Solo Horn: Alison Grantham
Soprano: Peter Wilson
Flugel: Kathy Newiss
Solo Trombone: Mark Unsworth
Tuba: David Fox
Blackpool Form:
2005: 20th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Gillam)
2004: 18th (G. Pritchard)
2003: 9th (G. Pritchard)
2002: Winners Senior Cup (prom) (G. Pritchard)
2001: DNC
2000: 14th (G. O'Connor)
1999: DNC
1998: N/K (J. Roberts)
1997: 6th (A. Snell)
Did not compete in these contests before 1997.
Form Guide:
EYMS will want to start reversing their form here this year after suffering three poor returns since winning the Senior Cup in 2002. Relegation form the Grand Shield was confirmed after coming 20th last year, but they have shown a fine return to form under Jim Davies in 2006 and just missed out on a trip to London by coming 3rd at the North of England regionals.
Glossop Old
Conductor: John Davies
4BR Ranking: 114
Principal Cornet: Dave Richardson
Solo Euphonium: Pete Bowd
Solo Horn: Stuart Wilkinson
Soprano: Mandy Crowther
Flugel: Steve Roberts
Solo Trombone: Dave Redfearn
Tuba: Hugh Cant
Blackpool Form:
2005: Withdrew Grand Shield (rel)
2004: 17th (J. Cant)
2003: 8th (J. Cant)
2002: 18th British Open (rel) (J. Cant)
2001: 20th British Open (G. Pritchard)
2000: 2nd (prom) 14th British Open (J. Berryman)
1999: 5th (J. Cant)
1998: DNC
The band didn't compete at the contests before 1999
Form Guide:
Glossop Old had to withdraw from the Grand Shield contest last year and so they found themselves relegated to the Senor Cup for 2006. They are now competing in the First Section nationally, but it seems that they have regrouped and have started to battle back – starting with a solid 4th place at the Regional Championships at Burton on Trent.
Innovate Skelmanthorpe
Conductor: John Roberts
4BR Ranking: 90
Principal Cornet: Ralph Little
Solo Euphonium: Robert Cavender
Solo Horn: William Carter
Soprano: Robert Jagger
Flugel: Clare Daws
Solo Trombone: Chris Mansfield
Tuba: Alan Coe
Blackpool Form:
2005: 19th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Hinckley)
2004: 8th (K. Wadsworth)
2003: 13th (K. Wadsworth)
2002: 10th (K. Wadsworth)
2001: 4th Senior Cup (prom) (K. Wadsworth)
The band didn't compete at the contest before 2001.
Form Guide:
19th place and relegation was a bit of a shock for Innovate Skelmanthorpe last year in the Grand Shield as for the past few years they had more than held their own at the contest. 2006 though hasn't suggested that their form is good enough to see them make a quick return back as they could only manage 13th place at the Regional Championships. John Roberts is an experienced campaigner and will bring out the best from his charges, but it could be a hard day at the contesting office.
Jaguar (Coventry)
Conductor: David Lea
4BR Ranking: 58
Principal Cornet: Bob Baggott
Solo Euphonium: Rob Hunt
Solo Horn: Lynette Wild
Soprano: Darren Lea
Flugel: Andrew Bates
Solo Trombone: Kevin Lea
Tuba: Mick Wild
Blackpool Form:
2005: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (D. Lea)
2004: 12th (D. Lea)
2003: 2nd in Senior Cup (prom) (D. Lea)
2002: 10th
2001: 16th Grand Shield (rel)
2000: 16th British Open (rel)
1999: 2nd Grand Shield (prom) 22nd British Open
1998: N/K
1997: DNC
1996: 18th Grand Shield
Form Guide:
Relegation from the Grand Shield didn't promise much for Jaguar last year, but they have shown remarkable character and a great deal of top notch form to return here this year full of confidence. It is not misplaced either as they were excellent in coming runners up at the Midlands Regional Championships and booking a place at the Royal Albert Hall in October. More of the same won't go amiss then.
Kibworth
Conductor: John Berryman
4BR Ranking: 73
Principal Cornet: Carol Smith
Solo Euphonium: Simon Rotchell
Solo Horn: Nathan Waterman
Soprano: Bob Stradling
Flugel: Guido Damore
Solo Trombone: John Hopkins
Tuba: Linda Hobbs
Blackpool Form:
2005: 17th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Berryman)
2004: 4th (J. Berryman)
2003: 11th (J. Berryman)
2002: 8th (J. Berryman)
2001: 6th Senior Cup (prom) (J. Berryman)
2000: 17th (J. Berryman)
The band didn't compete at the contest before 2000.
Form Guide:
Contesting can be a fickle old business and Kibworth has tasted both the highs and lows in recent times here. In 2004 they were a hairsbreadth away from the British Open, but last year they fell through the trap door after coming 17th. They will want to return to the Grand Shield this year for sure and they showed that they were warming up nicely by claiming a place at Harrogate by coming runners up in the First Section Regional Championships at Burton on Trent.
Knottingley Silver
Conductor: Kevin Belcher
4BR Ranking: 142
Principal Cornet: Martin Hall
Soprano: John Parkinson
Flugel: Steven Clayton
Solo Horn: Roger Clayton
Solo Euphonium: Neil Johnson
Solo Trombone: Chris Beaumont
Tuba: Trevor Lloyd
Blackpool Form:
2005: 14th (K. Belcher)
2004: 4th Senior Trophy (prom) (K. Belcher)
Form Guide:
Kevin Belcher continues to do fine work with Knottingley and after gaining promotion from the Senior Trophy in 2004 they more than held their own last year in coming 14th. 2006 saw them compete in the First Section at Bradford where they came 4th.
Lindley
Conductor: Neil Jowett
4BR Ranking: 138
Principal Cornet:
Soprano Cornet:
Flugel:
Solo Horn:
Solo Euphonium:
Solo Trombone:
Tuba:
Blackpool Form:
2005: 12th (N. Jowett)
2004: 19th (rel) (Grand Shield) (N. Jowett)
2003: 6th in Senior Cup (prom) (N. Jowett)
2002: 16th Grand Shield (rel) (N. Jowett)
2001: Winners Senior Cup (prom) (N. Jowett)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: N/K (N. Jowett)
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
1995: 21st Grand Shield (D. Horsfield)
1994: DNC
1993: 18th (N. Jowett)
Form Guide:
Neil Jowett has been producing fine performances with the Lindley band for longer than most people can remember now, but they have had something of an up and down relationship with the Grand Shield and Senior Cup contests in the past few years. Relegated in 2004 they held their own in coming 12th last year, whilst 2006 started with them coming 7th in the First Section at Bradford.
Newstead Welfare
Conductor: Duncan Beckley
4BR Ranking: 49
Principal Cornet: Mark Young
Soprano Cornet: Philip White
Flugel: Michael Corden
Solo horn: Sandra Tolalenko
Solo Trombone: Andrew Banniston
Solo Euphonium: Lyndon Cooper
Tuba: Paul Whyley
Blackpool Form:
2005: 8th (D. Beckley)
2004: 20th Grand Shield (D. Beckley) (rel)
2003: 5th Senior Cup (prom) (D. Beckley)
2002: 2nd Senior Trophy (prom) (D. Beckley)
Didn't compete at the contests before 2002.
Form Guide:
If 2006 form is any reliable guide to go to, then Newstead should walk away with first prize here under Duncan Beckley. If only things were so simple eh? That said, Newstead should fancy their chances after securing 2nd place at Brass at the Guild Hall and then booking themselves a place at the Royal Albert Hall by winning the Midlands Regional Championships. Can they make it a memorable double triumph then?
Pemberton Old Wigan JJB
Conductor: Mark Peacock
4BR Ranking: 63
Principal Cornet: Joanne Johnson
Soprano Cornet: Barry Edwards
Flugel: Carina Halliwell
Solo Horn: Peter Lyons
Solo Euphonium: Alec Banks
Solo Trombone: N/K
Tuba: Stephen Parfitt
Blackpool Form:
2005: 4th Senior Trophy (prom) (M. Peacock)
2004: 9th (M. Peacock)
2003: 19th Senior Cup (rel) (G. Cutt)
2002: Winners Senior Trophy (prom) (A. Lawton)
Form Guide:
Mark Peacock continues to really make a mark with Pemberton Old Wigan JJB Band and last year they were good value for their 4th place in the Senior Trophy which gave them their second promotion in four years. They were excellent winners of Brass at the Guild Hall earlier this year and then came 8th at the strong North West Regional Championships. Ones to watch out for perhaps?
Tongwynlais Temperance
Conductor: Gareth Pritchard
4BR Ranking: 39
Principal Cornet: Duncan Broadley
Soprano: Gareth Davies
Flugel: Eve Nixon
Solo Horn: Steve Jones
Solo Euphonium: Martyn Patterson
Solo Trombone: Robin Hacket
Tuba: Richard Palmer
Blackpool Form:
2005: 2nd Senior Trophy (prom) (G. Pritchard)
2004: 13th (B. James)
Form Guide:
A real mixed bag of a year so far for Tongwynlais after their fine runners up place here twelve months ago. 11th at Butlins, 12th at Yeovil, 2nd at Porthcawl and then 7th at the Regional Championships at Swansea doesn't look that impressive on paper, but they are a much better band than those results suggest. Gareth Pritchard returns and should lick them into shape. If he does, they could well feature highly come the results.
Unison Kinneil
Conductor: Andrew Duncan
4BR Ranking: 45
Principal Cornet: Keith Johnston
Soprano: Owen Downs
Flugel: Laura Fitzpatrick
Solo Horn: Loiuse Tobin
Solo Euphonium: Ian Campbell
Solo Trombone: Geoff Turnbull
Tuba: Paul Drury
Blackpool Form:
2005: 6th (A. Duncan)
2004: 3rd Senior Trophy (prom) (A. Ramsay)
2003: 10th (A. Ramsay)
2002: 20th Senior Cup (rel) (A. Ramsay)
2001: 15th (John Hinckley)
Form Guide:
Andrew Duncan heads Unison Kineil's challenge and they will looking to improve on the solid showing of twelve months ago when they came in 6th here. Plenty of talented players in the ranks, they didn't quit play to form at the Regional Championships and could only come 8th under Andrew Berryman. We will have to wait and see on this one then.
Wingates
Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
4BR Ranking: 25
Principal Cornet: Andy MacDonald
Flugel: Lizi Sawyer
Solo Euphonium: Garry Curtin
Solo Trombone: Phil Dias
Soprano: Matthew Balsom
Solo Horn: Julie Backhouse
Tuba: Mick Morris
Blackpool Form:
2005: 9th (P. McCann)
2004: 8th (R. Curran)
2003: 8th (R. Curran)
2002: 18th Grand Shield (rel) (J. Gourlay)
2001: 9th Grand Shield (B. Grant)
2000: 6th Grand Shield (J. Gourlay)
1999: 23rd British Open (rel) (J. Davies)
1998: 15th British Open (C. Wormald)
1997: DNC
1996: Winners Grand Shield (prom) (N. Childs) 9th British Open (G. Whitham)
1995: 21st British Open (rel) (J. Hudson)
1994: 17th British Open (J. Hudson)
1993: 6th British Open (J. Hudson
Form Guide:
Wingates are a band rejuvenated, and so is their conductor Dr. Roy Nesome it seems. They have been unable to break into the top six places here in the past three years, but recent evidence suggests that will be the least of their ambitions this time around. 4th place at the Regional Championships should be a true indication of their current strengths and in the MD they have a man who knows how to bring the very best out of any band. Possible favourites then?
