Saturday 10th March
Adjudicators: David Thorrnton & John Doyle
Test Piece: Olympus (Philip Harper)
Pre drawn:
Commences: 10.00am
Looking good: Brass Sounds Inverclyde took the 2011 honours
Only one Scottish band has lifted the Third Section National Championship trophy this century, and that was an honour that fell to Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass in 2000.
That should be something of an inspiration for many of the competitors here this weekend, as they have since gone on to be a successful First/Championship outfit – something that in well within the grasp of these talented bands and MDs.
Micro epic
And there could hardly be a greater inspiration to do that than on Philip Harper’s enjoyable sporting micro-epic, ‘Olympus’.
Last year’s qualifiers ended up in 5th and 10th so even though another gold medal winning prospect for Cheltenham may seem a little bit of a long shot, things are on the up.
David Thornton and John Doyle (right) will be the men passing judgement on the musical athletics in a contest that on the evidence of recent form could prove to be one of the closest of all of the sections in this year’s Championship.
Point or two
Barrhead Burgh under Brian Keachie has not competed since the band’s drop from the Second Section last year, so will be looking to prove a point or two as they shoulder up to the Third Section competition.
Meanwhile, David Neil and Buckhaven & Methil Miners will be looking to build on a solid 5th place finish last year and a creditable 10th at the Borders Entertainment contest in November.
Move up
Dumfries Town, came up to the Third Section last year and will look to start moving further forward after ending in 9th, and then posting a solid 10th place at the Scottish Challenge Shield.
Meanwhile, Jedforest Instrumental and Phil Rosier will be sure to want to do the same and more after narrowly missing out on qualification spot in 3rd place last year.
Indefatigable
The indefatigable Alan Fernie will be hoping to guide the ever improving Langholm Town further up the results table after coming 8th last time, no doubt helped by a decent showing at the Borders Entertainment contest.
Also looking to do the same will be MacTaggart Scott Loanhead who should be confident of making a real impression following their Fourth Section victory last year and a very solid finish at the National Finals in Cheltenham.
Consistent
Peebles Burgh has been a consistent mid-table finisher for the last couple of years, a record MD Alex Knox will be looking to build on after a none too shabby 12th place at the Borders Entertainment contest.
Meanwhile, Perthshire Brass is sure to be confident contenders following a 9th place finish amongst tough competition at the Scottish Challenge Shield and a strong 4th place here last year.
Odds
Renfrew Burgh has only played once competitively since last year’s event; finishing 9th at Brass in the Park in September, so it’s odds on MD Mark Good will be out to better last year’s 7th place.
Selkirk Silver is another band that will play under Alan Fernie’s baton, hoping to make a swift return to the Second Section after relegation in 2011 and a disappointing 15th place at the Borders Entertainment contest.
That just leaves newly promoted Tayport Instrumental under Frank Culross, a band that deserves a generous helping of good luck after qualifying for the Fourth Section final in Cheltenham only to be forced to withdraw from the big day.
Chris Thomas
As for a winner?
Of all five sections in Glenrothes, this could be the closest to call, with a batch of bands having a serious opportunity to seize their qualification places for Cheltenham.
We are going with Jedforest Instrumental by the narrowest of margins from Selkirk Silver, Perthshire Brass and Barrhead Burgh. Buckhill and Peebles should make up the top six for us with our dark horse of MacTaggart Scott Loanhead.
4BR Prediction:
1. Jedforest Instrumental
2. Selkirk Silver
3. Perthshire Brass
4. Barrhead Burgh
5. Buckhill & Methil Miners
6. Peebles Burgh
Dark Horse: MacTaggart Scott Loanhead
Barrhead Burgh
Conductor: Brian Keachie
Last 16 Years:
2011: 12th in Second Section (B. Keachie) (rel)
2010: 6th (L. Nicholson)
2009: 9th in First Section (M. Ramsay) (rel)
2008: 4th (M. Ramsay)
2007: 8th (C. Bradley)
2006: 2nd in Second Section (C. Bradley) (prom)
2005: 9th (B. Keachie) (rel)
2004: Winners of Second Section (B. Keachie) (prom)
2003: 3rd (B. Keachie)
2002: 5th in First Section (B. Keachie) (rel)
2001: 7th (E. Drysdale)
2000: 8th (C. McKenzie)
1999: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
1998: 8th in First Section (rel)
1997: 8th
1996: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
Buckhaven & Methil Miners
Conductor: David Neil
Last 16 Years:
2011: 5th (D. Neil)
2010: 9th (G. Evans MBE)
2009: 5th (G. Evans MBE)
2008: 10th (G. Evans MBE)
2007: Winners of Fourth Section (R. McDonald) (prom)
2006: 12th in Third Section (R. McDonald) (rel)
2005: 10th (R. McDonald)
2004: 4th (R. McDonald)
2003: 10th (B. Fraser)
2002: 6th (A. Fernie)
2001: 3rd (A. Fernie)
2000: 8th (A. Fernie)
1999: 5th
1998: 10th
1997: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom)
1996: 4th
Dumfries Town
Conductor: Peter Heyes
Last 16 Years:
2011: 9th (P. Heyes)
2010: Winners of Fourth Section (P. Heyes) (prom)
2009: 4th (P. Heyes)
2008: 6th (P. Heyes)
2007: DNC
2006: 6th (P. Heyes)
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: 9th in Third Section (T. Holland)
2003: Winners 4th Section (G. Brotherston) (prom)
2002: 7th
2001: 6th
2000:DNC
1999: 4th
1998: 7th
1997: 6th
1996: DNC
Jedforest Instrumental
Conductor: Phil Rosier
Last 16 Years:
2011: 3rd (P. Rosier)
2010: 10th in Second Section (R. Gray) (rel)
2009: 9th (C. Bradley)
2008: 6th (C. Bradley)
2007: 5th (A. Fernie)
2006: 4th (A. Fernie)
2005: 6th (A. Fernie)
2004: 2nd in Third Section (A. Fernie) (prom)
2003: 4th (A. Fernie)
2002: 2nd in Fourth Section (A. Fernie) (rpom)
2001: 5th (A. Fernie)
2000: 6th (A. Fernie)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Langholm Town
Conductor: Alan Fernie
Last 16 Years:
2011: 8th (A. Fernie)
2010: 2nd in Fourth Section (A. Fernie) (prom)
Last competed in 1994 in Fourth Section.
MacTaggart Scott Loanhead
Conductor: Mark Bell
Last 16 Years:
2011: Winners of Fourth Section (M. Bell) (prom)
2010: 10th in Third Section (M. Bell) (rel)
2009: 9th (R. Duff)
2008: 8th (A. Fernie)
2007: 7th (A. Fernie)
2006: 9th (A. Fernie)
2005: 8th (A. Fernie)
2004: 5th (A. Fernie)
2003: 5th (A. Fernie)
2002: 5th (A. Fernie)
2001: 7th (D. McLeod)
2000: 11th (G. Williamson)
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th
1997: 5th
1996: 3rd
Peebles Burgh
Conductor: Alex Knox
Last 16 Years:
2011: 6th (A. Knox)
2010: 7th (A. Fernie)
2009: Winners of Fourth Section (A. Fernie) (prom)
2008: DNC
2007: 12th (D. Broadbent)
2006: 6th (D. Broadbent)
2005: 5th (D. Broadbent)
2004: DNC
2003: 2nd in Fourth Section (D. Broadbent) (prom)
2002: 5th (D. O'Connor)
2001: 10th (W. Smith)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Perthshire Brass
Conductor: George D. Annan
Last 16 Years:
2011: 4th (G. Annan)
2010: 5th (G. Annan)
2009: 11th in Second Section (G. Annan) (rel)
2008: 7th (G. Annan)
2007: 2nd in Third Section (G. Annan) (prom)
2006: 7th (G. Annan)
2005: 7th (G. Annan)
2004: 7th (G. Annan)
2003: 9th (G. Annan)
2002: 8th (G. Annan)
2001: 8th (G. Annan)
2000: 10th in Second Section (G. Annan) (rel)
1999: 8th
1998: 8th
1997: 4th in Third Section (prom)
1996: 10th in Second Section (rel)
Renfrew Burgh
Conductor: Mark Good
Last 16 Years:
2011: 7th (T. Pacher)
2010: 4th (D. Hutchison)
2009: 3rd (D. Hutchison)
2008: Winners of Fourth Section (D. Hutchinson) (prom)
2007: 3rd (D. Hutchinson)
2006: 10th in Third Section (D. Hutchinson) (rel)
2005: 12th in Second Section (D. Hutchinson) (rel)
2004: 11th (E. Drysdale)
2003: 4th (C. Keenan)
2002: 5th (C. Keenan)
2001: 4th (C. Keenan)
2000: 5th (C. Keenan)
1999: 10th
1998: Winners of Third Section (prom)
1997: 8th
1996: 5th
Selkirk Silver
Conductor: Alan Fernie
Last 16 Years:
2011: 11th in Second Section (M. Bell) (rel)
2010: 9th (M. Bell)
2009: 10th (M. Bell)
2008: 8th (C. Hogg)
2007: 3rd (R. Duff)
2006: 3rd (R. Duff)
2005: 2nd in Third Section (R. Duff) (prom)
2004: 10th in Second Section (C. Marr) (rel)
2003: 12th (C. Kemp)
2002: 4th (C. Kemp)
2001: 6th (C. Kemp)
2000: 7th (C. Kemp)
1999: 3rd
1998: 5th
1997: 5th
1996: 4th
Tayport Instrumental
Conductor: Frank Culross
Last 16 Years:
2011: 2nd in Fourth Section (F. Culross) (prom)
2010: 3rd (F. Culross)
2009: 10th in Third Section (F. Culross) (rel)
2008: 7th (F. Culross)
2007: 6th (F. Culross)
2006: 12th in Second Section (B. Deans) (rel)
2005: 8th (P. Ratnik)
2004: 9th in First Section (I. Davey) (rel)
2003: 8th (R. MacDonald)
2002: 5th (R. MacDonald)
2001: 2nd in Second Section (R. MacDonald) (prom)
2000: 9th in First Section (R. MacDonald) (rel)
1999: 6th
1998: Winners of Second Section (prom)
1997: 9th in First Section (rel)
1996: 7th
Past Qualifiers:
2011: Brass Sunds Inverclyde, St David’s Brass
2010: Kilmarnock Concert, Irvine & Dreghorn
2009: Coalburn Silver, Dunfermline Town
2008: Dalkeith & Monktonhall, Annan Town
2007: Campbeltown Brass, Coalburn Silver
2006: Tullis Russell Mills, Broxburn Silver
2005: Shott's St. Patrick's, Selkirk Silver
2004: St. Davids Brass, Jedforest Instrumental
2003: Lochgelly, St. Ronan's
2002: Shotts St. Patrick's Brass, Arbroath Instrumental
2001: Clydebank Burgh, Tullis Russell Mills
2000: Livingston Brass, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
1999: Turriff Silver, City of Discovery Brass
1998: Renfrew Burgh, Irvine and Dreghorn
1997: Kepston Q Fab Whitburn Brass, Annan Town
1996: Kilmarnock Concert Brass, Campbeltown Brass
1995: Barrhead and District, Newland Concert
Scottish bands at the Finals:
2011: 5th, 10th
2010: 16th, 17th
2009: 5th, 13th
2008: 7th, 10th
2007: 7th, 14th
2006: 3rd, 6th
2005: 11th, 16th
2004: 10th, 16th
2003: 12th, 13th
2002: 12th, 14th
2001: 12th, 15th
2000: 1st, 2nd
1999: 5th, 14th
1998: 3rd, 17th
