2009 Yorkshire Regional Championship - Fourth Section: Runners & Riders

Just the 9 bands take to the stage on Sunday morning looking to see if they can master The Talisman and book a ticket to Harrogate.

Sunday 8th March
Adjudicators: David Horsfield & Roy Roe
Test Piece:  The Talisman – Frank Hughes 

Commences: 9.30am
Draw: 8.00am

Armthorpe Elmfield
Conductor: Haydn Griffiths MBE 

Last 12 Years:
2008: 4th (H. Griffiths)
2007: 10th in Third Section (H. Griffiths) (rel)
2006: 9th (H. Grifiths)
2005: 6th (H. Griffiths)
2004: 10th in Second Section (H. Griffiths) (rel)
2003: 11th (H. Griffiths)
2002: 5th in Third Section (H. Griffiths) (prom)
2001: Winners (H. Griffiths)
2000: 3rd (H. Griffiths)
1999: 13th
1998: 8th
1997: 12th in Second Section (rel)

Armthorpe Elmfield has experienced both the ups and the downs of contesting life under the baton of the great Haydn Griffiths over the years – winning the Third Section in 2001 and being relegated in 2007, to name but two.

Now they seem to be on the up once more and 4th place last year was a decent return. If they can just add a touch more to that level of performance they may well be looking forward to a trip to the National Finals for the first time since 2001.  

Deepcar
Conductor: Gavin Somerset

Last 12 Years:
2008: 10th (G. Somerset)

Deepcar return and it is great to see them back once more. They put on a cracking show last year – full of enthusiasm and talent.

The result didn’t go their way, but so what. One year older and one year’s more experience. A move up the results table may be on the cards. 

Friendly Band (Sowerby Bridge)
Conductor: Carol Caton 

Last 12 Years:
2008: 7th (C. Caton)
2007: 6th (C. Caton)
2006: 6th (C. Caton)
2005: 8th (C. Caton)
2004: 4th (C. Caton)
2003: 7th (C. Caton)
2002: 10th in Third Section (C. Caton) (rel)
2001: 9th (G. Hooper)
2000: 10th (G. Hooper)
1999: 6th in Fourth Section (prom)
1998: 3rd
1997: 11th in Third Section (rel)

Carol Caton continues to mould her band into a solid consistent contesting outfit, although they were a little off the pace last yar.

If they can up their form then a top six or push for the podium places could be just within their grasp.

Huddersfield & Ripponden
Conductor: Tony Jaeger-Fozard

Last 12 Years:
2008: 10th in Third Section (S. Platten) (rel)
2007: 9th (S. Platten)
2006: 7th (S. Platten)
2005: 5th (A. Holdsworth)
2004: 6th (A. Holdsworth)
2003: 10th in Second Section (I. Tiffany) (rel)
2002: 11th (S. Derrick)
2001: 11th (S. Derrick)
2000: 3rd (S. Bradnum)
1999: 9th
1998: 5th
1997: 2nd in Third Section (prom)

After a long and hard old battle in recent years, Huddersfield &  Ripponden fell through the trap door after coming 10th on their last outing here.

The MD will want to ensure that they can now build towards a return to better days and that starts here on the weekend. We wish them luck.    

Linthwaite
Conductor: C. Askew

Last 12 Years:
2008: 9th (D. Smith)
2007: 4th (J. Hunter)
2006: 8th (O. Wedgewood)
2005: 7th (O. Wedgewood)
2004: 6th (S. Platten)
2003: 5th (S. Platten)
2002: Winners (S. Platten)
2001: 5th (S. Platten)
2000: 9th (S. Platten)
1999: 9th (S. Platten)
1998: DNC (rel)
1997: 14th in Third Section

A third new MD in as many years for Linthwaite as they seek to repeat that win of 2002.

Last year they were a bit off the pace and they didn’t really set the world on fire at Butlins recently – coming 16th against a strong field of rivals.  They will need to up their form a bit from there of they are to return to winning ways. 

Maltby Miners Welfare
Conductor: Terry Clifford

Last 12 Years:
2008: 3rd (T. Clifford)
2007: 11th in Third Section (T. Clifford) (rel)
2006: 8th (T. Clifford)
2005: 9th (T. Clifford)
2004: 4th (T. Clifford)
2003: 7th (T. Clifford)
2002: 11th (T. Clifford)
2001: 2nd in Fourth Section (T. Clifford) (prom)
2000: 6th (T. Clifford)
1999: Winners of Fourth Section
1998: 8th in Fourth Section
1997: 8th in Fourth Section

Terry Clifford and Maltby Miners just missed out on a trip to Harrogate last year when they came 3rd.

Since then they have started the 2009 season in fine form with a cracking 4th place at Butlins. More of that and the B&B brochures for Harrogate will be out.  

Thurcroft Welfare
Conductor: Ken Vernon

Last 12 Years:
2008: 6th (K. Vernon)
2007: 10th (A. White)
2006: 9th (A. White)
2005: 12th (D. Hilling)
2004: 8th (O. Wedgewood)
2003: 8th (M. Battersby)
2002: 7th (P. Dickens)
2001: 9th (P. Dickens)
2000: 12th in Third Section (P. Chapman) (rel)
1999: 11th
1998: 4th in Fourth Section (prom)
1997: 3rd

It’s been a bit up and down in terms of consistency for Thurcroft over the past few years, although they were not too far off the pace in coming 6th last year.

9th place at Butlins was a decent result though and if they can just up their form a touch another top six place or even better could be theirs.  

Wilsden
Conductor: Ken Lee 

Last 12 Years:
Debut

Always great news to report a band making a debut or returning to the contesting scene, and Wilsden are just one of those.

For over 25 years they have been a community based band in West Yorkshire, but in the last few years they have become something of a dynamic force – with a real vibrant feel about the organisation which is busy and growing.

Ken Lee has been at the helm for the last three years and brings the band here for the first time. We hope it’s the first of many more appearances to come. 

Worsbrough Brass
Conductor: John K Hopkinson

Last 12 Years:
Debut

Another new band to come to the contest, Worsbrough hails from the Barnsley area and was formed in 1993.

Since then they have been an important part of the local community and play a major role in the local music festival. They have competed at the Whit Fridays before, but we believe this to be their first time on the contesting stage.

Again – hopefully the first of many more to come under the baton of the experienced John Hopkinson. 

Past Qualifiers:

2008: Lofthouse 2000, Skelmanthorpe B
2007: Crofton Silver, Innovate Skelmanthorpe B
2006: Dodworth MW Colliery, Emley Brass
2005: Gawthorpe Brass, Garforth Community
2004: Grange Moor, Gawthorpe Brass
2003: Dinnington Colliery, Grange Moor
2002: Linthwaite, Emley Brass
2001: Clifton and Lightcliffe, Maltby Miners Welfare
2000: Wetherby and District, Oughtibridge
1999: Maltby Miners, Yorkshire Traction
1998: Stanley Newmarket Coll, Yorkshire Traction
1997: Gawthorpe Brass '85, Walkley Clogs Hebden Bridge
1996: Gawthorpe Brass '85, Sheffield Youth
1995: Elland Silver, Todmorden Old
 

Yorkshire bands at the Finals: 

2008: 12th, 13th
2007: 3rd, 5th
2006: 1st, 12th
2005: 2nd, 3rd
2004: 3rd, 6th
2003: 3rd, 11th
2002: 11th, 21st
2001: 10th, 11th
2000: 13th, 14th
1999: 2nd, 17th
1998: 7th, 17th  

4BR Prediction: 

A hard one to call – but we’ll try nonetheless!

If Maltby can show the form they did at Butlins then they could be the band to beat, whilst Thurcroft could well push them all the way too.

Then its anyone’s guess, but we think Armthorpe Elmfield, Huddersfield & Ripponden, Friendly Band and Linthwaite could have a bit of a battle amongst themselves.

Our dark horse is Wilsden, who may well top the lot!

1. Maltby Miners
2. Thurcroft
3. Armthorpe Elmfield
4. Huudersfield & Ripponden
5. Friendly Band (Sowerby Bride)
6. Linthwaite

Dark Horse: Wilsden

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