2007 Midlands Regional Championship - Third Section
6-Mar-2007A very large field of seventeen bands will tackle Darrol Barry’s characteristically melodious Prelude and Jubilate.
Saturday 10th March
Adjudicator: David Horsfield & Steve Pritchard-Jones
Test Piece: Prelude and Jubilate - Darrol Barry
Commences: 11.00am
Split Draw: 10.00am & 12.00am
Arrow Valley Brass
Conductor: Andy Culshaw
Last 10 Years:
2006: 6th (A. Culshaw)
2005: 2nd (A. Culshaw)
2004: 17th (A. Culshaw) (rel)
2003: 16th (A. Culshaw)
2002: 3rd in Third Section (prom)
2001: 5th in Third Section
2000: 18th (rel)
1999: 13th
1998: 16th
1997: 4th
Sixth place last year would have been a disappointing result for Arrow Valley Brass, coming on the back of the runner's up position the year before. Andy Culshaw has a wealth of experience to draw on though and the band could well be a serious contender for honours this time round.
Audley Brass
Conductor: C. Fox
Last 10 Years:
2006: DNC (rel)
2005: 14th (K. Birch)
2004: 11th (K. Birch)
2003: 3rd in Third Section (prom) (K. Birch)
2002: 12th (K. Birch)
2001: 3rd (K. Birch)
2000: 9th (N/K)
1999: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1998: 4th 4th Section
1997: 9th 4th Section
After missing a year in 2006 and suffering relegation from the Second Section as a result, Audley Brass return to Burton with a new MD and a fresh challenge on their hands. The band does not have a great deal of recent contest form so their performance will be awaited with interest but having nothing to lose Audley might just surprise a few people.
Avonbank Evesham
Conductor: N. Smith
Last 10 Years:
2006: 5th (N. Smith)
2005: 16th (A. McCrae)
2004: 11th (A. McCrae)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: 7th in Second Section (rel)
2000: 5th
1999: 14th
1998: 15th
1997: 6th
A strong showing in 2006 represented a huge step forward in Avonbank's Regional fortunes and if the band can replicate that kind of form once again a place amongst the prize winners could be a very real prospect. Competition will be fierce though and the band will need to be at the top of their form.
Bakewell Silver
Conductor: M. Wilcockson
Last 10 Years:
2006: 15th (M. Wilkockson)
2005: 9th (M. Willcockson)
2004: 14th (M. Wilcockson)
2003: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom) (M. Wilcockson)
2002: 6th
2001: 9th
2000: 15th in Third Section (rel)
1999: 12th in Third Section
1998: 10th in Third Section
1997: 17th in Third Section
Bakewell Silver's first priority will be to get themselves into the middle order of the results and away from a position that puts the band in the drop zone. If the band performs to the best of its ability the opportunity is there to emulate the ninth place that was their best Third Section finish back in 2005.
City of Birmingham
Conductor: W. Belshaw
Last 10 Years:
2006: 4th (W. Belshaw)
2005: 12th (J. Cunningham)
2004: 9th (J. Cunningham)
2003: 10th (S. Platford)
2002: 8th
2001: 20th in Second Section (rel)
2000: 16th in Second Section
1999: 19th in Second Section
1998: 12th in Second Section
1997: 9th in Second Section
City of Birmingham turned in a strong performance of Gilbert Vinter's Entertainments last year to earn a thoroughly deserved fourth place in Burton. Despite a blip in 2005 when they finished twelfth, the band have made slow but steady progress in the Third Section and could well figure in the prizes once again this year.
Dronfield (CMW)
Conductor: Alan Tyler
Last 10 Years:
2006: 4th in Fourth Section (A. Tyler) (prom)
2005: 7th (A. Tyler)
2004: 6th (R. White)
2003: 7th (N/K)
2002: 14th in Third Section (rel) (K. Mackintosh)
2001: 9th in Third Section (M. Knowles)
2000: 11th in Third Section (N/K)
1999: 6th in Third Section
1998: DNC
1997: 16th in Second Section (rel)
2007 sees Dronfield make a return to the Third Section after four years in the Fourth. Alan Tyler has the benefit of many years experience to help the band along and will enjoy the challenges that Darrol Barry's music brings.
Kirkby Colliery Welfare
Conductor: S. Berrill
Last 10 Years:
2006: 10th (A. Dennis)
2005: 4th in Fourth Section (prom) (H. Thomas)
2004: 8th (S. Berrill)
2003: 5th (S. Berrill)
2002: 15th (S. Berrill)
2001: 22nd (S. Berrill)
2000: DNC
Tenth was a creditable mid table result for Kirkby Colliery Welfare on the band's Third Section debut last year, although a bottom three result at Butlins will have been disappointing for the players. They will no doubt be hoping to edge themselves forward on last year's result and cement their status as a serious contender at this level.
Leicestershire Co-op Snibston Charnwood
Conductor: Graham Jacklin
Last 10 Years:
2006: 2nd (G. Jacklin)
2005: 8th (G. Jacklin)
2004: 6th (G. Jacklin)
2003: 16th (G. Jacklin)
2002: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)
2001: 10th in Fourth Section
2000: 12th in Fourth Section
1999: 17th in Fourth Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
2006 was an excellent year for Graham Jacklin and Leicestershire Co-op. Steady and patient progress in the Third Section over a four year period was eventually deservedly rewarded with the runner up position last year followed by the fourth spot at Harrogate. The band will be all out for victory at Burton this time round and will be one of the strong pre-contest favourites to carry off the crown.
Malvern Mills & District
Conductor: M. West
Last 10 Years:
2006: 14th (M. West)
2005: 13th (N. Hall)
2004: 7th (M.West)
2003: 5th (M.West)
2002: 10th
2001: 10th
2000: 2nd in Fourth Section
1999: 2nd in Fourth Section
1998: 16th in Third Section (rel)
1997: 13th in Third Section
After strong area showings in 2003 and 2004 the last two years have been difficult ones for Mike West and his Worcestershire band. On form though the band is more than capable of holding its own and there will be plenty of determination to get back to the form of a few years ago.
Matlock
Conductor: Roger Jepson
Last 10 Years:
2006: 9th (R. Jepson)
2005: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (R. Jepson)
2004: 3rd (R. Jepson)
2003: 12th (K. Short)
2002: 18th in Third Section (rel) (K. Short)
2001: 15th in Third Section (N/K)
2000: 10th in Third Section (N/K)
1999: 8th in Third Section
1998: 9th inThird Section
1997: DNC
Ninth was a satisfactory result for Matlock last year following the band's promotion from the Fourth Section but far more telling is the fine second place that the band achieved just a month ago at Butlins. Roger Jepson and his players will have high expectations at Burton and with the benefit of a confidence boosting outing to Skegness behind them are sure to fancy their chances of a high finish.
Moulton 77 Brass
Conductor: Howard Gibbs
Last 10 Years:
2006: 3rd (H. Gibbs)
2005: 11th in Second Section (rel) (H. Gibbs)
2004: 16th (I. Rainer)
2003: 13th (I. Rainer)
2002: 12th (I. Rainer)
2001: 12th (D. Goswell)
2000: 10th (N/K)
1999: Winners of Second Section
1998: 9th
1997: 10th
Third was a good finish for Moulton 77 last year and earned them a place at Harrogate where the band achieved a creditable tenth place amongst national competition. Ninth at Butlins would have come as a disappointment but morale will bounce back as the band mount a serious challenge on the title and a return to future Second Section status. One of our strong favourites for a prize.
Newhall
Conductor: Mark Phillips
Last Ten Years:
2006: 13th (M. Phillips)
2005: 15th (M. Phillips)
2004: 2nd in Fourth Section (M. Phillips) (prom)
2003: 9th (M. Phillips)
2002: 5th
2001: 8th in Third Section (rel)
2000: 12th in Third Section
1999: 16th in Third Section
1998: 7th in Third Section
1997: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)
Life in the Third Section has not been easy for Newhall and eighteenth place at Pontins will not have helped morale. First priority then is avoiding the drop although it's not going to be easy amongst very stiff competition, although they have had some decent results over the past year. Nil desperandum.
Rushden Windmill
Conductor: R. Graves
Last 10 Years:
2006: 8th (R. Graves)
2005: 11th (R. Graves)
2004: Winners of Fourth Section (R. Graves) (prom)
2003: 4th (R. Graves)
2002: 19th in Third Section (rel)
2001: 12th in Third Section
2000: 3rd in Third Section
1999: 15th in Third Section
1998: 3rd in Third Section
1997: 6th in Third Section
With the exception of a fleeting couple of years in the Fourth Section, Rushden Windmill has been one of the most consistent Third Section performers over the years. A modest step forward from eleventh to eighth last year has given the band a clear goal of the top six this year and we reckon Rushden could be a good outside bet for a place amongst the prize winners.
Syston
Conductor: Dennis Powell
Last 10 Years:
2006: 11th (G. Sutton)
2005: 7th (G. Sutton)
2004: 12th (G. Sutton)
2003: 6th (R. Boulter)
2002: 6th
2001: 6th in Fourth Section (prom)
2000: 6th
1999: 7th
1998: 6th
1997: 6th
Syston made a strong impression following promotion to the Third Section in 2002 but has failed to capitalise on the early promise the band showed. Eleventh would have been less than the band hoped for last year but a higher finish this time round could well be on the cards.
University of Warwick
Conductor: Simon Hogg
Last 10 Years:
2006: 12th (S. Hogg)
2005: 6th (S. Hogg)
2004: DNC
2003: 10th (S. Hogg)
2002: 15th
2001: DNC
2000: 13th
1999: 4th in Third Section (prom)
1998: Winners in Fourth Section (prom)
1997: DNC
University of Warwick Brass always bring plenty of enthusiasm to the contest stage although the band's recent Regional results have been somewhat up and down. Ex Fine Arts Brass, trombonist Simon Hogg is a fine musician and will have prepared the players well. On its day the band has both the ability and determination to do well and we would be surprised if they do not better last year's disappointing twelfth finish.
Wellington (Telford) Brass
Conductor: Stephen Curtis
Last 10 Years:
2006: Winners of Fourth Section (S. Curtis) (prom)
2005: 2nd (S. Curtis)
2004: 9th (S. Curtis)
2003: 17th (S. Curtis)
2002: 8th (S. Curtis)
2001: 11th (S. Curtis)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
It's great to see Wellington (Telford) Brass take its deserved place in the Third Section after a convincing rise through the Fourth to become Regional Champions last year. An exact mid table finish of eleventh at Harrogate was no disgrace for the band although no doubt they would have hoped to have achieved more. Stephen Curtis and his players will not be daunted by Darrol Barry's test piece and have the ability to continue their run of good form at this level.
WEM Jubilee
Conductor: Roger Thorne
Last 10 Years:
2006: DNC
2005: 10th (R. Thorne)
2004: 8th (R. Thorne)
2003: 4th (R. Thorne)
2002: Winners of Fourth Section (prom)
2001: 5th in Fourth Section
2000: 4th in Fourth Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: 4th in Fourth Section
A welcome return for WEM Jubilee following the band's absence last year and it is to be hoped that the band can recapture the kind of form that earned them a fourth place following their promotion from the Fourth Section in 2003. Roger Thorne and his players are going to be something of an unknown quantity until the day though and there will be a fair bit of interest in the hall as to how they get on.
Past Qualifiers:
2006: Long Eaton Silver, Leicester Co-op Snibston Charnwood, Moulton '77 Brass
2005: Phoenix West Midlands, Arrow Valley, Daventry
2004: Shirland Welfare Training, Stamford Brass, West Mercia Constabulary
2003: Daventry Brass, Carlton Brass, Audley Brass
2002: Raunds Temperance, Carlton Brass, Arrow Valley
2001: Brass 2000, Raunds Temperance
2000: Warwick University, Porthywaen
1999: Whaley Bridge, Chapel en le Frith
1998: RJB Brass, Charnwood
1997: Kirkby Colliery, Chapel en le Frith
1996: Whaley Bridge, Derwent Brass, Kirkby Colliery
1995: Whaley Bridge, Croft Silver, Derwent Brass
1994: Glossop Old, Bedworth Brass, South Notts Hussars
Midlands Bands at the Finals:
2006: 1st, 4th, 10th
2005: 2nd, 4th, 8th
2004: 5th, 8th, 9th
2003: 3rd, 11th, 18th
2002: 5th, 7th, 8th
2001: 3rd, 13th
2000: 8th, 9th
1999: 12th, 16th
1998: 11th, 12th
4BR Prediction:
With a field this even we don't envy the job of David Horsfield and Steve Pritchard-Jones in picking the winners. We are going to opt for Leicestershire Co-Op Snibston as the band have been so close to taking the title in the past.
Moulton 77 has also been serious contenders in recent years although beyond that there are a good handful of bands with previous form that could easily impress on the day.
Rushden Windmill have seen plenty of Third Section action in the past and could be a good bet to figure as our dark horse.
1. Leicestershire Co-Op Snibston Charnwood
2. Moulton 77 Brass
3. Matlock
4. City of Birmingham
5. Arrow Valley Brass
6. Wellington (Telford) Brass
Dark Horse: Rushden Windmill
