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ARTICLES

 

2004 Scottish Regional Championships

Fourth Section
Sunday 14th March

Test Piece: Partita – Edward Gregson
Adjudicator: Frank Renton & Raymond Tennant


After a slight dip in numbers recently, the Fourth Section has a rather more healthy eleven bands entered this year. There are no clear favourites as participation in other Scottish contest by the fourth section bands has been a bit patchy of late. Edward Gregson’s Partita will give the bands an enjoyable test, whilst still giving the stronger ones the chance to impose themselves on the contest.


Bon Accord Silver B
Conductor: B. Wallace

Last Eight Years:
2003: 5th (1) (B. Wallace)
2002: 3rd
2001: 4th
2000: 3rd
1999: 6th
1998: DNC
1997: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
1996: Winners 4th Section (prom)

This young band from Aberdeen, have been knocking on the door for the past three years and they will be keen to succeed this year. They’ve not been too active recently in contesting but Bruce Wallace has acquired a lot of experience for a young conductor and we think he will do enough to give them a good chance.


Coalburn Silver
Conductor: G. Bowman

Last Eight Years:
2003: 6th (2) (D. Gray)
2002: 8th
2001: DNC
2000: 8th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

South Lanarkshire’s Coalburn Silver Band, have returned to contesting over the last four years following a long spell in the wilderness. It’s not been easy for them so far but Gareth Bowman will bring a youthful outlook to the band and this will assist them in their quest for further improvement. We’ll give them an outside chance of a prize if they can deliver a good one on the day.


Creetown Silver
Conductor: S. McNab

Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002: 5th
2001: 9th
2000: 10th
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 6th

Another band with a patchy record of participation in recent years, Creetown make a welcome return to contesting after missing out last time. They have achieved a fair bit already by getting the band in shape to compete but promotion may just be out of their reach at the moment.


Dundee Instrumental (St. Margaret's)
Conductor: J. Tonner

Last Eight Years:
2003: 11th 3rd Section (J. Tonner) (rel)
2002: 9th 3rd Section
2001: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
2000: 7th 4th Section
1999: 8th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

A disappointing spell in the Third Section ended with last place for Dundee Instrumental last year. They’ve not been too busy recently in terms of contesting recently either so they may find it difficult to return to the higher section this year. They will be out to prove us wrong though.


Dunfermline Town
Conductor: S. Duncan

Last Eight Years:
2003: 8th 3rd Section (S. Duncan)
2002: 7th
2001: 11th
2000: 3rd
1999: 7th
1998: 5th
1997: 3rd
1996: 10th

Another of the Fife bands, Dunfermline are a hard working group and they were disappointed to be relegated last year, but they will make a strong bid for promotion this year under percussionist Steve Duncan. They played well at the Fife contest in November and they will approach this one with some confidence. A possible contender.


Dysart Colliery
Conductor: F. Culross

Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

This will be the first appearance in many years for the band from Kirkcaldy in Fife. They have been working towards this for a few years now and they will be delighted to be returning to the fold under conductor Frank Culross. Possibly one for the future but promotion this year may just be a tad optimistic for them.


Hawick Saxhorn
Conductor: C. Kemp

Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002:
2001:
2000:
1999:
1998:
1997:
1996:

Another band with an illustrious history returning to the fold this year, Hawick Saxhorn and their experienced conductor Colin Kemp are a typical example of the recent resurgence in Borders banding. We expect them to have a good reading of the piece and if they can put it together on the day they could do well. Another one for the future but they will be content to wait another year for promotion.


Newlands Concert
Conductor: M. Bell

Last Eight Years:
2003: DNC
2002: 10th
2001: 8th
2000: 12th 3rd Section (rel)
1999: 7th 3rd Section
1998: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1997: 10th 2nd Section
1996: 9th 2nd Section

From Bathgate in West Lothian, Newlands Concert took a year out last year but they have used the break well to regroup and have come back a much stronger outfit. They played very well to win the Fourth Section at the Borders Entertainment contest and we think Mark Bell will have put in enough work to give them a good chance of success in the Scottish Championships.


Penicuik Silver
Conductor: I. Fleming

Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd (6) (J. Chamberlain)
2002: 4th
2001: 3rd
2000: 4th
1999: 5th
1998: 6th
1997: 5th
1996: 5th

One of these days Penicuik are going to hit form at the right time and leave the rest of the Fourth Section in their wake. They are perpetually in and around the prizes but just never seem to do enough to get the promotion that they so badly want. Whitburn’s solo horn player Iain Fleming is back with them this year and although we think they won’t be far away (not exactly rocket science!), it remains to be seen whether they can do it on the day.


Queensferry High
Conductor: J. Anderson

Last Eight Years:
2003: 4th (7) (J. Anderson)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC

Making their second appearance at the Scottish Championship, Jim Anderson’s Queensferry band, from under the shadows of the Forth Bridges, are a young band with high ambitions. They played well at the recent Fife contest but just missed out on the result they wanted. We think they will do their founder, John Gilmour, proud and promotion might be within their grasp.


Stranraer Brass
Conductor: I. Munro

Last Eight Years:
2003: 7th (5) (I. Munro)
2002: 11th
2001: DNC
2000: 13th
1999: 10th
1998: DNC
1997: 10th 3rd Section (rel)
1996: 9th 3rd Section

Another band with a long journey to Motherwell, Stranraer are another young band with potential and their although their results have improved only slightly over the last couple of years, they are a band with potential. The last few months have been quiet contestwise, but we think they’ll continue their improvement under Iain Munro.


Results archive:
Full results of previous year's contests together with a results summary can be found in our results archive.

Past Qualifiers:

2003: Dumfries Town, Peebles Burgh
2002: Lochgelly, Jedforest Instrumental
2001: Arbroath Instrumental, Dundee Instrumental
2000: Clydebank Burgh, North Ayrshire Band
1999: St. Ronan's Silver, Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass
1998: St. David's Brass, Fauldhouse Miners Brass
1997: City of Discovery Brass, Buckhaven and Methil
1996: Bon Accord Silver B, Turriff Silver
1995: Whitburn Burgh Juniors, Stranraer Youth

Scottish bands at the Finals:

2003: 18th, 19th
2002: 8th, 13th
2001: 16th, 17th
2000: 7th, 9th
1999: 5th, 13th
1998: 6th, 11th

4BR Prediction:

A very competitive section to finish Saturday’ proceedings. We think that Penicuik will finally do enough to secure promotion but we’ll give Bon Accord B the benefit of the coin toss. Any one of about 4 or 5 have a good chance of proving us wrong though.

1. Bon Accord Silver B
2. Penicuik Silver
3. Newlands Concert Brass
4. Queensferry High
5. Dumfermline Town
6. Coalburn Silver

Dark Horse: Hawick Saxhorn

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