2007 Welsh Regional Championship - Second Section

This could be hard work for the bands here. A difficult test piece could cause a fair share of problems, but the Welsh always like a day out at the Carnivals.

Saturday 17th March
Adjudicator: Lloyd Landry
Test Piece: Carnival – Helen Perkin

Commences: After Section Three
Draw:  12.15pm  

Beaumaris B
Conductor: Gwyn Evans

Last 11 Years:
2006: Winners of Third Section (P. Hughes) (prom)
2005: DNC
2004: 3rd (P. Hughes)
2003: 6th (P. Hughes)
2002: DNC
2001: Winners of Third Section
2000: Winners of Fourth Section
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Beaumaris B could well be the band to beat here if all the rumours we hear are true. With the senior band not in the starting line up could they have benefited from some astute signings or not?

Wait and see on that, but truth is they are a very competent young band who were excellent value for their win in the Third Section last year and who went on to come 8th at Harrogate. Led by the excellent Gwyn Evans we are sure they will in the mix come what may on the weekend. 

Briton Ferry
Conductor: Dr. Christian Jenkins

Last 11 Years:
2006: 7th (C. Jenkins)
2005: 5th (C. Jenkins)
2004: 8th (M. Faro)
2003: 3rd (M. Faro)
2002: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (M. Faro)
2001: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom) (M. Faro)
2000: 7th (M. Faro)
1999: 7th
1998: N/K in Fourth Section
1997: N/K in Fourth Section
1996: N/K in Fourth Section

The talented Dr Christian Jenkins (the bloke who did a super new arrangement of Benvenuto Cellini) returns with Briton Ferry hoping that they can just reverse last year's result and start pushing once more for a podium place here once again. They were 2nd in this section at Treorchy late last year.

They weren't too far off the pace last year but they are up against some strong bands this weekend and they will have to play to top form if they are to secure a top six place at least.   

Holywell
Conductor: G. Thomas

Last 11 Years:
2006: 3rd in Third Section (G. Thomas) (prom)
2005: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom) (D. Davies)
2004: 5th (D. Davies)

Promoted up from the Third Section Holywell really started 2007 off in fine form by winning the Brass at the Guild Hall contest a month ago. More of that form and they could be looking to book themselves into accommodation or Harrogate for sure.

A band that has come a long way in a short space of time, you get the feeling that they haven't stopped yet and this weekend may see them add further silverware to the trophy cabinet. The rest of the field have been warned although they will have to perform better than they did at Pontins late last year when they came 17th.    

Lewis Merthyr
Conductor: Lyndon Price

Last 11 Years:
2006: 5th (L. Price)
2005: 4th (L. Price)
2004: 9th (B. Buckley)
2003: 7th (L. Harries)
2002: 4th (L. Harries)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: 8th in Championship Section (rel)
1997: 7th
1996: 4th in First Section (prom)

Lyndon Price continues to do excellent work with Lewis Merthyr and they are certainly a band that is moving in the right direction and who are not afraid to go looking for contesting challenges. They were 5th in this section at Treorchy late last year.

5th place last year was a touch disappointing perhaps but they showed at Butlins in January that they could more than hold their own against strong national competition when they came 10th. The time may be right fro them to claim a podium place at least.   

Newbridge Celynen
Conductor: Paul Holland

Last 11 Years:
2006: Winners (P. Holland)
2005: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (P. Holland)
2004: 4th (P. Holland)
2003: Winners of Third Section (P. Holland)
2002: 8th (K. Gibbs)
2001: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom) (K. Gibbs)
2000: 3rd in Fourth Section (D. Short)
1999: 8th in Fourth Section
1998: 12th (rel)
1997: 14th
1996: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)

Whereas there may not be too many Swansea bookies willing for you to put the mortgage on BAYV in the Championship Section, they may come out in a cold sweat if you mention Newbridge too.

Last years winners were excellent value for their victory and gave one of the best performances of a very difficult work of the whole regional championships. However, they came unstuck at the Finals where they came 3rd but met their match against a strong field of national representatives, so being a big fish in a little Principality pond shouldn't be taken for granted this time around either. Worth a few bob though nonetheless.  

Newtown Silver
Conductor: Steve Edwards

Last 11 Years:
2006: 4th (S. Edwards)
2005: Winners of Third Section (prom) (S. Edwards)
2004: Winners of Third Section (S. Edwards)
2003: 8th in Second Section (rel) (H. Gibb)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: 4th in Third Section (prom) (S. Edwards)
1999: 6th in Third Section
1998: 2nd in Third Section
1997: 10th (rel)
1996: 9th

Steve Edwards continues to do excellent work in the heartland of mid Wales with Newtown and after two successive victories in the Third Section really drew into the reserves to claim a well merited 4th place in the higher section last time out. Runners up at the National Eisteddfod and 2nd at the North Wales Contest.

More of the same would be a fine achievement, but you get the feeling that he is looking for something even better this time around. 

Rogerstone
Conductor: Brian Buckley

Last 11 Years:
2006: 7th in First Section (G. O'Connor) (rel)
2005: 9th (C. Thomas)
2004: 7th (C. Thomas)
2003: 4th (C. Thomas)
2002: 4th (C. Thomas)
2001: 4th (C. Thomas)
2000: Winners of Second Section (prom) (A. MacDonald)
1999: 5th in Second Section
1998: 5th in Second Section
1997: 3rd (rel)
1996: 8th

A famous name in Welsh banding, Rogerstone fell through the trap door from the First Section last year despite the very best efforts of the players and the talents of Graham O'Connor, who made the most of some limited resources at his disposal. They came 6th at Treorchy in the Fist Section and have a very good youth band in the making.

Hopefully they will have recovered from that and they have taken the step of teaming up with Brian Buckley, one of the most knowledgeable MD's around and a man who knows what is needed at this level. It could be an inspired move.  

Royal Buckley
Conductor: Paul Lovatt-Cooper

Last 11 Years:
2006: 7th (P. Lovatt-Cooper)
2005: 8th (S. Tighe)
2004: 2nd Third Section (G. Thomas) (prom)
2003: 5th (D. Roberts)
2002: 4th (D. Roberts)
2001: DNC
2000: 5th in Second Section (rel) (G. Thomas)
1999: 9th
1998: 6th
1997: 6th
1996: 3rd

Black Dyke percussionist and top composer Paul Lovatt-Cooper returns to Swansea this year with his Royal Buckley band and they will be determined to produce a better performance than they did last year when they came 7th. Winners of the Second Section at the North Wales Championship.

Recent form though is good, and they recovered from being placed 12th late last year at Pontins to coming 3rd at Brass at the Guild Hall in February. Is that a sign that they are up for the challenge her then?  

Tylorstown (Arriva Trains)
Conductor: Garry Davies

Last 11 Years:
2006: 2nd (G. Davies)
2005: 10th in First Section (rel) (L. Bowden)
2004: =8th (A. Morton)
2003: 3rd (L. Phillips)
2002: 8th (L. Phillips)
2001: 3rd (L. Phillips)
2000: 5th (L. Phillips)
1999: 7th
1998: 8th
1997: 5th
1996: 7th

Tylorstown will be looking for a repeat performance here this year after the heroics of 12 months ago when they booked their place at Harrogate with a brave and well managed account of a very difficult test piece. There they came 12th, which was a fair old return and promised much. 4th place at Treorchy in the Championship Section and National Eisteddfod Second Section Champions.

Gary Davies continues to impress with the baton and the former Cwmaman soprano player will certainly be up for this one – and so too we suspect will his band.  

Ynyshir (Stack of Tiles)
Conductor: G. Sheppard

Last 11 Years:
2006: 9th (D. Evans)
2005: 6th (A. MacDonald)
2004: 6th (A. Gibbs)
2003: 3rd in Third Section (prom) (A. Gibbs)
2002: 3rd (A. Gibbs)
2001: 7th (A. Gibbs)
2000: 9th (B. Williams)
1999: 2nd
1998: 11th
1997: 10th
1996: 6th

Ynyshir have bobbled about a bit results wise like a rugby ball on a frozen Cardiff Arms Park so they will be keen to improve on a disappointing 9th place last year and push themselves back towards another top six place at least. 7th in First Section at Treorchy.

Well led and with some cracking players in some of the solo seats they have it about them to do realty well – as long as the ball bounces nicely for them.

Past Qualifiers:
2006: Newbridge Celynen, Tylorstown
2005: Deiniolen, RAF St. Athan Voluntary
2004: Llanrug, Markham
2003: Llanrug, Penclawdd
2002: Penclawdd, Rhyl
2001: Royal Oakley, Ammanford Town
2000: Rogerstone, Rhyl
1999: RAF St. Athans, Pontardulais Town
1998: Pontardulais, Deiniolen
1997: Rhos, Treherbert and District
1996: Burry Port, Rhos
1995: Burry Port, Rhos 

Welsh bands at the Finals:
2006: 3rd, 12th
2005: 12th, 16th
2004: 4th, 16th
2003: 12th, 14th
2002: 10th, 17th
2001: 1st, 16th
2000: 13th, 14th
1999: 5th, 12th
1998: 5th, 10th  

4BR Prediction:

Only a smallish field for Lloyd Landry to enjoy, but we think he will do just that as there are a number of bands here who could well produce a corker on Miss Perkins difficult set work.

Of the ones that do stand out it is of course Newbridge that should be fancied the most, although they will be hard pressed by the likes of Beaumaris B and Tylorstown. Royal Buckley have shown good form of late and Lewis Merthyr and Newtown are more than capable of pushing their y into the qualification frame. Rogerstone are our dark horsey.

1. Newbridge Celynen
2. Beaumaris B
3. Tylorstown Arriva Trains
4. Royal Buckley
5. Lewis Merthyr
6. Newtown

Dark Horses: Rogerstone

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