2010 North of England Regional Championship - Second Section: Runners & Riders

Plenty of similarities between South Wales and the North East, so what will the bands here make of the Kingdom of Dragons?

Saturday 20th March
Adjudicator: Kevin Wadsworth
Test Piece: The Kingdom of Dragons (Philip Harper)
Draw: 11.00am
Commences: 12.30pm

There are plenty of similarities between the North East and South East Wales for the bands to explore for musical inspiration: From the depths of the great coalfields that used to employ thousands to the rural beauty and the green and very pleasant land that used to be home to the odd King or two a few centuries back.

Plenty to enjoy

Plenty then to enjoy in Philip Harper’s evocative test piece and with a well matched field of eight bands, Kevin Wadsworth could be in for an enjoyable Saturday lunchtime.

The region hasn’t posted a national champion since City of Hull won in 1992, but the record at Harrogate of late has been pretty solid with eight consecutive top 10 finishes for at least one qualifier or more. Last year’s representatives came 7th and 15th.

New band

There will be added interest this year in the appearance of a new band, Catterick Brass, which has been graded by the regional committee to compete at this level.

It is always a tricky ask to get that decision right, but Regional Secretary Alan Hope told 4BR that he had enjoyed very open discussions with Stuart Halliday and the band to ensure that their inclusion was fair to all parties.

How they get on may make them a real dark horse, but any new band is a welcome new band, so we wish them well.

They are up against a strong looking field too, with last year’s runner up, Houghton Brass looking to return to Harrogate, but as champions this time around. There they came 15th, so the experience will have done them a world of good.

Harrogate return

Dearham meanwhile will also be looking for a Harrogate return as they last graced the International Conference Centre in 2005.  They have just missed out here in the last two years, so third time lucky perhaps this weekend?

The consistent Cockerton Prize Silver will also be looking to return to the finals for the first time since 2007 and come to the contest on the back of an encouraging performance at the Durham Association contest where they came 3rd in the A Section.

Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery meanwhile will be hoping to make an immediate impact following their relegation from the First Section.

The band came 15th at Butlins, but with the talented young tyro Jonathan Fenwick at the helm, they could be a strong contender to return to Harrogate for the first time since 2004.

Promoted bands

The two promoted bands from the Third Section will also be looking to make a mark too. Champions South Milford Brass are looking to make it three consecutive regional title wins this year and book their place back at Harrogate where they came 12th last year.

Billingham meanwhile came 4th in the B Section at the Durham contest and have been improving very securely under Vaughan Evans’ baton.  They were playing in the Fourth Section here as recently as 2004, so they are certainly a band o the up.

Finally, great to see Barrow Shipyard returning to the fold after a bit of a hit and miss existence over the last few years. They were playing at Championship level in 2006 so hopefully this weekend will see a step back in that direction.  

As for a winner?

Another hard one to call given the look of the field of contenders, but we opt for Houghton and South Milton to pick up the qualification places, closely followed by Dearham, Northumbrian Water, Cockerton and Billingham.

That darkest of dark horses is Catterick.  

4BR Prediction:
1. Houghton Brass
2. South Milton
3. Dearham
4. Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery
5. Cockerton
6. Billingham Silver
 
Dark Horse: Catterick Brass

Barrow Shipyard
Conductor: G. Clough

Last 14 Years:
2009: DNC
2008: 4th (D. Gittins)
2007: DNC (rel)
2006: 9th in Championship Section (J. Durrant) (rel)
2005: DNC
2004: 2nd in First Section (J. Durrant) (prom)
2003: 2nd (J. Durrant)
2002: 4th  (D. Broadbent)
2001: 8th (B. Maginn)
2000: 7th in Championship (B. Maginn) (rel)
1999: 10th
1998: 6th
1997: 2nd in First Section (prom)
1996: 3rd

Billingham Silver
Conductor: Vaughan Evans

Last 14 Years:
2009: 5th in Third Section (V. Evans) (prom)
2008: 2nd (V. Evans)
2007: 3rd (V. Evans)
2006: 6th (V. Evans)
2005: 7th (V. Evans)
2004: Winners of Fourth Section (V. Evans) (prom)
2003: 3rd (V. Evans)
2002: 10th in Third Section (V. Evans) (rel)
2001: 10th in Second Section (V. Evans) (rel)
2000: 7th (V. Evans)
1999: N/K (prom)
1998: 3rd in Third Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Catterick Brass
Conductor: S. Halliday

Last 14 Years:
Debut

Cockerton Prize Silver
Conductor: G. Nicklin

Last 14 Years:
2009: 4th (G. Nicklin)
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

Dearham
Conductor: G. Williams

Last 14 Years:
2009: 3rd (G. Williams)
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

Houghton Brass
Conductor: T. Gibson

Last 14 Years:
2009: 2nd (H. Smith)
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

Northumbrian Water Ellington Colliery
Conductor: J. Fenwick

Last 14 Years:
2009: 8th in First Section (R. Farr) (rel)
2008: 7th (A. Fernie)
2007: 7th (A. Fernie)
2006: 5th (A. Fernie)
2005: 7th (T. Swainson)
2004: Winners of Second Section (D. Wright) (prom)
2003: 3rd in Third Section (D. Wright) (prom)
2002: 2nd (D. Wright)
2001: 5th (D. Wright)
2000: 6th (J. Higginson)
1999: N/K
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

South Milford Brass
Conductor: M. Davison

Last 14 Years:
2009: Winners of Third Section (R. Wilton) (prom)
2008: Winners of Fourth Section (R. Wilton) (prom)
2007: 5th (R. Wilton)
2000-2006: DNC
1999: 2nd

Past Qualifiers:

2009: Flookburgh, Houghton Brass
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:

2009: 7th, 15th
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  

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