2010 North West Regional Championship - Second Section: Runners & Riders
5-Mar-2010The North West has plenty of strength in depth at this level, so which one of these bands can gain a bit of inspiration from the music of the Principality and win through to Harrogate on Sunday?
Sunday 14th March
Opera House
Adjudicator: Roy Roe
Test Piece: The Kingdom of Dragons (Philip Harper)
Draw: 9.30am
Commences: 10.30am
13 well matched bands will battle it out in the Opera House on Sunday morning hoping to book their place at Harrogate courtesy of a bit of South Wales history from the pen of a man born in Essex and brought up in Bristol.
Viet Gwent
Philip Harper’s cracking work is full of character, music and technical hurdles to be overcome (even if it is a little sketchy on historical accuracy), and there should be plenty to enjoy, even if the players will wonder who on earth the ‘Viet Gwent’ trio of Charlie Faulkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price were.
Thankfully, those with an appreciation of God’s game of rugby union (even in these 13 aside hinterlands) should enjoy the task ahead, with any number of the competitors in with a great chance of making it through to the Finals.
Whoever gets through has a fine North West record to maintain at the International Conference Centre, even though the last National victory came in 2000.
Since then the region has produced five runners up (including last year) and five successive years of qualifiers finishing in the top 10. Banding at this level in the region is very strong.
No stand out
There is no one band that really stands out as a clear cut pre contest favourite, but a couple of the contenders do come to the contest with some recent good form to fall back on.
Blackpool Brass will be looking to make a quick return to the First Section following their relegation, and will be buoyed by their recent good showing in the Championship Section at Brass at the Guild Hall.
Morecambe meanwhile enjoyed a solid outing in Preston too, coming 5th in the Second Section, and Andrew Warriner continues to mould a competitive band under his command.
Old Hall Brass finished just behind them in 6th there, an encouraging result given that they have fallen a little off the pace at this contest in the past three years.
Few eyes
Quite a few eyes will be drawn to Rainford, after they posted a fine 2nd place at Pontins late last year, whilst Haslingden & Helmshore will be brimming with confidence after they turned around a poor result both here and at Pontins to come runner up at Butlins just a few weeks ago.
Two other Butlins competitors will also be looking to build on the form they showed at Skegness, with the consistent Middleton who came 6th and Flixton who just missed out on qualification last year, and who came 10th at Skeggy, decent each way bets to possibly push for a qualification spot if they hit form.
Great Jim
Co-operative 2000 Brass will be looking to claim a first finals appearance since 2005, although the usually consistent outfit will have to up their form from the disappointing result at Pontins, whilst the returning Diggle will be fronted by the great James Shepherd as they look to consolidate after failing to make it to the starting tape last year.
Eccleston Brass will be boosted by an encouraging result at Preston recently, although it was in the Third Section, to ensure they don’t get drawn into a potential relegation fight, whilst Haydock will look to build on their performance at the Guild Hall where they came 15th – although that was in the First Section.
One band who will be looking to carry on from where they left off last year will be Dobcross Silver, who took the Third Section title and went on to come a fine 4th at Harrogate under Grenville Moore. Finally, one of the most famous banding names in the world, Besses o’ th’ Barn will be looking to take a welcome step towards former glory under new MD, Jonathan Lo.
As for a winner?
A tough one to call this, but the likes of Haslingden & Helmshore, Middleton, Rainford and Blackpool should be confident of at least posting a qualification place, whilst Co-operative 2000 Brass and Morecambe should feature too. Our dark horse is Filxton.
4BR Prediction:
1. Haslingden & Helmshore
2. Rainford
3. Blackpool Brass
4. Middleton
5. Co-operative 2000 Brass
6. Morecambe
Dark Horse: Flixton
Besses o' th' Barn
Conductor: Jonathan Lo
Last 14 Years:
2009: 8th (C. Whiteoak)
2008: DNC
2007: 12th (J. Hinckley)
2006: 13th in Championship Section (J. Cant) (rel)
2005: 9th (J. Cant)
2004: 8th (S. Sykes)
2003: 8th (L. Nicholson)
2002: 4th (L. Nicholson)
2001: 6th (G. Pritchard)
2000: 8th (G. Pritchard)
1999: 5th
1998: 8th
1997: 7th
1996: 5th
Blackpool Brass
Conductor: Chris Larder
Last 14 Years:
2009: 12th in First Section (A. Warriner) (rel)
2008: 11th (A. White)
2007: 2nd in Second Section (A. Warriner) (prom)
2006: Winners of Second Section (A. Warriner)
2005: 9th (S. Simpson)
2004: 8th (S. Simpson)
2003: 6th in Third Section (S. Simpson) (prom)
2002: 5th (G. Smith)
2001: 13th in Second Section (S. Blair) (rel)
2000: 14th (S. Blair)
1999: 8th
1998: 11th
1997: 11th
1996: 8th
Co-operative 2000 Brass
Conductor: Jamie Meredith
Last 14 Years:
2009: 4th (J. Meredith)
2008: 8th (J. Meredith)
2007: 7th (J. Meredith)
2006: =7th (J. Meredith)
2005: 2nd in Third Section (J. Meredith) (prom)
2004: 2nd (J. Meredith)
2003: 11th (A. Helleur)
2002: 8th (A. Helleur)
2001: 8th (A. Helleur)
2000: 17th in Second Section (A. Helleur) (rel)
1999: 10th
1998: Winners of Third Section (prom)
1997: 6th
1996: 11th
Diggle
Conductor: James Shepherd
Last 14 Years:
2009: DNC in First Section (rel)
2008: 13th (L. Beevers)
2007: 8th (L. Beevers)
2006: 4th (N. Law)
2005: 2nd in Second Section (N. Law) (prom)
2004: 5th (N. Law)
2003: Winners of Third Section (N. Law) (prom)
2002: 9th (D. Morris)
2001: 4th (D. Morris)
2000: Winners of Fourth Section (D. Morris) (prom)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Dobcross Silver
Conductor: Grenville Moore
Last 14 Years:
2009: Winners of Third Section (G. Moore) (prom)
2008: 10th (D. Hadfield)
2007: DNC (rel)
2006: 5th (D. Hadfield)
2005: 6th (D. Hadfield)
2004: 7th (D. Hadfield)
2003: 5th (D. Hadfield)
2002: 6th in First Section (D. Hadfield) (prom)
2001: 3rd (S. Wood)
2000: 4th (S. Wood)
1999: 10th
1998: 2nd
1997: 7th
1996: 13th in Championship Section (rel)
Eccleston Brass
Conductor: Ian Bateson
Last 14 Years:
2009: 12th (I. Bateson)
2008: 4th (I. Bateson)
2007: 3rd in Third Section (I. Bateson) (prom)
2006: 8th (I. Bateson)
2005: 3rd (I. Bateson)
2004: 7th (I. Bateson)
2003: 16th (B. Harper)
2002: 12th (B. Harper)
2001: 6th (B. Harper)
2000: 15th (G. Smith)
1999: 14th
1998: 8th
1997: 8th
1996: 8th
Flixton
Conductor: Stephen Curtis
Last 14 Years:
2009: 3rd (A. Hobbins)
2008: 4th in Third Section (I. McKnight) (prom)
2007: 5th (K. Gibbs)
2006: 2nd (K. Gibbs)
2005: 15th (K. Gibbs)
2004: 9th in Second Section (P. Lockett) (rel)
2003: 10th (E. Campbell)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: 6th in First Section (C. Tenfijord) (rel)
1999: 9th
1998: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1997: 4th
1996: 9th in First Section (rel)
Haslingden and Helmshore
Conductor: David Holland
Last 14 Years:
2009:11th (D. Holland)
2008: 2nd (D. Holland)
2007: 10th in First Section (D. Holland) (rel)
2006: 5th (D. Holland)
2005: 12th (D. Holland)
2004: 3rd in Second Section (D. Holland) (prom)
2003: 5th (D. Holland)
2002: 3rd (D. Holland)
2001: 5th in Third Section (D. Holland) (prom)
2000: 3rd (D. Holland)
1999: 6th in Fourth Section (prom)
1998: 2nd
1997: 9th
1996: DNC
Haydock
Conductor: Mark Quinn
Last 14 Years:
2009: 11th in First Section (M. Quinn) (rel)
2008: 12th (N. McNulty)
2007: DNC
2006: 9th in Championship Section (E. Kennedy) (rel)
2005: 11th (L. Nicholson)
2004: 6th (L. Nicholson)
2003: 3rd (I. Brownbill)
2002: 6th (I. Brownbill)
2001: 4th in First Section (I. Brownbill) (prom)
2000: 5th (C. Wormald)
1999: 3rd
1998: 5th
1997: Winners of Second Section (prom)
1996: 4th
Middleton
Conductor: Matthew Stringer
Last 14 Years:
2009: 5th (M. Stringer)
2008: 9th (M. Stringer)
2007: 2nd in Third Section (C. Whiteoak) (prom)
2006: 5th (C. Whiteoak)
2005: 4th (C. Whiteoak)
2004: 10th (B. Warrington)
2003: 12th (G. Smith)
2002: 3rd (S. Foster)
2001: 8th in Fourth Section (B. Warrington) (prom)
2000: 4th (B. Warrington)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Morecambe
Conductor: Andrew Warriner
Last 14 Years:
2009: 5th in Third Section (A. Warriner) (prom)
2008: 7th (A. Warriner)
2007: 6th (C. Larder)
2006: 10th (M. Vause)
2005: DNC in Second Section (rel)
2004: DNC
2003: 4th
2002: 2nd
2001: 2nd in Third Section (prom)
2000: 11th in Second Section (rel)
1999: 12th
1998: 12th
1997: 8th
1996: 10th in First Section (rel)
Old Hall Brass
Conductor: John North
Last 14 Years:
2009: 9th (J. North)
2008: 6th (T. Halliwell)
2007: 5th (T. Halliwell)
2006: 11th in First Section (A.Jones) (rel)
2005: 7th (I. Porthouse)
2004: Winners of Second Section (N. Parkinson) (prom)
2003: = 8th (N. Parkinson)
2002: 5th (N. Parkinson)
2001: 8th (C. Tenijford)
2000: Winners of Third Section (N. Parkinson) (prom)
1999: Winners of Fourth Section (prom)
1998: 8th
1997: Winners of Fourth Section
1996: DNC
Rainford
Conductor: Neil Samuel
Last 14 Years:
2009: 7th (N. Samuel)
2008: 5th (N. Samuel)
2007: 9th (N. Samuel)
2006: Winners of Third Section (N. Samuel) (prom)
2005: 8th (N. Samuel)
2004: 6th (A. Jones)
2003: 14th (B. Harper)
2002: 6th (L. Nicholson)
2001: 11th (L. Nicholson)
2000: 12th (L. Nicholson)
1999: 9th
1998: 17th
1997: 4th in Fourth Section (prom)
1996: 6th
Past Qualifiers:
2009: Oldham (Lees), Silk Brass (Macclesfield)
2008: Wardle & District Anderson Brass, Haslingden & Helmshore
2007: Wardle & District Anderson Brass, Blackpool Brass
2006: Blackpool Brass, Bollington
2005: Wire Brass, Diggle
2004: Old Hall Brass, Wire Brass
2003: Bollington, Manx Concert Brass
2002: Moston and Beswick, Lancashire Life Morecambe
2001: Dobcross Youth, Poulton le Fylde
2000: Oldham Brass, Pemberton Old Wigan
1999: United Norwest Co-op Milnrow, Oldham Brass ‘97
1998: Ashton Under Lyne, Flixton
1997: Haydock Travel, Tyldesley
1996: Berisford Cardway, Mossley
1995: United Co-op Crewe, Moston and Beswick
North West bands at the Finals:
2009: 2nd, 8th
2008: 2nd, 7th
2007: 6th, 9th
2006: 2nd, 9th
2005: 2nd, 4th
2004: 6th, 12th
2003: 2nd, 8th
2002: 4th, 6th
2001: 7th, 13th
2000: 1st, 5th
1999: 2nd, 9th
1998: 1st, 11th
