2009 North of England Regional Championship - Fourth Section - Runners & Riders

Its a tough old test of musical character in the Fourth, but who will find their way thought the minefield that is The Talisman to get to Harrogate?

Saturday 21st March
Adjudicator: Barry Thompson
Test Piece: The Talisman – Frank Hughes

Draw: 1.30pm
Commences: 3.30pm approx

Backworth Colliery
Conductor: Duncan Beckley

Last 13 Years:
2008: 12th (C. Harris)
2007: 7th in Third Section (D. Beckley) (rel)
2006: 7th (D. Beckley)
2005: Winners of Fourth Section (D. Beckley) (prom)
2004: 4th (T. Griffiths)
2003: 7th (T. Griffiths)
2002: 7th (T. Griffiths)
2001: 8th (T. Griffiths)
2000: DNC
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
 (Formerly called Five Rivers Brass until 2007)

Duncan Beckley will hope to use all his experience to get Backworth Colliery to Harrogate this year.

The band may need a bit of extra help too after coming 12th last year. The good news is that they have shown real form of late, winning at Durham late last year and then coming 3rd at Butlins. More of that and Harrogate will await.   

Bearpark and Esh
Conductor: V. Eckerman 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 3rd (V. Eckerman)
2007: 10th (V. Eckerman)
2006: 5th (A. Hall)
2005: 4th (A. Hall)
2004: 8th in Third Section (rel) (A. Hall)
2003: 9th (T. Minnis)
2002: 6th (B. Oxlee)
2001: 2nd in Fourth Section (J. Foxcroft) (prom)
2000: 3rd (A. Hall)
1999: Winners of Fourth Section
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

A return to top class form for Bearpark & Esh last year when the band posted their best result at the contst for seven years to just miss out on a trip to the Finals.

If they can just up their form from there then who knows, and the bonus of a finals appearance and possible promotion may be within their grasp.  

Craghead Colliery
Conductor: John Robson

Last 13 Years:
2008: 13th (J. Robson)
2007: 8th (J. Robson)
2006: 9th (J. Robson)
2005: DNC
2004: DNC
2003: 14th (R. Wallace)
2002: 4th
2001: 12th
2000: DIS
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

A famous old name is starting to flower nicely in the North East.

Craghead Colliery will want to push up the results table this year after coming 13th on their last appearance at Darlington, but with a host of young players and a talented MD at the helm, time is on their side.  

Kingsway Printers Cleethorpes
Conductor: S. Askew 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 9th (S. Askew)
2007: 9th (S. Askew)

Nothing if consistent, Kingsway has come 9th on both their appearances here in the past two years, so a move towards the top six will be the least of their ambitions.

They do have to up their form though from their Butlins appearance though where they didn’t quite do themselves justice in coming =17th.

Kirkby Lonsdale
Conductor: A. Greenwood 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 2nd (A. Greenwood)
2007: 3rd (A. Greenwood)
2006: 8th (A. Greenwood)
2005: 10th in Third Section (A. Greenwood) (rel)
2004: 9th (A. Greenwood)
2003: 6th in Fourth Section (A. Greenwood) (prom)
2002: 2nd (A. Greenwood)
2001: DNC
2000: 8th (A. Greenwood)
1999: N/K
1998: 6th in Third Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
One of the favourites perhaps for the title itelf?  

Since dropping down to the Fourth Section in 2006, the band has posted ever improving results, culminating last year in them coming runner up and heading for Harrogate where they came a hard earned 17th. That experience will have done them good though and a return trip may well be the least of their ambitions.   

Lanchester
Conductor: J. Fenwick 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 10th (J. Fenwick)
2007: DNC
2006: DNC
2005: DNC
2004: Withdrew (rel)
2003: 8th in Third Section (G. Tindall)
2002: 3rd (G. Tindall)
2001: 3rd (G. Tindall)
2000: 2nd in Fourth Section (G. Tindall) (prom)
1999: N/K
1998: 5th (G. Tindall)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Nice to see Lanchester making the return journey to Darlington again this year, and they certainly have a foundation to build on after coming a well earned 10th last year.

They came 7th at Durham late last year, so if they can build on that a possible top six spot may just be within reach.  

NASUWT Riverside Youth
Conductor: J. Bell

Last 13 Years:
2008: 11th (M. Humphrey)

What a great performance the youngsters of Riverside put on here last year. Never mind the result, the enthusiastic talent that was on display was a delight and a credit to the organisation.

More of the same we hope then, and who knows?  

Swinton and District Excelsior
Conductor: N. Sutherland

Last 13 Years:
2008: 8th (N. Sutherland)
2007: DNC
2006: 9th in Third Section (P. Carter) (rel)
2005: 9th (R. Rutter)
2004: 6th (R. Rutter)
2003: 6th (R. Rutter)
2002: 9th (R. Rutter)
2001: Winners 4th Section (R. Rutter) (prom)
2000: 5th (R. Rutter)
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Nice to report that Swinton will be returning here this year after they delivered a highly encouraging performance last year to come 8th.

If they have been able to build on that in the past twelve months then they too could be an outside bet for a top six place or even better.

Trimdon Concert
Conductor: B. Wright 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 5th (B. Wright)
2007: 7th (A. Holmes)
2006: 10th (A. Holmes)
2005: 6th (A. Holmes)
2004: 7th (A. Holmes)
2003: 12th (A. Holmes)
2002: 5th (G. Vardy)
2001: 10th (B. Wright)
2000: 13th (B. Wright)
1999: 2nd
1998: 10th
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
 
Trimdon have been making just the right solid steps in the right direction at this contest over the past few years.

From 10th in 2006 to 5th last year, their recent runner up spot at the Durham contest late last year could signal yet another move towards the top of the results table. 

Past Qualifiers: 

2008: South Milford, Kirkby Lonsdale Brass
2007: Flookburgh, Marske Brass
2006: Barton Town, Barnard Castle
2005: Five Rivers Brass, Dunston Silver
2004: Billingham Silver, Durham Constabulary
2003: Lockwood Brass, Ripon City
2002: Hetton Silver, Kirkby Lonsdale
2001: Swinton and District Excelsior, Bearpark and Esh
2000: Ferryhill Town, Lanchester
1999: Bearpark and Esh, Trimdon Concert
1998: Westoe (STHCT), Dearham
1997: Murton Colliery, Marske Brass
1996: Ovington Tyndale, Barrow Concert
1995: Kirkby Lonsdale, Ovington Tynedale   

North of England bands at the Finals: 

2008: 7th, 17th
2007: 6th, 14th
2006: 4th, 6th
2005: 14th, 15th
2004: 16th, 17th
2003: 5th, 20th
2002: 16th, 17th
2001: 8th, 15th
2000: 8th, 20th
1999: 8th, 9th
1998: 13th, 15th   

4BR Prediction: 

All the makings of a cracking contest if the bands have got to grips with the very difficult test piece. If not, then it could be a hard afternoon’s work seperating them out for Barry Thompson.

A few of the bands should fancy their chances though, with Backworth perhaps the pre contest favourites.

If they play to form then they should be the band to beat, whilst they could be joined at Harrogate by  Bearpark & Esh, with Trimdon, Kirkby Lonsdale, Swinton and Lanchester breathing down their necks. Our dark horse is the youngsters of Riverside Youth
 
1. Backworth Colliery
2. Bearpark & Esh
3. Trimdon
4. Kirkby Lonsdale
5. Swinton & District
6. Lanchester

Dark Horse: Riverside Youth

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