2007 London and Southern Counties Regional Championship - Second Section

This is a difficult one – and we are not just talking about the test piece either. Who will get the nod from Philip Harper and be in the Carnival mood at the results?

Saturday 17th March
Adjudicator: Philip Harper
Test Piece: Carnival - Helen Perkin

Commences: 10.00am
Draw:  9.00am

Betteshanger Welfare
Conductor: T. Vinall

Last 11 Years:
2006: 5th (D. Burridge)
2005: 8th (D. Burridge)
2004: 6th (D. Burridge)
2003: 14th (D. Burridge)
2002: 16th in First Section (K. Dennison) (rel)
2001: 8th (K. Dennison)
2000: 13th (G. Harvey)
1999: 11th
1998: 8th
1997: N/K
1996: 3rd

Betteshanger are getting back to the kind of form here that saw them compete in the First Section in 2002. They were 5th last year and started this contest season by coming 15th at Butlins. They may need to up their game if they are to repeat their result from 12 months ago. 

Capital Concert Brass
Conductor: J. Morahan

Last 11 Years:
2006: 15th (J. Moraham)
2005: 7th (J. Morahan)
2004: 7th (D. Muir)
2003: 11th (D. Muir)
2002: 14th in First Section (E. Campbell) (rel)
2001: DNC

Capital Concert had started to look like things were on the up but then Images of the Millennium brought them a lowly 15th last year (although they were not alone in that around the country).  They'll want the 2005 form back for sure to save them from a potential drop. Odds are they should be pushing for a top six place again though.  

Cawston
Conductor: Colin Swaep

Last 11 Years:
2006: 10th (C. Swaep)
2005: 3rd (C. Swaep)
2004: 12th (C. Sweap)
2003: 4th (G. Barber)
2002: 9th (C. Swaep)
2001: 10th (A. Broadbent)
2000: 3rd (A. Broadbent)
1999: 11th
1998: 5th in Third Section (prom)
1997: N/K
1996: 3rd in Third Section

Cawston suffered the same fate as Capitol Concert Brass last although not quite to the same extent and they had been a bit up and down in consistency.  They finished also struggled a little at Butlins, coming 14th, so they'll be looking for improvement here too. 

Chichester City
Conductor: J. Williams

Last 11 Years:
2006: 13th in First Section (rel) (L.Bulchart)
2005: 12th (D. Hirst)
2004: 13th (J. Williams)
2003: 9th (J. Williams)
2002: 3rd (J. Williams)
2001: 14th (J. Williams)
2000: 2nd in Second Section (J. Williams) (prom)
1999: 5th in Second Section
1998: 7th in Third Section (prom)
1997: 2nd in Third Section
1996: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom)

Chichester come back into the Second Section for the first time since 2000 and they'll be looking to bounce back.  Their form here was tough going in their last three years in the First Section after suh a promising start. They should feel that they should be in with a chance here so a much needed morale boost could be on the cards.

Chinnor
Conductor: D. Pegram

Last 11 Years:
2006: 3rd in Third Section (prom) (D.Pegram)
2005: 10th (D. Pegram)
2004: 2nd (D. Pegram)
2003: 8th (D. Pegram)
2002: 12th (D. Williams)
2001: 10th (D. Pegram)
2000: 15th in Second Section (D. Williams) (rel)
1999: 12th in Second Section
1998: 14th in Second Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 2nd

Chinnor are on the up and are back in the Second Section for the first time since 2000.  It's going to be interesting to see how it goes for them though as Butlins was a baptism of fire in finishing 13th.  That was against a strong field though ad the experience would surely have done them no harm at all. The benefits could be seen here. 

East London Brass
Conductor: D. Shead

Last 11 Years:
2006: 6th (D. Shead)
2005: 5th (S. Earley)
2004: 8th (S. Earley)
2003: 7th in Third Section (prom) (S. Early)
2002: 3rd (A. Caldon)

Prior to this they competed as Waltham Forest Co-op Band.

East London Brass has been pretty consistent in this section in recent years so they know they can cut it.  Ideally, now is the time to push on and see if they can get into the top four and a possible trip to Harrogate.  Yes, they struggled at Butlins where they ended up in 16th place, but at least they can say they got their one bad result of the season out of the way sharpish – fingers crossed!  

Egham
Conductor: G. Green

Last 11 Years:
2006: 3rd (G. Green)
2005: 11th in First Section (rel) (G. Green)
2004: 17th (G. Green)
2003: 8th (G. Green)
2002: 6th (G. Green)
2001: 6th (G. Green)
2000: 9th (G. Green)
1999: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1998: 5th in Second Section
1997: N/K
1996: 7th in Second Section

Egham bounced back last year here with 3rd place having come down from the First Section – and it was touch and go with a qualification place.  Hopefully for them they'll maintain the same sort of form this year, get to Harrogate and go back up.  A good 6th place at Butlins shows they're in reasonable form, and they could be one of the bands to beat. 

Epping Forest
Conductor: M. Easener

Last 11 Years:
2006: 4th (M. Easener)
2005: 6th (M. Easener)
2004: 16th in First Section (M. Easener) (rel)
2003: 13th (M. Easener)
2002: 12th
2001: 10th
2000: 14th
1999: 6th in Second Section (prom)
1998: 4th in Second Section
1997: 4th in Third Section
1996: 9th in Third Section

Epping may have been relegated in 2004, but have stabilized their position in this section and in the past two years have been building solidly towards a qualification place and promotion. If that rebuilding has carried on in the last couple of months they too will fancy their chances of booking into B&B in Harrogate in September. 

Fairlop Brass
Conductor: K. Jordan

Last 11 Years:
2006: 13th (K. Jordan)
2005: 13th in First Section (rel) (K. Jordan)
2004: 11th (K. Jordan)
2003: 13th (K. Jordan)
2002: 7th (K. Jordan)
2001: 12th (K. Jordan)
2000: 6th (K. Jordan)
1999: 10th
1998: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1997: 2nd in Second Section
1996: 12th in Second Section

Fairlop have struggled on their trips to Stevenage of late, finishing 13th two years running in two separate sections.  Another lowly finish could see them fall down another section which wouldn't be good at all and the hope is that they have hit the bottom rung of the barrel and are now working heir way back up. It could well start here.

Grimsdyke Brass
Conductor: S. Broughall

Last 11 Years:
2006: 9th (S. Broughall)
2005: 5th (S. Broughall)
2004: 4th (S. Broughall)
2003: Withdrew (rel) (K. Ransom)
2002: DIS
2001: 7th (K. Ransom)
2000: 6th (K. Ransom)
1999: 9th
1998: 16th in First Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 5th

Having withdrawn in 2003, Grimsdyke have done well in Section Two with some impressive results, although last year they dipped a touch to come 9th. They have show over the years though that they are more than solid enough to hold their own, so could this be he year in which they push for a top six place? 

Hitchin
Conductor: Ian Graves

Last 11 Years:
2006: 14th (I. Graves)
2005: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (M. Hurrell)
2004: 10th (G. Carney)
2003: 5th (G. Carney)
2002: 7th (G. Carney)
2001: 9th (G. Carney)
2000: 13th in Second Section (G. Carney)  (rel)
1999: 15th in Second Section (G. Carney)
1998: 9th in Second Section  (G. Carney)
1997: 10th in Second Section (B. Rumford)
1996: 14th in First Section (rel) (A. Widger)

Hitchin are a band who went into Section Two on the euphoria of promotion but found it tough going last year finishing 14th (Although, they were not alone were they?)  They were a touch unlucky at Butlins in January where they came 17th and picked up the wooden spoon so hopefully they won't be doing that here. 

Norfolk Wherry Brass
Conductor: G. Barber

Last 11 Years:
2006: Winners of Third Section (prom) (A. Craze)
2005: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (A. Craze) 

Great to report that Norfolk Wherry continues to go from strength to strength and they come here looking for a hat trick. Norfolk Wherry won the Fourth Section in some style here in 2005 and did the business once more last year, going onto Harrogate to gain a solid 9th place off an early draw and against strong opposition. Ones to look out for? 

Tilbury
Conductor: Rob Nunnery

Last 11 Years:
2006: 7th (R. Nunnery)
2005: 10th (R. Nunnery)
2004: 14th in First Section (R. Nunnery) (rel)
2003: Withdrew
2002: 10th
2001: Winners of Second Section (prom)
2000: 4th in Second Section
1999: 13th (rel)
1998: 15th
1997: N/K
1996: 6th

Tilbury have improved their results in the past two years in the Second Section after their relegation in 2004. Rob Nunnery continues to build a solid band here that has the ability to push this year for a qualification place.    

Ware Brass
Conductor: P. Littlemore

Last 11 Years:
2006: 11th (K. Durbin)
2005: 11th (K. Durbin)
2004: 5th (K. Durbin)
2003: Winners of Third Section (prom) (K. Durbin)
2002: 4th in Fourth Section (K. Durbin) (prom)
2001: 3rd in Fourth Section (K. Durbin)
2000: 18th in Fourth Section (K. Durbin)
1999: 16th (rel)
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 9th

Two 11th places in the past two years is perhaps an indication that Ware have found life in this section tough going at times and they need a result this weekend.  If it gels for them though, they've enough within them to put on a good show and its nice to see the talented Philip Littlemore at the helm – someone who has plenty of experience, a fine pedigree and a national title to his name too. He will come in handy then. 

Yiewsley and West Drayton
Conductor: C. Cole

Last 11 Years:
2006: 12th (C. Cole)
2005: 9th (C. Cole)
2004: 3rd (C. Cole)
2003: 12th (C. Cole)
2002: 2nd in Third Section (C. Cole) (prom)
2001: 7th in Fourth Section (C. Cole) (prom)
2000: 15th in Fourth Section (C. Cole)
1999: 5th in Fourth Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Yiewsley are in a bit of a similar position to Ware and have slipped off the pace since they finished in third place in 2004.  Like other bands, we suspect they're more than capable of doing well here - its just they found Images outside their comfort zone last year like many others. An encouraging 9th place at Butlins may have given them a nice early season boost that they can bring here too. 

Past Qualifiers:
2006: Jersey Premier Brass, Denham Hendon Brass
2005: Sandhurst Silver, Horsham Borough
2004: Becontree Brass, St Albans City
2003: Wantage Silver, Broseley Brass, Brighton Silver
2002: Northfleet Brass, Becontree Brass
2001: Tilbury, Stonesfield Silver
2000: City of Cambridge, Chichester City
1999: Thames, Egham Band
1998: Welwyn Garden, Fairlop Brass
1997: Brighton Silver, Fairlop Brass
1996: Hanwell, Haverhill Silver
1995: Soham Comrades, Hatfields of Colchester 

London bands at the Finals:
2006: 8th, 13th
2005: 5th, 10th
2004: 5th, 15th
2003: 9th, 10th, 13th
2002: 11th, 13th
2001: 10th, 14th
2000: 8th, 16th
1999: 14th, 17th
1998: 7th, 12th  

4BR Prediction:

The Second Section isn't the only contest in Stevenage that's going to be tough to call, but it could be the one that causes the most problems for the judge – bands haven't been finding the style of this music to their liking at all. Any number of bands could be in the mix for Carnival isn't easy, although it isn't as hard as Images of the Millennium. 

With Jersey and Denham promoted, a new name will feature as champion and runners up. Egham, Epping Forest, Bettshanger and Chinnor all fancying their chances and don't discount Norfolk Wherry Brass going for a hat-trick of wins from Section 4-2 inclusive. Our dark horse are Tilbury.

1. Egham
2. Norfolk Wherry
3. Epping Forest
4. Yiewsley and West Drayton
5. Bettshanger
6. Chinnor

Dark Horses: Tilbury

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