2009 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship - Runners & Riders - Championship Sect

They tend to give a decent Salute in the capital to victors, so will the big guns do the business on a classic bit of Vinter to win through to the Albert Hall?

Sunday 22nd March
Adjudicator: Philip Sparke
Test Piece: Salute to Youth – Gilbert Vinter

Draw: 2.30pm
Commences: After First Section awards 

Aveley and Newham
Conductor: Nigel Taken
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 2nd (N. Taken)
2007: 2nd (N. Taken)
2006: Winners (N. Taken)
2005: 2nd (N. Taken)
2004: 3rd (N. Taken)
2003: 3rd (N. Taken)
2002: 2nd (N. Taken)
2001: Winners (N. Taken)
2000: Winners (N. Taken)
1999: 3rd
1998: Winners
1997: 2nd
1996: 6th

Although the results here don’t really show it, Aveley & Newham has been rebuilding of late.

Some key changes in personnel has resulted in them not quite being the force they once were both locally and nationally, but that may be about the change. 4th place at Yeovil was a decent start to the 2009 season, and with Nigel Taken at the helm they should be confident of booking their place back at Kensington for the fifth consecutive year and perhaps gaining a fifth regional title to boot.    

Bedford Town
Conductor: P. Mayes
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 8th (J. Berryman)
2007: 3rd in First Section (J. Berryman) (prom)
2006: 6th (C. Reeves)
2005: 4th (G. Bennet)
2004: 8th in Championship Section (G. Bennett) (rel)
2003: 9th (G. Bennett)
2002: 9th (G. Bennett)
2001: 8th (J. Berryman)
2000: Winners of First Section (J. Berryman) (prom)
1999: 12th (rel)
1998: 5th in First Section (prom)
1997: 7th
1996: 2nd
 
Bedford put in a very solid performance last year to come 8th under the baton of John Berryman, and they will surely be looking to improve on that this time around.

They are up against a strong field of rivals however, and there is no real latest form for 4BR to latch onto. A new MD too – so who knows? 

City of Cambridge
Conductor: D. Wilson
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 8th in First Section (P. Bassano) (prom)
2007: 2nd (P. Bassano)
2006: 9th (C. Paterson)
2005: 7th (R. Gray)
2004: 9th (R. Hull)
2003: 15th (R. Hull)
2002: 8th (R. Hull)
2001: 11th (P. Hudson)
2000: Winners of Second Section (P. Hudson) (prom)
1999: DNC
1998: 12th in First Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 9th
 
Such are oddities of the grading system that a band that comes 8th in the First Section last year gains promotion to the Championship Section.

City of Cambridge won’t mind that, but it is a huge step up in class and there is no recent form for us to look at in our crystal ball to how they may perform on thei debut at this level. Long odds at the bookies may suggest a few scalps may be the best they can hope for. 

Clacton on Sea Co-operative
Conductor: L. Morgan
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 7th (T. Brotherhood)
2007: 8th (R Nunnery)
2006: 8th (R. Wiffin)
2005: 2nd in First Section (M. White) (prom)
2004: 3rd (M. White)
2003: 10th in Championship Section (M. White) (rel)
2002: 8th (M. White)
2001: 9th (M. White)
2000: 4th (N/K)
1999: 6th
1998: 4th
1997: 4th
1996: 4th
 
Clacton has been hovering around the top six for the past few years and it is the turn of yet another new MD to uphold that decent record this time around – the fifth in five years.

As with a few of their rivals, no recent form to go on, but if they can once again post a solid performance another safe midfield place may be on the cards - or perhaps a touch better? 

Ipswich and Norwich Co-op
Conductor: Robin Norman
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 2nd in First Section (R. Norman) (prom)
2007: 5th (R Norman)
2006: 11th in Championship Section (R. Norman) (rel)
2005: 10th (S. Kenna)
2004: 9th (S. Kenna)
2003: 3rd in First Section (S. Kenna) (prom)
2002: 11th (S. Kenna)
2001: 5th (S. Kenna)
2000: 4th (S. Kenna)
1999: 9th
1998: 9th
1997: 2nd
1996: 10th in Championship Section (rel)

At least we have some form to look at for Ipswich & Norwich after they gained promotion back to the Championship Section following their runner up spot in the First Section last year.

That led to them coming 15th at Harrogate, so they will know they will have to up their form considerably if they are to make any sort of impression here on the weekend.   

Kidlington Concert Brass
Conductor: Catherine Underwood
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 10th (C. Underwood)
2007: 4th (C. Underwood)
2006: 3rd (C. Underwood)
2005: 9th (C. Underwood)
2004: 5th (C. Underwood)
2003: 6th (C. Underwood)
2002: 7th (C. Underwood)
2001: 2nd (C. Underwood)
2000: 9th (C. Underwood)
1999: 4th (C. Underwood)
1998: 5th (C. Underwood)
1997: 6th (C. Underwood)
1996: 7th (C. Underwood)
 
After so many years of posting solid results (including a qualification in 2001 and just missing out in 2006) Kidlington dropped way off the pace last year in coming 10th – their worst result for a decade or more.

Another outing like that and they may sniff potential relegation problems, but a solid 7th place at Yeovil early in the season suggests that they should once again show the form that saw them challenge strongly in two of the last three years.  

KM Medway
Conductor: Melvin White
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 6th (M. White)
2007: 4th in First Section (M. White) (prom)
2006: 2nd (G. Wilson)
2005: 11th in Championship Section (G. Wilson) (rel)
2004: 10th (G. Wilson)
2003: 4th in First Section (G. Wilson) (prom)
2002: 9th (D. Cutting)
2001: 3rd (N/K)
2000: DNC
1999: 8th in Championship Section (rel)
1998: 5th
1997: N/K
1996: 3rd
 
The man who clocks up the most miles on the M25, Melvin White has done a fine job with KM Medway in the past two years.

No real latest form to go on, but if they have just upped their ante from last year, when they posted a fine result in coming 6th, expectations will be as high as the mileage on the MDs car.  

Milton Keynes Brass (Broseley)
Conductor: Paul Fensom
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 3rd (P. Fensom)
2007: Winners First Section (P. Fensom) (prom)
2006: 8th (P. Fensom)
2005: 6th (P. Fensom)
2004: 6th (P. Fensom)
2003: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (P. Fensom)
2002: 3rd (P. Fensom)
2001: 6th (P. Fensom)
2000: 5th in Third Section (P. Fensom) (prom)
1999: 8th
1998: 2nd in
1997: N/K
1996: 6th in Second Section (rel)

If you are to make a big step up in class then you better make sure you do it with style – and that was certainly the case with Milton Keynes last year when they came an outstanding 3rd.

Paul Fensom has been around a long time conducting at just about every level in the business, and he will know that it will take some doing to repeat that result this time around, espeically if they haven’t improved on the form that saw them come 15th at Pontins late last year.   

Redbridge Brass
Conductor: Jeremy Wise
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: Winners (R. Wiffen)
2007: Winners (M. White)
2006: 4th (M. White)
2005: Winners (M.White)
2004: Winners (M. White)
2003: Winners (M. White)
2002: Winners (M. White)
2001: 4th (M. White)
2000: 6th (N/K)
1999: 2nd
1998: 3rd
1997: Winners
1996: Winners
 
As short priced a favourite as Kuato Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last week, Redbridge are riding the crest of a tremendous winning wave at Butlins just a month or so back. 

They have also won this title six times in the last seven years, and are going for the hat trick this time out. Can anyone stop Jeremy Wise and his band doing just that? Favourites do have a habit of coming the occassional cropper, but if they play to form another victory should be theirs for the taking. 

Staines Brass
Conductor: Melvin White
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 5th (M. White)
2007: DNC
2006: 2nd (I. McElligott)
2005: Winners of First Section (I. McElligott) (prom)
2004: Winners (I. McElligott)
2003: 11th in Championship Section (I. McElligott) (rel)
2002: 11th (M. White)
2001: 2nd in First Section (M. White) (prom)
2000: 2nd (E. Campbell)
1999: 13th in Second Section (rel)
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 2nd

Melvin White did a superb job in getting Staines to the starting tape last year, let alone pushing them into the top six.

Hopefully he won’t have had so many problems this time around, and if things have gone a bit smoother then he could possibly look forward to another push towards the podium places.   

Wantage Silver
Conductor: Philip Bailey
4BR Ranking: 

Last 13 Years:
2008: 9th (P. Bailey)
2007: 6th (P. Bailey)
2006: 3rd in First Section (P. Bailey) (prom)
2005: 3rd (M. Pegram)
2004: 8th (M. Pegram)
2003: Winners of Second Section (M. Pegram) (prom)
2002: 8th (M. Pegram)
2001: 3rd (M. Pegram)
2000: 8th (R. White)
1999: 8th
1998: 11th
1997: N/K
1996: 12th in First Section (rel)

New signings and a sense of progress at Wantage it seems as Phil Bailey looks to build on the performance of last year when they came 9th.

He will have to if he is to eliminate the threat of possible relegation, but an encouraging 10th place at Pontins late last year against a decent field in the top section shows that they should be more than capable of doing just that and possibly more.  

Zone One Brass
Conductor: R. Ward
4BR Ranking:

Last 13 Years:
2008: 4th (P. Archibald)
2007: 3rd (P. Archibald)
2006: 5th (S. Dobson)
2005: 4th (S. Dobson)
2004: 5th in First Section (S. Dobson) (prom)
2003: 2nd (S. Dobson)
2002: DNC

Getting in the qualification zone will be the priority for Zone One this year.

On their day they can mix it in very decent company, but much will depend on how much work the disparate group of talented performers from all parts of the capital have been able to put in. If they have done their homework then a push for the Albert Hall in October may be on the cards. 

Past Qualifiers: 

2008: Redbridge, Aveley and Newham
2007: Redbridge, Aveley and Newham
2006: Aveley and Newham, Staines Brass
2005: Redbridge Brass, Aveley and Newham
2004: Redbridge Brass, Alliance Brass
2003: Redbridge Brass, Alliance Brass
2002: Redbridge Brass, Aveley and Newham
2001: Aveley and Newham, Kidlington Concert
2000: Aveley and Newham, First City Brass
1999: First City Brass, Redbridge Brass
1998: Aveley and Newham, City of Oxford
1997: Redbridge Brass, Aveley and Newham
1996: Redbridge Brass, Staines Brass
1995: John Laing Hendon, Aveley and Newham
1994: Regent Brass, John Laing Hendon
1993: John Laing Hendon, Aveley
1992: London Electricity Redbridge, Asphaltic Newham
1991: London Electricity Redbridge, Alder Valley Aldershot
1990: John Laing Hendon, London Electricity Redbridge, Aveley
1989: Asphaltic Newham, John Laing Hendon
*Pre Qualified  

How London & SC bands did at the Finals: 

2008: 14th, 17th
2007: 14th, 15th
2006: 11th, 18th
2005: 7th, 18th
2004: 12th, 15th
2003: 15th, 19th
2002: 11th, 12th
2001: 12th, 20th
2000: 7th, 9th
1999: 12th, 13th
1998: 18th, 20th
1997: 17th, 18th
1996: 13th, 18th
1995: 12th, 17th
1994: 15th, 19th
1993: 14th, 19th
1992: 13th, 19th
1991: 18th, 21st
1990: 15th, 18th, 21st
1989: 5th, 7th   

4BR Prediction: 

With just the two places up for grabs, the bookies odds suggest the usual pair of Redbridge and Aveley & Newham once again getting through to Kensington for a third consecutive year.

It would be a major upset if they don’t, with Redbridge favourites to take the title. 

Who may gain a podium spot? Possibly Zone One with Kidlington,  Staines, KM Medway and dark horse Clacton in with a shout if they play to form.  

1. Redbridge
2. Aveley & Newham
3. Zone One
4. Kidlington
5. Staines
6. KM Medway

Dark Horse: Clacton on Sea Co-operative

^back to top