2007 Scottish Regional Championship - Championship Section
5-Mar-2007How will the best bands in Scotland get to grips with Robert Redhead’s Isaiah 40. Will be a very high standard here, especially from the big three?
Sunday 11th March
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts & Chris Wormald
Test Piece: Isaiah 40 - Robert Redhead
Commences: 1.00pm
Bon Accord
Conductor: Richard Evans
4BR Ranking: 75
Last 11 Years:
2006: 4th (J. Roberts)
2005: 7th (D. Beckley)
2004: 6th (A. Swainson)
2003: 2nd in First Section (prom) (A. Swainson)
2002: 10th in Championship (rel) (A. Swainson)
2001: 7th in Championship (A. Swainson)
2000: Winners of First Section (prom) (A. Swainson)
1999: Winners of Second Section (prom)
1998: 10th in First Section (rel)
1997: 5th in First Section
1996: 10th in Championship (rel)
Bon-Accord achieved an excellent fourth place at this contest last year, and deservedly so. Some talented youngsters around the stands, coupled with some experienced and talented campaigners (including former Whitburn star Mark Boyd on solo trombone).
However, it did finish last at the Scottish Open, a result and performance it would rather forget. It has employed the enigmatic Richard Evans to lead its challenge, and should provide a highly entertaining account this time round.
Broxburn and Livingston
Conductor: Kevin Price
4BR Ranking: 117
Last 11 Years:
2006: 2nd in First Section (K. Price) (prom)
2005: 8th (A. Samson)
2004: 10th in Championship Section (A. Hutchison) (rel)
2003: 5th (M. Marzella)
2002: Winners of First Section (prom) (M. Marzella)
2001: 9th (rel) (M. Marzella)
2000: 9th (M. Marzella)
1999: 4th
1998: 6th
1997: Winners of First Section
1996: 4th in First Section
This will be the first time that the amalgamated Broxburn and Livingston will appear in the premier section in Scotland, the culmination of years of successful rebuilding from the remnants of Broxburn Public and Livingston Brass.
An excellent ninth at the Scottish Open (fourth Scottish band behind Whitburn, Scottish Co-op and Kirkintilloch) will also give it a great boost for this contest.
Dalmellington
Conductor: Archie Hutchison
4BR Ranking: 63
Last 11 Years:
2006: Winners of First Section (A. Hutchison) (prom)
2005: 3rd (A. Hutchison)
2004: 7th in Championships Section (R. Evans) (rel)
2003: 8th (R. Evans)
2002: 6th (R. Evans)
2001: 3rd (R. Evans)
2000: 6th (R. Newsome)
1999: 5th
1998: 8th
1997: 4th
1996: 5th
Back in the championship section after a two year stint in the first, the premier band in Ayrshire will be keen to impress that it should never have went down in the first place. Talented players in every section should sustain the Brass in the Park champions to a top six finish.
Archie Hutchison is one of the most experienced conductors north of the border and will lead Dalmellington to this contest for the third year in a row.
Kingdom Brass
Conductor: Craig Anderson
4BR Ranking: 41
Last 11 Years:
2006: 5th (G. O'Connor)
2005: 5th (R. Farr)
2004: 5th (D. Hirst)
2003: 7th (A. Duncan)
2002: 4th (A. Morrison)
2001: 4th (T. Wyss)
2000: 2nd in First Section (prom) (T. Wyss)
(Kingdom Brass formed from amalgamation of Cowdenbeath and Kelty & Blairadam in 1999)
Kingdom has firmly established itself as the best of the rest in Scotland, only placed outside the top five once in the past six years. However, it finished an extremely disappointing eleventh at the Scottish Open on John McCabe's Cloudcatcher Fells.
In Craig Anderson, Kingdom has an excellent musician in front of the band, and the Fife champions will undoubtedly be knocking on the door of qualification for London again this year.
Kirkintilloch
Conductor: Nigel Boddice
4BR Ranking: 13
Last 11 Years:
2006: 2nd (S. Bastable)
2005: 4th (S. Bastable)
2004: 3rd (F. Renton)
2003: 2nd (F. Renton)
2002: Winners (F. Renton)
2001: 5th (F. Renton)
2000: 4th (F. Renton)
1999: 2nd
1998: 5th
1997: 3rd
1996: 3rd
Kirkintilloch were favorites to win the Scottish Open after the exploits of Whitburn and Scottish Co-op a week earlier in Gateshead, where neither impressed. However, it finished behind them both in fourth place, so it will be looking to get one back at its rivals.
Kirky have the talent and the ability to win this. Recent signings include Neil Philip, formerly the excellent euphonium soloist at Newtongrange, so it has all the ingredients to win. Nigel Boddice, who has been adjudicating many of the major contests in recent years, returns to conducting with a premier band at a regional, and it will be interesting to see how his partnership with Kirky develops.
Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
Conductor: Alastair Orr
4BR Ranking: 72
Last 11 Years:
2006: 9th (A. Orr)
2005: 2nd in First Section (prom) (A. Orr)
2004: 3rd (A. Orr)
2003: 6th (C. Bradley)
2002: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (A. Ramsey)
2001: 5th in Second Section (R. Tennant)
2000: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (R. Tennant)
1999: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)
1998: 3rd in Fourth Section
1997: 9th in Fourth Section
1996: 10th in Fourth Section
Kirkintilloch Kelvin will be one of the bands this year that will be fighting against the relegation struggle.
However, KKB do try bloody hard, and if judges mark on efforts alone, it's in with a good shout of staying up. However, as we all know, the band will need more than grit and determination to sustain its status as a championship section outfit.
Scottish Co-op
Conductor: Allan Ramsay
4BR Ranking: 7
Last 11 Years:
2006: Winners (N. Childs)
2005: 3rd (N. Childs)
2004: Winners (N. Childs)
2003: Winners (N. Childs)
2002: 7th (D. King)
2001: Winners (N. Childs)
2000: Winners (H. Snell)
1999: 3rd
1998: Winners
1997: Winners
1996: Winners
The dominant force at this contest for the past decade, ‘The Co' has had a bit of an accommodation problem recently. Allan Ramsay and his men have been shifted around from band hall to band hall in recent weeks as its own has some issues, and it remains to be seen whether this constant migration will hamper its continuity.
However, Ramsay and his players are all experienced at this level and they will be ready to retain its title and once again hold the bragging rights for the coming year.
Unison Kinneil
Conductor: Colin McKenzie
4BR Ranking: 49
Last 11 Years:
2006: 8th (A. Berryman)
2005: 6th (R. Tennant)
2004: 4th (A. Ramsey)
2003: 3rd (A. Ramsay)
2002: 5th (E. Dunlea)
2001: 8th (J. Hinckley)
2000: 2nd (A. Hutchison)
1999: Winners of First Section
1998: 9th (rel)
1997: 8th
1996: 2nd in First Section (prom)
After years of challenging for the Scottish, Kinneil have dwindled a little of late, and are now a band very much in the midst of a rebuilding process. The Scottish may come too soon for them, but Kinneil will not submit to relegation from this section without a fight.
Former Bathgate conductor Colin McKenzie has been employed with the task of keeping Kinneil up, and they might just surprise a few who have already submitted them to the relegation foray.
Whitburn
Conductor: Philip McCann
4BR Ranking: 12
Last 11 Years:
2006: 3rd (A. Duncan)
2005: 2nd (A. Duncan)
2004: 2nd (A. Duncan)
2003: 6th (P. McCann)
2002: 2nd (P. McCann)
2001: 2nd (P. McCann)
2000: 3rd (P. McCann)
1999: Winners
1998: 2nd
1997: 2nd
1996: 2nd
A victory at the Scottish Open last November may finally be the catalyst that Whitburn need to win this contest for the fifteenth time. The West Lothian band has not won it since 1999 that, in plain terms, is quite incredible considering its development and fine results in other competitions, both nationally and regionally. However, this is the one that many of its players want, and they undoubtedly have the ability to do so.
Philip McCann is one of the finest musicians brass bands have ever produced and Whitburn will once again team up with the Scot this time round. Will be there or thereabouts for sure.
Past Qualifiers:
2006: Scottish Co-op, Kirkintilloch
2005: Newtongrange, Whitburn
2004: Scottish Co-op, Whitburn
2003: Scottish Co-op, Kirkintilloch
2002: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn
2001: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
2000: CWS (Glasgow), Unison Kinneil
1999: Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
1998: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn, Kirkintilloch*
1997: CWS (Glasgow)*, Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
1996: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
1995: Bo'ness and Carriden, Newtongrange
1994: CWS (Glasgow), Newtongrange
1993: Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1992: Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1991: Newtongrange, Whitburn, Bo'ness and Carriden, CWS (Glasgow)*
1990: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1989: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
*Pre Qualified
How Scottish bands did in London:
2006: 8th, 10th
2005: 11th, 14th
2004: 8th, 17th
2003: 8th, 9th
2002: 10th, 14th
2001: 8th, 10th
2000: 6th, 18th
1999: 9th, 11th
1998: 7th, 12th, 13th
1997: 4th, 11th, 16th
1996: 1st, 17th
1995: 13th, 15th
1994: 6th, 13th
1993: 6th, 8th
1992: 4th, 11th
1991: 4th, 10th, 12th 19th
1990: 1st, 5th, 19th
1989: 3rd, 10th
4BR Prediction:
Since Scottish Co-op last won the title in 1996, the Scottish bands haven't really traveled too well down to Kensington. However, Scotland now has three bands who can mix it with the very best, and we think it will be these three who dominate this contest.
Whitburn had a difficult 2006, but its performances in the latter half of the year showed some real quality, culminating in its fine victory at the Scottish Open off a number one draw. Scottish Co-op has had a fantastic success rate at this contest and had a great year on the contest stage last year, while Kirkintilloch continue to feature in every contest it attends. For us, on recent form, it will be Whitburn by a nod.
1. Whitburn
2. Scottish Co-op
3. Kirkintilloch
4. Kingdom Brass
5. Dalmellington
6. Bon-Accord
Dark Horse: Broxburn and Livingston
