2009 Yorkshire Regional Championship - Championship Section: Runners & Riders
2-Mar-2009A great contest in prospect as Black Dyke look to defend their title on Salute to Youth.
Sunday 8th March
Adjudicators: Nigel Boddice & Steve Sykes
Test Piece: Salute to Youth – Gilbert Vinter
Commences: 5.30pm
Draw: 3.30pm
Black Dyke
Conductor: Dr. Nicholas Childs
4BR Ranking: 4
Last 12 Years:
2008: Winners (N. Childs)
2007: 3rd (N. Childs)
2006: 2nd (N. Childs)
2005: 2nd (N. Childs)
2004: 2nd (N. Childs)
2003: 13th (N. Childs)
2002: Winners (N. Childs)
2001: Winners (N. Childs)
2000: 3rd (J. Watson)
1999: 7th
1998: Winners
1997: 5th
The National Champions will be looking to start their season off with a win in their own back yard, and they will surely be favourites to do just that.
With qualification already in the bag and with a settled line up of players, the MD can allow himself a little bit of leeway to stamp the band’s authority on its rivals. It will be hard to see them being beaten if they play to form and they have of course tasted success on this piece before – at the British Open in 1985.
Brighouse & Rastrick
Conductor: Garry Cutt
4BR Ranking: 5
Last 12 Years:
2008: 5th (A. Morrison)
2007: Winners (A. Morrison)
2006: 5th (J. Gourlay)
2005: 4th (J. Gourlay)
2004: 3rd (J. Gourlay)
2003: Winners (I. McElligott)
2002: 3rd (A. Withington)
2001: 3rd (A. Withington)
2000: 5th (A. Withington)
1999: 2nd
1998: 7th
1997: Winners
What an interesting combination this could turn out to be. Garry Cutt has taken the band at Bradford before – way back in 1990, when they came 6th, so they will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself.
That said, Mr Cutt was perhaps the only MD at the recent Festival of Brass in Manchester to really get to the heart of Vinter’s writing, so this has possibilites of being something special. It may need to be against this opposition if they are to get to London.
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
Conductor: Russell Gray
4BR Ranking: 10
Last 12 Years:
2008: 3rd (R. Gray)
2007: 4th (R. Gray)
2006: 7th (A. Ramsay)
2005: 8th (B. Grant)
2004: 8th (W. Rushworth)
2003: 10th (W. Rushworth)
2002: 9th (J. Hinckley)
2001: 10th (J. Hinckley)
2000: 10th (J. Hinckley)
1999: Winners
1998: 9th
1997: 4th
Carlton Main come to the contest knowing that they are not burdened by the added pressure of having to qualify for London – their 4th place at the Royal Albert Hall sort to that.
That could mean Russell Gray really drawing deep into the musical well for inspiration then, and with some pretty talented players in the right positions, that could bode well too. They will have to up their game though from Butlins where they came a disappointing 6th.
Grimethorpe Colliery
Conductor: Allan Withington
4BR Ranking: 2
Last 12 Years:
2008: 2nd (A. Withington)
2007: 8th (A. Withington)
2006: Winners (A. Withington)
2005: Winners (R. Evans)
2004: 5th (F. Renton)
2003: 5th (J. Gourlay)
2002: 2nd (J. Gourlay)
2001: 4th (G. Cutt)
2000: 2nd (G. Cutt)
1999: DNC
1998: 3rd
1997: DNC
Now then. All eyes will be on Grimethorpe for certain. Players have come and gone, changes have been made and appointments rubber stamped in a hectic period of flux for the band.
However, one thing remains constant – class. From the man in the middle down, Grimethorpe still have it in spades, and if they have been able to harness all the new disparate parts then they will surely be heading back to London – but maybe not as Yorkshire champions.
Hammonds Saltaire
Conductor: Morgan Griffiths
4BR Ranking: 11
Last 12 Years:
2008: 8th (M. Griffiths)
2007: 11th (A. Ramsay)
2006: 3rd (D. King)
2005: 3rd (D. King)
2004: Winners (D. King)
2003: 6th (D. King)
2002: 4th (D. King)
2001: 2nd (D. King)
2000: Winners (D. King)
1999: 6th
1998: 2nd
1997: 3rd
1996: DNC
Another top Yorkshire band that has gone through a period of player flux and identity reinvention. The former artist known as YBS is now Hammonds Saltaire – a respectful nod towards its historical beginnings.
What the ‘new’ band will bring to Bradford is anyone’s guess, but there were signs throughout 2008 that they were getting back on a stable track. Not quite the stuff of champions just yet, but an outside bet for a London quaification place.
Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
Conductor: Ian Porthouse
4BR Ranking: 18
Last 12 Years:
2008: 9th (M. Bentham)
2007: 2nd (M. Bentham)
2006: 6th (M. Bentham)
2005: 5th (M. Bentham)
2004: 9th (M. Bentham)
2003: 11th (M. Bentham)
2002: 5th (M. Bentham)
2001: 9th (A. Duncan)
2000: 9th (N. Law)
1999: 5th
1998: 5th in First Section (prom)
1997: 3rd
One band’s gain is another band’s loss and the move of principal cornet player Rob Westacott to Grimethorpe would have been keenly felt by Hepworth.
That said, they have acted swfitly to get a high class replacement in the shape of Leon Renilson, whilst the band itelf was in pretty impressive shape at Butlins, where they came within a whisker of taking the title. Another band with an eye on a qualification place.
Marsden Silver (Ossett Brass)
Conductor: Glyn Williams
4BR Ranking: 65
Last 12 Years:
2008: 6th (G. Williams)
2007: 12th (G. Williams)
2006: 2nd in First Section (G. Willlams) (prom)
2005: 3rd (G. Williams)
2004: 6th (A. Widdop)
2003: 14th in Championship Section (A. Widdop) (rel)
2002: 15th (A. Widdop)
2001: 5th in First Section (A. Widdop) (prom)
2000: 3rd (A. Widdop)
1999: 6th in Second Section (prom)
1998: 3rd
1997: Winners of Third Section (prom)
6th place last year was a fantastic achievement for Marsden and GlynWilliams. Both parties have been revitalised of late and that form may well continue here.
That said, they were a little off the pace at Pontins late last year in coming 8th and they will know they are up against a much higher class of rivals here. Another mention off the stage come the results will be a fine achievement once more.
Powerfuel Hatfield
Conductor: Graham O'Connor
4BR Ranking: 60
Last 12 Years:
2008: 11th (G. O’Connor)
2007: 5th (G. O’Connor)
2006: 9th (G. O'Connor)
2005: Winners of First Section (G. O'Connor) (prom)
2004: Winners (G. O'Connor)
2003: 2nd in Second Section (G. O'Connor) (prom)
2002: 5th (G. O'Connor)
2001: 7th (G. O'Connor)
2000: Winners of Third Section (G. O'Connor) (prom)
1999: 8th (rel)
1998: 6th
1997: 11th
Powerfuel struggled to make an impression last year and will know that they cannot afford another lowly placing if they are to fend off the possibility of having a relegation fight on their hands.
Graham O’Connor though has bags of experience on works such as this, and will fancy his chances of doing well, especially if they show the type of form they did in coming 3rd at Pontins late last season.
Rothwell Temperance
Conductor: David Roberts
4BR Ranking: 17
Last 12 Years:
2008: 4th (D. Roberts)
2007: 7th (D. Roberts)
2006: 4th (D. Roberts)
2005: 7th (D. Roberts)
2004: 6th (D. Roberts)
2003: 4th (D. Roberts)
2002: 7th (D. Roberts)
2001: 8th (D. Roberts)
2000: 8th (D. Roberts)
1999: 3rd
1998: Winners of First Section
1997: 2nd in First Section
Never write off Rothwell. Just look at their record here over the last few years and you can see why.
Last year they were fine value for their qualifiaction place and went on to show their class at the Finals – coming 6th. More of that (and they have the players to shine on this piece) and another trip to the Royal Albert Hall will be on the cards for one of the most under rated bands around.
Skelmanthorpe
Conductor: John Roberts
4BR Ranking: 49
Last 12 Years:
2008: Winners of First Section (J. Roberts) (prom)
2007: 3rd (J. Roberts)
2006: 13th in Championship Section (A. Exely) (rel)
2005: 12th (J. Hinckley)
2004: 10th (K. Wadsworth)
2003: 7th (K. Wadsworth)
2002: 11th (K. Wadsworth)
2001: 5th (K. Wadsworth)
2000: 11th (S. Fawcett)
1999: 3rd in First Section (prom)
1998: 4th in First Section
1997: 6th in First Section
A huge step up in class for Skelmanthorpe, although you get the feeling that they have the ability to more than survive at this level after two years in the First Section where John Roberts moulded them into a very competent contesting outfit.
Now comes the acid test, and with 4th place at Pontins in the First Section turned into a hard working 11th place at Butlins in the top section in just a couple of months you feel they may be OK.
Stannington Brass
Conductor: Derek Renshaw
4BR Ranking: 126
Last 12 Years:
2008: 2nd in First Section (D. Renshaw) (prom)
2007: 7th (D. Renshaw)
2006: 3rd (D. Renshaw)
2005: 7th (R. Morgan)
2004: 8th (R. Gray)
2003: 7th (J. Hopkinson)
2002: 7th (J. Hopkinson)
2001: 6th in Second Section (prom) (J. Hopkinson)
2000: 5th (J. Hopkinson)
1999: 2nd
1998: 11th
1997: 5th
The rise of Stannington to the ChampionshipSection level has taken time, but will surely be well worth it.
The vastly experienced Derek Renshaw will know that this is a huge step up in class from the First Section (the band came 10th at Harrogate last year) and he will also know they will have to play out of their skins to make a mark. It will be hard, but don’t bet against them surprising a few.
Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
Conductor: Richard Evans
4BR Ranking: 44
Last 12 Years:
2008: 10th (J. Davies)
2007: 6th (R. Farr)
2006: 10th (R. Curran)
2005: 2nd in First Section (C. Houlding) (prom)
2004: 13th Championship Section (D. Evans) (rel)
2003: 9th (D. Evans)
2002: 8th (D. Evans)
2001: 7th (T. Wyss)
2000: 7th (T. Wyss)
1999: 8th
1998: 5th
1997: 10th
Richard Evans returns to Yorkshire in more ways than one. Age doesn’t weary class, but he will know that he may find winning another Yorkshire Area title is bit harder to do this year than it was when he directed Grimethorpe to the title a few years back.
Imps are solid and hard working, but they came 8th at the Scotish Open (under the MD) and 9th at Butlins, so they will have to be on top form if they are to make a mark this year and not drop through the relegation trap door.
Past Qualifiers:
2008: Black Dyke*, Grimethorpe Colliery*, Carlton Main, Rothwell Temperance
2007: Brighouse & Rastrick, Hepworth (Lanson Homes), Black Dyke*, Grimethorpe Colliery*, YBS*
2006: Grimethorpe Colliery*, Black Dyke*, YBS, Rothwell Temperance
2005: Grimethorpe Colliery, Black Dyke*, YBS*, Brighouse and Rastrick
2004: Yorkshire Building Society, Black Dyke*, Brighouse and Rastrick*
2003: Brighouse and Rastrick, Asda Stocksbridge, Black Dyke*
2002: Black Dyke*, Grimethorpe, Brighouse and Rastrick, YBS*
2001: Black Dyke, YBS, Brighouse and Rastrick*
2000: YBS, Grimethorpe Colliery, Brighouse and Rastrick*
1999: Carlton Main, Rothwell Temperance, Brighouse and Rastrick*, YBS*
1998: Black Dyke, YBS, Brighouse and Rastrick*
1997: Brighouse and Rastrick, Wallace Arnold Rothwell, Grimethorpe*
1996: Grimethorpe Colliery, Brighouse and Rastrick, Black Dyke*, YBS*
1995: Brighouse and Rastrick, Sellers Engineering, Black Dyke*, Brighouse and Rastrick*
1994: YBS, Black Dyke
1993: DUT Yorkshire Imperial, British Steel Dodworth, Grimethorpe Colliery*
1992: Brighouse and Rastrick, Grimethorpe Colliery
1991: Grimethorpe Colliery, Stocksbridge Engineering, IMI Yorkshire Imperial
1990: Black Dyke, Sellers Engineering, Stocksbridge Engineering
1989: Brighouse and Rastrick, Black Dyke, Grimethorpe Colliery
*Pre Qualified
How Yorkshire bands did in London:
2008: 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th
2007: 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 16th
2006: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 14th
2005: 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th
2004: 1st, 2nd, 14th
2003: 4th, 6th, 13th
2002: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th
2001: 1st, 3rd, 11th
2000: 4th, 10th, 17th
1999: 2nd, 6th, 8th, 17th
1998: 1st, 2nd, 5th
1997: 1st, 7th, 15th
1996: 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th
1995: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th
1994: 1st, 3rd
1993: 4th 7th, 14th
4BR Prediction:
What a contest we could have in store. All sorts of goings on, rumours and gossip as usual, but that will all be irrelevant come Sunday evening.
Black Dyke are short priced favourites and deservedly so – they are an oasis of stability in comparison to other rivals it seems, and they should have the quality to show just that if they hit form.
Brighouse seem to be the band we think could push them all the way this year, with Grimethorpe picking up the other qualification spot on offer. A relaxed Carlton Main should show up well we think once more, with Rothwell and Hepworth waiting to pounce if any of them making their slightest of slips. Our dark horse is Hammonds.
1. Black Dyke*
2. Brighouse & Rastrick
3. Grimethorpe Colliery
4. Carlton Main*
5. Rothwell Temperance
6. Hepworth (Cookson Homes)
Dark Horses: Hammonds Saltaire
*Pre-qualified
