2010 Midlands Regional Championship - First Section: Runners & Riders

Its never good to try and second guess an adjudicator but after Bradford a few will be wondering just how they go about it here...

Saturday 13th March
Civic Hall
Adjudicator: Philip Harper & Kevin Wadsworth
Test Piece: A Moorside Suite (Gustav Holst)
First Draw: 10.00am
Second Draw: 12.00pm
Commences: 11.00am

If the struggles that were apparent in the First Section in Yorkshire are anything to go by, adjudicators Philip Harper and Kevin Wadsworth could be in for a long old day on Saturday at the Civic Hall.

Bradford spies

Then again, if any of the bands sent spies up to Bradford to try and find out just what was required to tickle the fancy of the men in the box on ‘A Moorside Suite’, then they left scratching their heads: There were more massively raised eyebrows after the announcement of the results (and quite a few boos) than could be found on Susan Boyle’s face when chewing a wasp.

Those MDs who thought they knew just how they should approach Gustav Holst’s piece had better make sure they listen to the 4BR interview with Kevin after those results were announced. This is a man who makes it very clear just what he would like to hear on the piece – as for that matter does Philip Harper who joins him in the box.  

Second guess

Second guessing an adjudicator is a risky old business at the best of times, but Mr Wadsworth hasn’t gained his respected reputation for straight speaking by accident.  Some bands may well be burning the midnight rehearsal oil over the next few days.

The 18 contenders look well matched (on paper at least) and should be well prepared, as 10 of them had an early season outing at Butlins. There is one returnee, as well as three bands relegated from the Championship Section and two up from the Second.

When it comes to the finals the region has a bit of a hit and miss record of late – with a victory in 2006, but some pretty ordinary efforts since, including 15th and 16th places for last year’s qualifiers.  

Skeggy run out

Of the ten bands that had an early season run out at Skegness, Jackfield (Elcock Reisen) enjoyed it the most – coming away, as they say in best Harry Enfield Midlands regional manner: ‘… two grand considerably richer than yow’ after winning the Mineworker’s title.  And all that after coming 12th at Pontins a few months earlier and being relegated from the Championship Section last year.

The next best finisher at Butlins was Foresters Brass 2000, who came 10th, so they will want to put that down to early season contesting rustiness for sure as they look to improve on their 4th place finish last year.  

So too, Enderby, who produced a solid account in the top section to come 8th, but still slipped through the relegation trap door. They ended up 12th at Butlins, so they know they will have to up their form if they are to make a mark.

Local band Bedworth last qualified for Harrogate in 2000 but were encouraged by last year’s 7th place finish. A non descript Pontins and a disappointing outing at Butlins means they will have to work hard if they are to push for a return.

Upped form

Brackley & District certainly upped their form in coming 8th last year, but didn’t make a mark at Pontins, whilst Carlton Brass has put in two very solid shows in the past two years, but will want to forget their Butlins appearance, which was a real disappointment in coming 18th.

One of the most improved bands of the last twelve months has been City of Coventry, and they will be looking to return for a third successive year to Harrogate. Last year’s qualification saw them end in 16th place at the finals.

Derwent Brass has bobbled between the top two sections during the past few years, and were a touch unlucky to be relegated after coming 9th in the Championship Section. 14th place at Pontins though was perhaps an indicator that they may have a bit of work to do if they are to make a speedy return.

Foss Dyke has put in two solid performances at this contest in the last couple of seasons, but 14th place at Butlins means they may need to produce something special if they are to repeat their 2006 success. Harborough meanwhile will be looking to build on the solid work conductor Chris Groom has achieved with the band over the last three years after coming 12th last year.  

Competitive

The usually competitive Hathern would have been disappointed not to have improved on their podium finish in 2008 as they came 10th last year, whilst Ibstock Brick Brass will come to the contest knowing that they need to find some form after a disappointing 15th place at Butlins.

Langley too will be looking to find elusive form after their lowly 20th place at Skegness, whilst Oddfellows should be confident of making a mark as they look to take another step back to the Championship Section after increasingly better results here in the last four years.

Shirland Welfare made sure that their stay in the Second Section was a short one as they took the title and went on to come 13th at Harrogate. Butlins wasn’t a great outing though as they came 17th, so they should know what is expected of them this time around if they are to make any sort of impression.

Dave Lea returns with Shirley looking to improve on last year’s 15th place if they are to make sure they are not drawn into a potential relegation fight, whilst Wigston will know that they will have to up their form from Butlins where they came 21st. It is also nice see Raunds Temperance back at the contest after a year away, and hoping to make a mark once again under the baton of Robin Norman.

As for a winner?

Hard one to call this – with much depending on musical style as much as technical substance.

For us though, the likes of Derwent, Jackfield, Foresters Brass, Enderby, City of Coventry and Brackley should battle for the top six places with our dark horse, Oddfellows Brass.

4BR Prediction:
1. Jackfield (Elcock Reisen)
2. Derwent Brass
3. Foresters Brass 2000
4. Enderby
5. City of Coventry
6. Brackley

Dark Horse: Oddfellows

Bedworth Brass
Conductor: Guy Bennett

Last 13 Years:
2009: 7th (G. Bennett)
2008: 15th (S. Tighe)
2007: 12th (C. Randle)
2006: 8th (C. Randle)
2005: 2nd (C. Randle)
2004: 13th (D. Williams)
2003: 10th (D. Williams)
2002: 6th
2001: 16th
2000: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1999: 15th
1998: Winners of Second Section
1997: N/K

Brackley & District
Conductor: Jason Glynn

Last 13 Years:
2009: 8th (J. Glynn)
2008: 18th (D. Richards)
2007: 9th (J. Glynn)
2006: 11th (J. Glynn)
2005: 6th (J. Glynn)
2004: 7th (J. Glynn)
2003: 9th (J. Glynn)
2002: 3rd in Second Section (prom)
2001: 6th
2000: 4th
1999: 12th
1998: 4th
1997: 14th

Carlton Brass
Conductor: W. Ritchie BEM

Last 13 Years:
2009: 6th (W. Ritchie BEM)
2008: 4th (W. Ritchie BEM)
2007: 3rd in Second Section (W. Ritchie) (prom)
2006: 3rd (T. Wilson)
2005: 3rd (T. Wilson)
2004: 13th (T. Wilson)
2003: 2nd in Third Section (prom) (T. Wilson)
2002: 2nd (T. Wilson)
2001: Winners of Fourth Section (prom) (T. Wilson)
2000: 5th (N/K)
1999: 21st
1998: DNC
1997: DNC

City of Coventry
Conductor: Stephen Cooper

Last 13 Years:
2009: 2nd (S. Cooper)
2008: Winners of Second Section (S. Cooper) (prom)
2007: 4th (S. Cooper)
2006: 17th in First Section (S. Cooper) (rel)
2005: 15th (S. Lippeatt)
2004: 12th Championship section (P. Bailey) (rel)
2003: 10th (P. Bailey)
2002: 2nd in First Section (prom)
2001: 5th
2000: 4th
1999: 17th
1998: 8th
1997: 6th

Derwent Brass
Conductor: Keith Leonard

Last 13 Years:
2009: 9th in Championship Section (K. Leonard) (rel)
2008: 10th (K. Leonard)
2007: 2nd in First Section (K. Leonard) (prom)
2006: 6th (K. Leonard)
2005: 10th in Championship Section (K. Leonard) (rel)
2004: 10th (K. Leonard)
2003: 4th in First Section (K. Leonard) (prom)
2002: 3rd (K. Leonard)
2001: 12th (K. Leonard)
2000: 7th (K. Leonard)
1999: 5th
1998: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1997: 3rd

Enderby
Conductor: Jonathan Mott

Last 13 Years:
2009: 8th in Championship Section (J. Mott) (rel)
2008: 11th (H. Thomas)
2007: 4th in First Section (H. Thomas) (prom)
2006: 5th (H. Thomas)
2005: 10th (M. Vause)
2004: 9th (S. Cooper)
2003: 13th (S. Cooper)
2002: 7th
2001: 7th
2000: 11th
1999: 10th
1998: 9th in Championship Section (rel)
1997: 11th

Foresters Brass 2000
Conductor: Alwyn Green

Last 13 Years:
2009: 4th (P. Collins)
2008: 9th (P. Collins)
2007: 6th (P. Collins)
2006: Winners of Second Section (P. Collins) (prom)
2005: 4th (P. Collins)
2004: 12th (P. Collins)
2003: 4th (L. Baker) (prom)
2002: 7th (D. Blakeson)
2001: Winners of Third Section (D. Blakeson)
2000: 3rd in Fourth Section (N/K) (prom)
1999: 11th
1998: DNC
1997: DNC

Foss Dyke
Conductor: Paul Murrell
 
Last 13 Years:
2009: 5th (A. Keegan)
2008: 5th (J. Davies)
2007: DNC
2006: Winners (G. Wyatt)
2005: 9th (W. Ritchie)
2004: 8th (W. Ritchie)
2003: 6th (W. Ritchie)
2002: DNC
2001: 12th Championship (rel)
2000: 8th (prom)
1999: 6th
1998: 5th
1997: 16th

Harborough
Conductor: Chris Groom

Last 13 Years:
2009: 12th (C. Groom)
2008: 2nd in Second Section (C. Groom) (prom)
2007: 2nd (C. Groom)
2006: 10th (C. Groom)
2005: 7th (C. Groom)
2004: 5th (C. Groom)
2003: 12th (C. Groom)
2002: 8th (C. Groom)
2001: 3rd (C. Groom)
2000: 14th (N/K)
1999: 9th
1998: 11th
1997: 8th

Hathern
Conductor: Dave Newman

Last 13 Years:
2009: 10th (D. Newman)
2008: 3rd (D. Newman)
2007: 11th (D. Newman)
2006: 15th (D. Newman)
2005: 11th (D. Newman)
2004: Winners of Second Section (D. Newman) (prom)
2003: 16th in First Section (rel) (R. Evans)
2002: 13th
2001: 9th
2000: 9th
1999: 7th
1998: 12th in Championship Section (rel)
1997: 9th

Ibstock Brick Brass
Conductor: Huw Thomas

Last 13 Years:
2009: 16th (K. Ferguson)
2008: 14th (K. Ferguson)
2007: 8th (G. Sutton)
2006: 14th (D. Jones)
2005: 7th (D. Jones)
2004: 14th (D. Jones)
2003: 11th (P. Northey)
2002: 11th
2001: 10th
2000: Winners of Second Section (prom)
1999: 3rd
1998: 10th
1997: 15th

Jackfield Elcock Reisen
Conductor: Simon Platford

Last 13 Years:
2009: 13th in Championship Section (S. Platford) (rel)
2008: 8th in First Section (J. Maines) (prom)
2007: 3rd (J. Maines)
2006: 11th in Championship Section (J. Maines) (rel)
2005: 4th in First Section (I. Viney) (prom)
2004: 4th (C. Lewis)
2003: 12th in Championship Section (C. Lewis) (rel)
2002: 5th in First Section (prom)
2001: 3rd
2000: 10th
1999: 16th  
1998: 3rd
1997: 12th

Langley
Conductor: Cliff Parker

Last 13 Years:
2009: 13th (C. Parker)
2008: 11th (C. Parker)
2007: 11th in Championship Section (C. Parker) (rel)
2006: 10th (C. Parker)
2005: 5th in First Section (C. Parker) (prom)
2004: Winners (C. Parker)
2003: 6th in Second Section (M. Vause) (prom)
2002: Winners
2001: 15th in First Section (rel)
2000: 17th
1999: 19th
1998: 4th
1997: 13th

Oddfellows Brass
Conductor: Robert Boulter

Last 13 Years:
2009: 3rd in Second Section (R. Boulter) (prom)
2008: 4th (R. Boulter)
2007: 5th (R. Boulter)
2006: 6th (R. Boulter)
2005: DNC
2004: 6th (P. Norbury)
2003: Withdrew
2002: 12th
2001: 4th
2000: 9th in Championship Section (rel)
1999: 12th in Championship Section
1998: 2nd in First Section (prom)
1997: 5th in First Section

Raunds Temperance
Conductor: Robin Norman

Last 13 Years:
2009: DNC (rel)
2008: 12th in Championship Section (J. Mott)
2007: 12th (J. Mott)
2006: 9th in First Section (J. Fletcher) (prom)
2005: Winners of First Section (J. Fletcher)
2004: 2nd in Second Section (J. Fletcher) (prom)
2003: 5th (J. Fletcher)
2002: Winners of Third Section (prom)
2001: 2nd
2000: Winners of Fourth Section (prom)
1999: 3rd
1998: 10th
1997: DNC

Shirland Welfare
Conductor: Andrew Dennis

Last 13 Years:
2009: Winners of Second Section (A. Dennis) (prom)
2008: 17th in First Section (M. Smith) (rel)
2007: 17th (M. Smith)
2006: 7th in Second Section (M. Smith) (prom)
2005: Winners of Second Section (M. Smith)
2004: Winners of Third Section (M. Smith) (prom)
2003: 8th (M. Smith)
2002: 5th
2001: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)
2000: 9th
1999: 13th
1998: DNC
1997: DNC

Shirley Band
Conductor: Dave Lea

Last 13 Years:
2009: 15th (A. Green)
2008: 7th (A. Green)
2007: 7th (M. Ford)
2006: 7th (M. Ford)
2005: 8th (D. Lea)
2004: 10th (D. Lea)
2003: Winners of Second Section (D. Lea) (prom)
2002: 2nd
2001: 9th
2000: 19th in First Section (rel)
1999: 13th
1998: 14th
1997: 12th in Championship Section (rel)

Wigston Band
Conductor: Garry Sleath

Last 13 Years:
2009: 9th (G. Sleath)
2008: 6th (G. Sleath)
2007: 10th (G. Sleath)
2006: 4th in Second Section (G. Sleath) (prom)
2005: 2nd (G. Sleath)
2004: 15th in First Section (G. Sleath) (rel)
2003: 15th (G. Sleath)
2002: 5th in Second Section (prom)
2001: 4th
2000: 9th
1999: 16th
1998: 14th
1997: 13th

Past Qualifiers:

2009: Phoenix West Midlands, City of Coventry
2008: Glossop Old, Phoenix West Midlands, Hathern
2007: Gresley Colliery, Derwent Brass, Jackfield (Elcock Reisen)
2006: Foss Dyke, Kibworth, Riddings
2005: Raunds Tempeance, Bedworth Brass
2004: Langley, Riddings
2003: Kibworth, Riddings, Gresley Old Hall
2002: Staffordshire, City of Coventry, Derwent Brass
2001: Kibworth, Ratby Co-operative
2000: Ratby Co-operative, Thoresby Colliery
1999: Kibworth, Riddings
1998: Thorntons Brass, Unity Brass
1997: Ratby Co-operative, Glossop Old, Thorntons Brass
1996: Glossop Old, Hathern, Enderby
1995: Rolls Royce (Coventry), Kibworth
1994: Ancient Order of Foresters, Rolls Royce (Coventry)

Midlands Bands at the Finals:

2009: 15th, 16th
2008: 6th, 7th, 11th
2007: 4th, 13th, 14th
2006: 1st, 6th, 14th
2005: 13th, 17th
2004: 15th, 17th
2003: 7th, 9th
2002: 1st, 4th, 6th
2001: 5th, 10th
2000: 1st, 5th
1999: 8th, 9th
1998: 12th, 13th 

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