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

Just six bands looking to seek a trip to Harrogate courtesy of Dan Prices musical journey through the USA

Sunday 22nd March
Adjudicator: Richard Evans
Test Piece: New World Sketches – Dan Price

Draw: 11.00am
Commences: 1.10pm approx   

Cockerton Prize Silver
Conductor: G. Nicklin

Last 13 Years:
2008: 6th (G. Nicklin)
2007: 2nd (G. Nicklin)
2006: 3rd (G. Nicklin)
2005: 5th (G. Catherall)
2004: 7th (A. Taylor)
2003: 7th (G. Catherall)
2002: 2nd (G. Catherall)
2001: 6th (C. Lawn)
2000: 6th (C. Lawn)
1999: N/K
1998: 8th in First Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 2nd

Cockerton just fell away last year after posting two fine performances in previous seasons to take podium places.

They will be looking for a return to possible Harrogate qualification form, and after they came runner up at the Durham contest late last year they should be confident of doing just that.  

Dearham
Conductor: G. Williams 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 3rd (G. Williams)
2007: 6th (M. Condron)
2006: 4th in Third Section (M. Condron) (prom)
2005: Winners of Third Section (M. Condron)
2004: 7th (M. Condron)
2003: 8th (M. Condron)
2002: 7th (J. Ireland)
2001: 3rd in Fourth Section (J. Ireland) (prom)
2000: 4th (S. Tighe)
1999: N/K
1998: 2nd
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

3rd place last year was the fifth consecutive year Dearham has posted ever improving results at Darlington, and if they are able to do it again this time around a trip to Harrogate for the first time since 2005 will be well within their grasp.

They have been busy on the contesting stage, posting 13th place at Pontins late last year and 15th at Brass at the Guild Hall earlier in the season. They need something a bit better than that here then. 

Durham Constabulary
Conductor: K. McDonald 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 9th (K. McDonald)
2007: 4th (K. McDonald)
2006: Winners of Third Section (K. McDonald) (prom)
2005: 3rd in Fourth Section (K. MacDonald) (prom)
2004: 2nd (K. McDonald)
2003: 8th (K. McDonald)
2002: 14th in Third Section (P. Cuff) (rel)
2001: DNC
2000: 10th in Third Section (P. Gommersall)
1999: N/K
1998: 4th
1997: N/K

The lads and lasses of Durham Constabulary will have to up their contesting form on the weekend of they are to avoid any possible relegation problems after coming 9th last year.

They have shown that they are more than capable of doing just that after coming 4th in 2007, so it may be a question of wait and see as they haven’t posted any contesting results of late.   

Flookburgh
Conductor: John Iveson

Last 13 Years:
2008: Winners of Third Section (J. Iveson) (prom)
2007: Winners of Fourth Section (J. Iveson) (prom)
2006: DNC (rel)
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: DNC (rel)
2003: 3rd in First Section (J. Iveson)
2002: 10th (J. Iveson)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: 4th
1998: 3rd
1997: 4th
1996: N/K

What a return to the banding scene for Flookburgh in the last two years. John Iveson has done a wonderful job with the band and both wins were well deseved.

Last year they went on to post a well earned 6th place at Harrogate too, so they could well be a band to watch out for again. 

Houghton Brass
Conductor: H. Smith

Last 13 Years:
2008: 5th (M. Bousie)
2007: 8th in First Section (T. Gibson) (rel)
2006: 6th (T. Gibson)
2005: 11th (T. Gibson)
2004: 3rd in Second Section (T. Gibson) (prom)
2003: 2nd (T. Gibson)
2002: Winners of Third Section (T. Gibson) (prom)
2001: 4th (T. Gibson)
2000: 5th (T. Gibson)
1999: N/K
1998: 10th in Second Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Houghton was a bit unlucky last year when they came 5th under the baton of euphonium star Mark Bousie.

Many people felt that they deserved a possible trip to the finals, so they will be determined to get there this time around we are certain. 3rd place at the Durham contest late last year was a decent return, but can they go a few places better in Darlington? 

York Railway Institute
Conductor: D. Warley

Last 13 Years:
2008: 7th (D. Warley)
2007: 5th (D. Warley)
2006: 7th in First Section (D. Warley) (rel)
2005: 9th (D. Warley)
2004: 6th (D. Warley)
2003: 6th in Second Section (D. Warley) (prom)
2002: 3rd (D. Warley)
2001: 2nd (D. Warley)
2000: 9th (D. Beal)
1999: DNC
1998: 9th in First Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 4th

York has been holding its own in the last two years after falling through the relegation trap door in 2006.

Now perhaps is the time to post a real marker to get back to the First Section, although they will have to up their form a touch from the 7th place they got at the Wilkinson’s contest late last year. 

Past Qualifiers: 

2008: Barton Town, Murton Colliery
2007: Wansbeck’s Ashington, Cockerton Silver
2006: Lockwood Brass, Wansbeck's Ashington
2005: Lockwood Brass, GT Group Peterlee
2004: Ellington Colliery, Felling
2003: Langbaurgh Brass, Houghton Brass
2002: Langbaurgh Brass, Cockerton Silver
2001: Westoe (STHCT), York Railway Institute
2000: Harrogate, GT Group Peterlee
1999: Yarm and District, GT Group Peterlee
1998: Rowntree Band, Greggs Bakery
1997: Cottingham, Greggs Bakery
1996: Carlisle St. Stephens, Cockerton Silver
1995: Broughton's Brass, Flookburgh   

North of England bands at the Finals: 

2008: 3rd, 15th
2007: 8th, 16th
2006: 10th, 11th
2005: 7th, 8th
2004: 8th, 9th
2003: 4th, 6th
2002: 5th, 12th
2001: 11th, 17th
2000: 11th, 15th
1999: 4th, 6th
1998: 3rd, 14th    

4BR Prediction: 

With just the six bands to choose from it could well be a short and sweet contest for adjudicator Richard Evans to get his teeth stuck into.

As for the bands? Well we think it could well be a battle between Flookburgh and Cockerton, with Dearham pushing them both all the way to Harrogate. After that it’s anyones guess, but we opt for York, Houghton and them Durham if they all play to form.

1. Flookburgh
2. Cockerton
3. Dearham
4. York Railway Institute
5. Houghton Brass
6. Durham Constabulary
 
Dark Horse: N/A

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