2009 Scottish Regional Championship - Championship Section - Runners & Riders

How will the bands north of the border tackle Gilbert Vinters masterful work?

Sunday 22nd March
Adjudicators: Alan Morrison & Lt Col Graham Jones MBE
Test Piece:  Salute to Youth – Gilbert Vinter

Draw: 1.10pm
Commences: 2.40pm approx
 

Bon Accord
Conductor: John Maines
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 6th (M. Hansen)
2007: 7th (R. Evans)
2006: 4th (J. Roberts)
2005: 7th (D. Beckley)
2004: 6th (A. Swainson)
2003: 2nd in First Section (A. Swainson) (prom)
2002: 10th in Championship (A. Swainson) (rel)
2001: 7th (A. Swainson)
2000: Winners of First Section (A. Swainson) (prom)
1999: Winners of Second Section (prom)
1998: 10th in First Section (rel)
1997: 5th
1996: 10th in Championship (rel)

Bon Accord has been hovering around the top six at the Scottish for some time (4th in 2006 in fact) and last year they produced another solid performance in coming 6th under the Norwegian, Morten E Hansen.

This year they have opted for the experience of John Maines to lead them at Dundee and with a 5th place at the Scottish Open late last year as recent form, they should be confident of another glimpse of a top six or better.       

Bo'ness & Carriden
Conductor: Michael Marzella
4BR Ranking:
 
Last 13 Years:
2008: Winners of First Section (M. Marzella) (prom)
2007: 4th (M. Marzella)
2006: 7th in Championship Section (I. McElligott) (rel)
2005: 8th (J. Hinckley)
2004: 8th (I. McElligott)
2003: 4th  (I. Davey)
2002: 8th (A. Swainson)
2001: 2nd in First Section (A. Swainson) (prom)
2000: 8th in Championship Section (S. Sykes) (rel)
1999: 8th
1998: 4th
1997: 7th
1996: 7th 

Always nice to see Mike Marzella on the contesting stage, and he has produced splendid work with Bo’ness over the last two years following their relegation in 2006.

Last year’s First Section win led them to 13th place at Harrogate, and they rounded off the season with 12th place at the Scottish Open. They will know they will have to up the ante then if they are to make a mark against this field of rivals.     

Clackmannan District Brass
Conductor: Paul Kiernan
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 2nd in First Section (P. Kiernan) (prom)
2007: 3rd (R. Tennant)
2006: 5th (J. Scott)
2005: 4th (J. Scott)
2004: 6th (J. Davies)
2003: 10th in Championship (J. Smith) (rel)
2002: 2nd in First Section (N. Law) (prom)
2001: 3rd (N. Law)
2000: 10th in Championship (J. Davies) (rel)
1999: 2nd in First Section (prom)
1998: 4th
1997: 9th in Championship (rel)
1996: 8th

A conducting debut in the top section for Paul Kiernan, and the talented MD will know that he will have to use all of his experience if his band are to make any sort of a mark on the weekend.

Lots of recent new signings will help of course, and last year they were good value for their runner up spot in the First Section and 14th place at Harrogate. 14th at the Scottish Open though showed just how much a step up in class this level of contesting is.     

Dalmellington
Conductor: Archie Hutchison
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 7th (A. Hutchison)
2007: 5th (A. Hutchison)
2006: Winners of First Section (A. Hutchison) (prom)
2005: 3rd (A. Hutchison)
2004: 7th in Championships Section (R. Evans) (rel)
2003: 8th (R. Evans)
2002: 6th (R. Evans)
2001: 3rd (R. Evans)
2000: 6th (R. Newsome)
1999: 5th
1998: 8th
1997: 4th
1996: 5th
 
One of the best band trainers around, the pocket dynamo that is Archie Hutchison continues to do fantastic work with Dalmellington.

After winning the First Section in 2006 they have held their own in the last two years and 9th place at the Scottish Open late last season may give some indication that they could well be in around the top six again if they play to form. The MD knows the piece backwards for certain.  

Dunaskin Doon
Conductor: John Boax
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 9th (J. Boax)
2007: 2nd in First Section (J. Boax) (prom)
2006: 8th (J. Boax)
2005: 5th (J. Boax)
2004: 5th (J. Boax)
2003: 3rd (J.Boax)
2002: 4th (D. Hirst)
2001: 10th in Championship  (B. Keachie) (rel)
2000: 7th (A. McCutcheon)
1999: 8th
1998: 2nd in First Section (prom)
1997: 3rd
1996: 9th in Championship (rel)
 
Dunaskin will know that they will have to pull something out of the hat on the weekend if they are not to be drawn into a relegation battle and a possible  return to the First Section.

John Boax and his team didn’t play at the Scottish Open weekend so perhaps time has been on their side to push on from last year’s 9th place. 

Kingdom Brass
Conductor: James Gourlay
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 3rd (C. Anderson)
2007: 4th (C. Anderson)
2006: 5th (G. O'Connor)
2005: 5th (R. Farr)
2004: 5th (D. Hirst)
2003: 7th (A. Duncan)
2002: 4th (A. Morrison)
2001: 4th (T. Wyss)
2000: 2nd in First Section (prom) (T. Wyss)
(Kingdom Brass formed from amalgamation of Cowdenbeath and Kelty & Blairadam in 1999)

Interesting one this – mind you, any band with James Gourlay at the helm will always be that and more.

He also has a proud record to maintain and perhaps enhance this weekend too – 3rd place last year was a fantastic achievement for the band, and after they came 7th at the Scottish Open late last season you sense they will be confident of once again putting a few well heeled noses out of joint.  

Kirkintilloch
Conductor: Selmer Simonsen
4BR Ranking:  

Last 13 Years:
2008: 2nd (S. Simonsen)
2007: Winners (N. Boddice)
2006: 2nd (S. Bastable)
2005: 4th (S. Bastable)
2004: 3rd (F. Renton)
2003: 2nd  (F. Renton)
2002: Winners (F. Renton)
2001: 5th (F. Renton)
2000: 4th (F. Renton)
1999: 2nd
1998: 5th
1997: 3rd
1996: 3rd

The Norwegian connection continues for Kirky, and it is one that works very well indeed.

The diminuitive Viking seems to get the music pouring out of his band and if that occurs this weekend then they could be very close to regaining their title. 2nd place at the Scottish Open and their form of late 2008 to build on, they could start as favourites to regain their crown.  

Scottish Co-op
Conductor: Russell Gray
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 4th (A. Ramsay)
2007: 3rd (A. Ramsay)
2006: Winners (N. Childs)
2005: 3rd (N. Childs)
2004: Winners (N. Childs)
2003: Winners (N. Childs)
2002: 7th (D. King)
2001: Winners (N. Childs)
2000: Winners (H. Snell)
1999: 3rd
1998: Winners
1997: Winners
1996: Winners

The Area has not been a happy hunting ground for Scottish Co-op in the last couple of years, and to be truthful, they could have no cause for complaint for not qualifying for London since 2006.

Now things appear more settled and that was certainly shown in them regaining the Scottish Open late last season. You sense they do not want to miss out again this time around and Russell Gray, fresh from his Midlands success with Desford, could be the man to ensure that.  

Unison Kinneil
Conductor: Andrew Duncan
4BR Ranking:  

Last 13 Years:
2008: 5th (C. McKenzie)
2007: 6th (C. McKenzie)
2006: 8th (A. Berryman)
2005: 6th (R. Tennant)
2004: 4th (A. Ramsey)
2003: 3rd (A. Ramsay)
2002: 5th (E. Dunlea)
2001: 8th (J. Hinckley)
2000: 2nd (A. Hutchison)
1999: Winners of First Section
1998: 9th (rel)
1997: 8th
1996: 2nd in First Section (prom)

Consistency has been one of the keywords heard from adjudicators this year on ‘Salute to Youth’, and that is one thing Unison Kinneil has shown in spades here over the last few years.

Always in with a sniff of a possible qualifcation place and a top six finish, Andy Duncan leads a band that disappointed in coming 11th at the Scottish Open, but seems to enjoy its outings at this particualr contest more than most.    

Whitburn
Conductor: Steven Mead
4BR Ranking:  

Last 13 Years:
2008: Winners (R. Gray)
2007: 2nd (P. McCann)
2006: 3rd (A. Duncan)
2005: 2nd (A. Duncan)
2004: 2nd (A. Duncan)
2003: 6th  (P. McCann)
2002: 2nd (P. McCann)
2001: 2nd (P. McCann)
2000: 3rd (P. McCann)
1999: Winners
1998: 2nd
1997: 2nd
1996: 2nd

Well now. If the contesting gods are with them (and they weren’t at Brass in Concert) then this duo should be looking at a return trip to London and a possible European ticket for Linz as an added extra too.

If they are not, then the margin for error is so small they could end up out of the priceless top two slots – something that happened at the Scottish Open to round their 2008 season off on a bit of a downer. Whitburn has a lot to play well for then. 

Past Qualifiers: 

2008: Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
2007: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn
2006: Scottish Co-op, Kirkintilloch
2005: Newtongrange, Whitburn
2004: Scottish Co-op, Whitburn
2003: Scottish Co-op, Kirkintilloch
2002: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn
2001: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
2000: CWS (Glasgow), Unison Kinneil
1999: Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
1998: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn, Kirkintilloch*
1997: CWS (Glasgow)*, Whitburn, Kirkintilloch
1996: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
1995: Bo'ness and Carriden, Newtongrange
1994: CWS (Glasgow), Newtongrange
1993: Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1992: Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1991: Newtongrange, Whitburn, Bo'ness and Carriden, CWS (Glasgow)*
1990: Kirkintilloch, Whitburn, CWS (Glasgow)
1989: CWS (Glasgow), Whitburn
*Pre Qualified 

How Scottish bands did in London: 

2008: 12th, 13th
2007: 9th, 17th
2006: 8th, 10th
2005: 11th, 14th
2004: 8th, 17th
2003: 8th, 9th
2002: 10th, 14th
2001: 8th, 10th
2000: 6th, 18th
1999: 9th, 11th
1998: 7th, 12th, 13th
1997: 4th, 11th, 16th
1996: 1st, 17th
1995: 13th, 15th
1994: 6th, 13th
1993: 6th, 8th
1992: 4th, 11th
1991: 4th, 10th, 12th, 19th
1990: 1st, 5th, 19th
1989: 3rd, 10th    

4BR Prediction: 

If the traditional ‘big three’ play to form then this could be a battle of the banding clans that will resonate as far south as Land’s End.

Someone is going to miss out, but who?

If Kikintilloch hit their straps then they should get through with some degree of comfort, and we tip them for the title. Then its between Whitburn and Scottish Co-op, and we just opt for the Whiturn banner to be flown rather than the Co-op dividend slip.

After that its between Kinneil, Kingdom and Bon Accord for us with our dark horses of Dalmellington.

1.  Kirkintilloch
2.  Whitburn
3.  Scottish Co-op
4.  Unison Kinneil
5.  Kingdom Brass
6.  Bon Accord

Dark Horse: Dalmellington

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