2010 London & Southern Counties Regional Championship - Runners & Riders: Second Section
17-Mar-2010Which of these 17 bands will be able to be inspired by the weird and wonderful world to be found at the other end of the M4 motorway?
Sunday 21st March
Adjudicator: Simone Rebello
Test Piece: The Kingdom of Dragons (Philip Harper)
Draw: 9.00am
Commences: Starts at 10.00am
There is a well-worn path made by travellers from Wales to London over the years – from bands on their way to the Albert Hall, to the influx of PE teachers to inner city comprehensive schools.
It’s debatable many have made the trip the other way though?
Well worth it
It’s well worth a visit, because by the time the M4 weaves its way over the River Severn they would find themselves in ‘The Kingdom of Dragons’ itself – and the busy city of Newport – or Casnewydd as the Welsh call it to totally confuse unwanted guests.
Move a few miles up the road and you get to Torfaen and the heartland of Pontypool rugby country, whilst a quick detour in either direction at the top of the World Heritage town of Blaenavon can see you either head to the topsy-turvy valleys of Blaenau Gwent or to the fertile farmlands and castles of Monmouthshire.
Travel inspiration
Hopefully a few conductors will have sought a bit of personal travel inspiration on Philip Harper’s evocative piece, because it comes to life when played with a sense of understanding of the geographic as well historic character of the four areas that are used in its makeup.
Welsh magic
So who will capture that touch of Welsh magic and gain a qualification spot to Harrogate, where last year’s representatives came a respectful 5th and 12th?
2008 winners Alder Valley for one will be confident after coming 4th last year and posting a decent return at Skegness at the beginning of the season, whilst Becontree, the 2004 winners, will also come looking to build on the excellent 4th place they claimed at Butlins.
Brighton & Hove came up from the Third Section last year and will want to push on from their 15th place as they look for a repeat of their 1997 triumph here, whilst Chichester City are an improving band who last qualified in 2000 and came 5th last time out.
Chinnor dropped away last year but posted a solid result at the Leicester contest late last season, whilst Crystal Palace came 13th on their return to the contest and so will be looking push up the results table this time around.
Favourites
Colchester is another band that returned after a two year break and will be boosted by their win at the Folkestone contest last season, whilst the bookies favourites will surely by East London Brass, who are enjoying a marvellous time of it under the baton of Jayne Murrill.
They won the title here last year and went on to come 5th at Harrogate and the start this season with another victory at Butlins.
Epping come looking to find a touch of consistency at this contest after last year’s 10th place, whilst Littleport, the 2008 Third Section champion, will be keen to make yet another move forwards after coming 9th last year and posting a solid performance at Pontins.
Move back
Relegated Northfleet will be looking to start making a move back to the form that saw them compete in the top section in 2006, whilst St Sebastian Wokingham is a band that has a real sense of long term development about it – as shown by their promotion from the Third Section this year and their appearance at Harrogate last September.
Stantonbury will now they will have to up their form if they are not to be drawn into a relegation fight and will look to build on their encouraging 4th place at the West Midlands contest late last year, whilst Thundersley had a bit of blip last year in coming 12th in what has been a few seasons of excellent progress.
Solid
Tilbury has dropped down the sections of late and will be looking to make a step back in the right direction under Alan Duguid, whilst Ware Brass and Philip Littlemore has delivered a number of solid performances over the last few years and came 6th last year.
That just leaves Waterbeach Brass, promoted from the Third Section and who put in a solid enough showing at Butlins earlier this year when they came 14th.
As to a winner?
Can’t see further than East London Brass of they show the type of form they have in recent times, whilst they could well be joined at Harrogate by Becontree Brass.
The likes of Alder Valley, Northfleet, Thundersley, Ware should make up the top six with our dark horse of Chichester.
4BR Prediction:
1. East London Brass
2. Becontree Brass
3. Alder Valley
4. Northfleet
5. Thundersley
6. Ware Brass
Dark Horses: Chichester
Alder Valley Brass
Conductor: Roger Burke
Last 14 Years:
2009: 4th (R. Burke)
2008: Winners (R. Burke)
2007: DNC
2006: 12th (S. Chislett)
2005: 14th (B. Gentry)
2004: 12th (L. Sale)
2003: 7th (D. Barringer)
2002: 4th (D. Barringer)
2001: 9th (D. Marshall)
2000: 11th in Championship Section (rel)
1999: 11th
1998: Winners of First Section (prom)
1997: 5th
1996: 7th
Becontree Brass
Conductor: G. Chambers
Last 14 Years:
2009: 8th (G. Chambers)
2008: 10th in First Section (G. Chambers) (rel)
2007: 14th (D. Bright)
2006: 14th (G. Sheldon)
2005: 10th (G. Sheldon)
2004: Winners of Second Section (G. Sheldon) (prom)
2003: 8th (J. Morahan)
2002: 2nd (W. Rumford)
2001: 2nd in Third Section (W. Rumford) (prom)
2000: 4th (W. Rumford)
1999: 12th
1998: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)
1997: 2nd
1996: 2nd
Brighton and Hove City Brass
Conductor: M. Hackett
Last 14 Years:
2009: 15th (M. Hackett)
2008: 3rd in Third Section (M. Hackett) (prom)
2007: 8th (M. Hackett)
2006: 8th in Second Section (J. Williams) (rel)
2005: 12th (C. Aberg)
2004: 13th (E. Flood)
2003: 3rd (E. Flood)
2002: 7th (E. Flood)
2001: 8th (E. Flood)
2000: 11th in First Section (E. Flood) (rel)
1999: 12th
1998: 12th
1997: Winners of Second Section (prom)
1996: 10th in Third Section (prom)
Chichester City
Conductor: M. Grace
Last 14 Years:
2009: 5th (M. Grace)
2008: 8th (J. Williams)
2007: 8th (J. Williams)
2006: 13th in First Section (L. Bulchart) (rel)
2005: 12th (D. Hirst)
2004: 13th (J. Williams)
2003: 9th (J. Williams)
2002: 3rd (J. Williams)
2001: 14th (J. Williams)
2000: 2nd in Second Section (J. Williams) (prom)
1999: 5th
1998: 7th in Third Section (prom)
1997: 2nd
1996: 3rd in Fourth Section (prom)
Chinnor
Conductor: D. Pegram
Last 14 Years:
2009: 11th (D. Pegram)
2008: 5th (D. Pegram)
2007: 13th (D. Pegram)
2006: 3rd in Third Section (D. Pegram) (prom)
2005: 10th (D. Pegram)
2004: 2nd (D. Pegram)
2003: 8th (D. Pegram)
2002: 12th (D. Williams)
2001: 10th (D. Pegram)
2000: 15th in Second Section (D. Williams) (rel)
1999: 12th
1998: 14th
1997: 3rd in Third Section (prom)
1996: 2nd
Colchester
Conductor: P. Ivey
Last 14 Years:
2009: 7th (M. Easener)
2008: DNC
2007: DNC
2006: 16th in First Section (M. Easener) (rel)
2005: 9th (M. Easton)
2004: 10th (B. Reader)
2003: 11th (B. Reader)
2002: 12th Championship (T. Davey) (rel)
2001: 7th (P. Fensom) (prom)
2000: 3rd (R. Howard)
1999: 6th
1998: 10th Championship (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: Winners 1st Section
Crystal Palace
Conductor: Mike Gray
Last 14 Years:
2009: 13th (M. Gray)
2008: DNC
2007: 16th in First Section (M. Gray) (rel)
2006: 15th (M. Gray)
2005: 4th in Second Section (prom) (M. Gray)
2004: 4th (M. Gray)
2003: 7th (M. Gray)
2002: 12th (M. Gray)
2001: 13th (M. Gray)
2000: 9th (M. Gray)
1999: 3rd
1998: 3rd in Third Section (prom)
1997: 5th in Third Section
1996: 4th in Third Section
East London Brass
Conductor: Jayne Murrill
Last 14 Years:
2009: Winners (J. Murrill)
2008: 9th (J. Murrill)
2007: 12th (D. Shead)
2006: 6th (D. Shead)
2005: 5th (S. Earley)
2004: 8th (S. Earley)
2003: 7th in Third Section (S. Early) (prom)
2002: 3rd (A. Caldon)
Prior to this they competed as Waltham Forest Co-op Band.
Epping Forest
Conductor: D. Desmond
Last 14 Years:
2009: 10th (M. Easener)
2008: 6th (M. Easener)
2007: 11th (M. Easener)
2006: 4th (M. Easener)
2005: 6th (M. Easener)
2004: 16th in First Section (M. Easener) (rel)
2003: 13th (M. Easener)
2002: 12th
2001: 10th
2000: 14th
1999: 6th in Second Section (prom)
1998: 4th
1997: 4th in Third Section (prom)
1996: 9th
Littleport Brass
Conductor: N. Bramley
Last 14 Years:
2009: 9th (N. Bramley)
2008: Winners of Third Section (N. Bramley) (prom)
2007: 3rd (N. Bramley)
2006: 12th (P. Mead)
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: 3rd (J. Hammond)
2003: 10th (J. Hammond)
2002: 13th
2001: 12th in Second Section (rel)
2000: 11th
1999: 7th
1998: 7th
1997: Winners of Third Section (prom)
1996: 16th
Northfleet Brass
Conductor: Matthew Hackett
Last 14 Years:
2009: 10th in First Section (A. Austin) (rel)
2008: 14th (A. Austin)
2007: 12th (A. Caldon)
2006: 12th in Championship Section (A. Caldon) (rel)
2005: 6th (D. Lewis)
2004: 2nd in First Section (D. Lewis) (prom)
2003: 5th (D. Lewis)
2002: Winners of Second Section (prom)
2001: 17th in First Section (rel)
2000: 12th
1999: 4th in Second Section (prom)
1998: 3rd
1997: 6th
1996: 9th
St. Sebastian's Wokingham
Conductor: J. Kelloway
Last 14 Years:
2009: Winners of Third Section (L. Woodward) (prom)
2008: 5th (A. Porter)
2007: 10th (A. Porter)
2006: 10th (D. Richards)
2005: 3rd (D. Richards)
2004: 9th (B. Gentry)
2003: 11th (B. Gentry)
2002: 6th (B. Gentry)
2001: 15th (B. Gentry)
2000: 2nd in Fourth Section (B. Gentry) (prom)
1999: 2nd
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 19th
Stantonbury Brass
Conductor: A. Jenkin
Last 14 Years:
2009: 17th (A. Jenkin)
2008: 4th in Third Section (A. Jenkin) (prom)
2007: 6th (A. Jenkin)
2006: 7th (A. Jenkin)
2005: 8th (A. Jenkin)
2004: 7th (A. Jenkin)
2003: 6th (A. Jenkin)
2002: 11th (A. Jenkin)
2001: 4th (A. Jenkin)
2000: 16th in Second Section (A. Jenkin) (rel)
1999: 13th
1998: 8th in Second Section
1997: N/K
1996: Winners of Third Section
Thundersley
Conductor: R. Morris
Last 14 Years:
2009: 12th (R. Morris)
2008: 4th (R. Morris)
2007: 2nd in Third Section (K. Schroeder) (prom)
2006: Winners of Fourth Section (K. Schroeder) (prom)
2005: 9th (K. Schroeder)
2004: 7th (K. Schroeder)
2003: Disqualified (K. Schroeder)
2002: 14th (D. Hirst)
2001: 14th (D. Hirst)
2000: 23rd (K. Nice)
1999: 25th
1998: 3rd
1997: N/K
1996: 17th
Tilbury
Conductor: Alan Duguid
Last 14 Years:
2009: 14th (A. Duguid)
2008: 11th (D. Lewis)
2007: 3rd (R. Nunnery)
2006: 7th (R. Nunnery)
2005: 10th (R. Nunnery)
2004: 14th in First Section (R. Nunnery) (rel)
2003: Withdrew
2002: 10th
2001: Winners of Second Section (prom)
2000: 4th
1999: 13th in First Section (rel)
1998: 15th
1997: N/K
1996: 6th
Ware Brass
Conductor: Phillip Littlemore
Last 14 Years:
2009: 6th (P. Littlemore)
2008: 10th (P. Littlemore)
2007: 9th (P. Littlemore)
2006: 11th (K. Durbin)
2005: 11th (K. Durbin)
2004: 5th (K. Durbin)
2003: Winners of Third Section (K. Durbin) (prom)
2002: 4th in Fourth Section (K. Durbin) (prom)
2001: 3rd (K. Durbin)
2000: 18th (K. Durbin)
1999: 16th in Third Section (rel)
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: 9th
Waterbeach Brass
Conductor: James Utting
Last 14 Years:
2009: 3rd in Third Section (J. Utting) (prom)
2008: 7th (J. Utting)
2007: 9th (J. Utting)
2006: 2nd in Fourth Section (J.Utting) (prom)
2005: 4th (J. Utting)
2004: Winners of Fourth Section (J. Utting)
2003: DNC
2002: 15th (C. Bell)
2001: 5th (C. Bell)
2000: 12th (P. Mead)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Past Qualifiers:
2009: East London Brass, Yiewsley & West Drayton
2008: Alder Valley, Epsom & Ewell Silver
2007: Egham, Cawston
2006: Jersey Premier Brass, Denham Hendon Brass
2005: Sandhurst Silver, Horsham Borough
2004: Becontree Brass, St Albans City
2003: Wantage Silver, Broseley Brass, Brighton Silver
2002: Northfleet Brass, Becontree Brass
2001: Tilbury, Stonesfield Silver
2000: City of Cambridge, Chichester City
1999: Thames, Egham Band
1998: Welwyn Garden, Fairlop Brass
1997: Brighton Silver, Fairlop Brass
1996: Hanwell, Haverhill Silver
1995: Soham Comrades, Hatfields of Colchester
London bands at the Finals:
2009: 5th, 12th
2008: 11th, 16th
2007: 11th, 14th
2006: 8th, 13th
2005: 5th, 10th
2004: 5th, 15th
2003: 9th, 10th, 13th
2002: 11th, 13th
2001: 10th, 14th
2000: 8th, 16th
1999: 14th, 17th
1998: 7th, 12th
