2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship - Runners & Riders: Fourth Section

There will be plenty of great music to enjoy from the 17 bands as they look to tickle a French fancy to get to Harrogate.

Saturday 20th March
Adjudicator: C. Brian Buckley
Test Piece: Saint Saens Variations (Philip Sparke)
Draw: 1.30pm
Commences: Starts after Third Section

It may be a touch sad to report that in 1999 an amazing 34 bands took to the stage here to play in the Fourth Section, but in this day and age to get a field of 17 to the starting line up is still a pretty good effort.

The bands at this level have also done well to survive the past decade, made difficult by a combination of lack of players, higher costs and some terrible test piece choices from the Music Panel.

Stun pigs

‘The Talisman’ last year was music to stun pigs by in a slaughterhouse, and was a catastrophic howler, but this year we have music inspired by a little porcine friend that is proving to be a belter.  

Saint Saens ‘Babe’ music has been brought to life by the skill of Philip Sparke in such a brilliant manner that players from other sections have been queuing up to get in and listen to Fourth Section bands play it.  That tells you just how enjoyable it is.

Knighthood

The Music Panel deserves praise for their choice; Philip Sparke, a knighthood for his services to bands.

So which of these 17 will make the most of this tasty bit of a French fancy and make their way to Harrogate, where hopefully (fingers crossed) that they will get to play a piece just as good.

Amersham will be looking to improve on last year’s 12th place, boosted by a decent showing at the Folkestone contest, whilst reigning champion, Battle Town will want to return to Harrogate after coming 12th there last September.

Bletchington Silver has been making remarkable progress here since coming 24th in 2006, whilst Bradwell Silver has been back two years and has posted two decent results, coming 14th last year.

Improved

Charles Church Camberley has improved from 20th – 5th since 2000 and came 6th at Folkestone in the Third Section, whilst Cobham came 5th there but lost ground here in coming 15th last year.

Cold Ash also dropped off the pace to come 9th last year, whilst EPB Brass makes a welcome return after missing out 12 months ago. They will be looking to get back to the finals for the first time since 2004.
Great Yarmouth Brass  will want to return to Harrogate for the first time 2007, whilst Harwich RBL Brass has been somewhat of an inconsistent force here over the past few years, although they came 5th twelve months ago.

Fine place

King’s Lynn Town will want to build on their fine 6th place for last year, whilst LGB Brass has fallen away here in the last few years and will be looking for a return to better ways.  

Letchworth Garden City upped their form last year to come 8th and will want to build on that this time around, whilst the rapidly improving MK Development Band will be looking for a top 10 finish after coming 13th last year.

That leaves the returnees of Newmarket Town and Snowdown Colliery, who came 3rd at the Folkestone contest last year, and Royston Town who should be full of confidence after coming 7th at Butlins earlier this season.

As for a winner?

Battle Town for us looks like they could retain their title, whilst Royston Town and Harwich RBL should push them all the way.

The top six battle for a qualification place could well be between, Kings Lynn, Bletchington and Cold Ash. Our dark horse is EPB Brass.

4BR Prediction:
1. Battle Town
2. Royston Town
3. Harwich RBL
4. King’s Lynn
5. Bletchington
6. Cold Ash

Dark Horse: EPB Brass

Amersham
Conductor: P. Fisher

Last 13 Years:
2009: 12th (I. Hogan)
2008: 6th (A. Duguid)
2007: 15th (A. Duguid)
2006: 15th (A. Fawbert)
2005: 16th (A. Fawbert)
2004: DNC
2003: 17th in Third Section (A. Fawbert) (rel)
2002: 13th (A. Fawbert)
2001: 4th in Fourth Section (prom)
2000: 13th
1999: 21st  
1998: 13th
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Battle Town
Conductor: Jon Penton

Last 14 Years:
2009: Winners (J. Penton)
2008: 9th (J. Penton)
2007: 12th (J.Penton)
2006: 7th (J. Penton)
2005: 10th (J. Penton)
2004: 4th (J. Penton)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC

Bletchington Silver
Conductor: N. Hall

Last 14 Years:
2009: 7th (N. Hall)
2008: 10th (N. Hall)
2007: 14th (N. Hall)
2006: =24th (S. Barwick)
2005: 2nd (S. Barwick)
2004: 18th (S. Barwick)
2003: 15th (S. Barwick)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Bradwell Silver
Conductor: B. Keech

Last 14 Years:
2009: 14th (B. Keech)
2008: 15th (B. Keech)
2007: 15th in Third Section (C. Johnston) (rel)
2006: 14th (C. Johnston)
2005: 11th (K. Durbin)
2004: 5th (B. Keech)
2003: 12th (B. Keech)
2002: 4th (B. Keech)
2001: 13th (B. Keech)
2000: 15th (B. Keech)
1999: 6th in Fourth Section (prom)
1998: 6th
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Charles Church Camberley
Conductor: R. Cherry

Last 14 Years:
2009: 10th (R. Cherry)
2008: 8th (R. Cherry)
2007: 7th (R. Cherry)
2006: 14th (R. Cherry)
2005: 20th (R. Cherry)
2004: 12th (R. Cherry)
2003: 13th (G. Hughes)
2002: 12th (G. Hughes)
2001: 20th (G. Hughes)
2000: 5th (G. Hughes)
1999: 17th
1998: 15th
1997: N/K
1996: 12th

Cobham
Conductor: David Ruel

Last 14 Years:
2009: 15th (D. Ruel)
2008: 11th (D. Ruel)
2007: DNC
2006: 20th (D.Ruel)
2005: 12th (D. Ruel)
2004: DNC
2003: 16th (T. Howard)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: 25th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Cold Ash Brass
Conductor: S. Sizeland

Last 13 Years:
2009: 9th (M. Clark)
2008: 3rd (M. Clark)

E.P.B. Brass
Conductor: M. Turner

Last 14 Years:
2009: DNC
2008: 17th in Third Section (I. Mitchell) (rel)
2007: 7th (D. Desmond)
2006: 11th (S. Groake)
2005: 4th (S. Groarke)
2004: 2nd in Fourth Section (S. Groake) (as Potters Bar) (prom)
2003: 10th (S. Groarke)
2002: 24th
2001: DNC
2000: 31st
1999: 11th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Great Yarmouth
Conductor: S. Philpot

Last 14 Years:
2009: 14th (S. Philpot)
2008: 16th (S. Philpot)
2007: 2nd in Fourth Section (S. Philpot) (prom)
2006: 10th (S. Philpot)
2005: 13th in Third Section (S. Philpott) (rel)
2004: 17th (S. Philpot)
2003: 2nd in Fourth Section (S. Philpot) (prom)
2002: 13th (M. Zipfel)
2001: 8th (F. Wellis)
2000: 22nd (M. Zipfel)
1999: 7th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

Harwich RBL
Conductor: A. Sanders

Last 14 Years:
2009: 5th (A. Sanders)
2008: 13th (A. Sanders)
2007: 9th (A. Sanders)
2006: 5th (A. Sanders)

King's Lynn Town
Conductor: S. Ingham

Last 14 Years:
2009: 6th (S. Ingham)
2008: 12th (P. Mole)
2007: 5th (S. Ingham)
2006: 11th (S. Ingham)
2005: 8th (S. Ingham)
2004: 9th (S. Ingham)
2003: 13th (D. Taylor)
2002: 22nd (K. Mann)
2001: 12th (K. Mann)
2000: 8th (K. Mann)
1999: 27th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC

LGB Brass
Conductor: I. Stewart

Last 14 Years:
2009: 15th in Third Section (I. Stewart) (rel)
2008: 15th (I. Stewart)
2007: 14th (I. Stewart)
2006: 2nd (I. Stewart)

Letchworth Garden City
Conductor: T. Welch

Last 14 Years:
2009: 8th (T. Welch)
2008: 19th (T. Welch)
2007: 13th (T. Welch)
2006: 6th (T. Welch)
2005: DNC
2004: 15th in Third Section (T. Welch) (rel)
2003: 14th (T. Welch)
2002: 8th in Fourth Section (T. Welch) (prom)
2001: 8th (T. Welch)
2000: 13th (T. Welch)
1999: 17th
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

MK Development Broseley
Conductor: D. Johnston

Last 14 Years:
2009: 13th (D. Johnston)
2008: 18th (D. Johnston)
2007: 18th (D. Johnston)
2006: =24th (D. Johnston)

Newmarket Town Brass:
Conductor: L. Ager

Last 14 Years:
2009: DNC
2008: 20th (L. Ager)
2007: 16th (L. Ager)
2000 - 2006: DNC
1999: =21st

Royston Town
Conductor: S. Earley

Last 14 Years:
2009: 11th (S. Earley)
2008: 16th (S. Jones)
2007: 10th (S. Jones)
2006: 9th (S. Jones)
2005: 7th (G. Smith)
2004: DNC
2003: DNC
2002: 25th (J. Jones)
2001: 27th
2000: 28th
1999: 17th

Snowdown Colliery
Conductor: K. Spencer

Last 14 Years:
2009: DNC
2008: 21st (K. Twyman)

Past Qualifiers:

2009: Battle Town, Wantage Silver B
2008: Hemel Hempstead, Tadley Concert Brass, Cold Ash
2007: Chalgrove, Great Yarmouth, Hungerford Town
2006: Thundersley Brass, Waterbeach Brass, Hungerford Town, Watford
2005: Norfolk Wherry Brass, Bletchington Silver, Fulham Town
2004: Waterbeach Brass, Potters Bar Town,. Fulham Brass
2003: Great Yarmouth Brass, Woodbridge Excelsior, Hilgay
2002: Sandhurst Silver, Hungerford Town, Jubilee Brass, Ware Brass
2001: Sandhurst Silver, Fulbourn and Taversham, Ware Brass
2000: Canterbury Youth, St. Sebastian's Wokingham, Amersham
1999: Canterbury Youth, St. Sebastian's Wokingham, St. Albans
1998: Stonesfield, Becontree Brass,
1997: Brent Brass, Becontree Brass,
1996: Southend, Becontree Brass, Chichester City
1995: Southend, Crystal Palace, Chichester City  

London bands at the Finals:

2009: 4th, 12th
2008: 6th, 16th, 19th
2007: 7th, 9th, 19th
2006: 9th, 13th, 14th, 22nd
2005: 5th, 16th, 18th
2004: 1st, 19th, 20th
2003: 13th, 16th, 21st
2002: 10th, 12th, 15th, 20th
2001: 3rd, 13th, 19th
2000: 11th, 15th, 16th
1999: 4th, 7th, 18th
1998: 5th, 8th

^back to top