2005 Regionals: North of England - Preview: Third Section

Eleven bands will try and impress Alan Morrison with their Scottish tales of drunken horse riding – not that he knows anything about that sort of behaviour! Who will capture the essence of old Tam and the Devil though?

Date: Sunday 27th February
Adjudicator: Alan Morrison
Test Piece: Tam O'Shanter's Ride – Denis Wright
Commences: 10.00
Draw: 09.15

Barnard Castle
Conductor: G. Hutchinson

Last Year: DNC

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 11th (I. Johnson)
2002: DNC
2001: 6th 1st Section (rel) (G. Hutchinson)
2000: 8th 1st Section
1999: N/K
1998: 6th 1st Section
1997: 3rd 1st Section
1996: N/K

There are some rumours that may suggest that Barnard Castle may not attend this year – and we really hope they are wrong and that this famous old band make it to the stage once more after being absent last year. If they do make it then give them an even bigger round of applause.  

Billingham Silver
Conductor: V. Evans

Last Year: Winners Fourth Section (prom)

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners Fourth Section (prom) (V. Evans)
2003: 3rd (V. Evans)
2002: 10th 3rd Section (rel) (V. Evans)
2001: 10th 2nd Section (rel) (V. Evans)
2000: 7th 2nd Section (V. Evans)
1999: N/K
1998: 3rd 3rd Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Last year Billingham showed that they were a touch too powerful a band for the Fourth Section and so after winning the title and going on to come 16th at Harrogate they return once more to the Third Section to see how they can do here. Confidence should be high then to see if they can start climbing back up the sections once more.  

Carlisle St. Stephens
Conductor: D. Dye

Last Year: 2nd

Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd (D. Dye)
2003: 5th (D. Dye)
2002: 8th 2nd Section (rel) (G. Kydd)
2001: 9th 2nd Section (G. Kydd)
2000: 9th 1st Section (rel) (A. Lewis)
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: 3rd 2nd Section
1996: Winners 2nd Section

A famous name in the brass band history books, Carlisle were National Champions back in 1927 and 1929 and last year they certainly showed a bit of that form when they came runners up and went on to Harrogate where they came 12th. A repeat of that result last year could very well be on the cards again under David Dye. 

Dearham
Conductor: M. Condron

Last Year: 7th

Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th (M. Condron)
2003: 8th (M. Condron)
2002: 7th (J. Ireland)
2001: 3rd 4th Section (prom) (J. Ireland)
2000: 4th 4th Section (S. Tighe)
1999: N/K
1998: 2nd 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

After their fantastic trip to Chicago last year, Dearham get set for the contest season here and will be looking to continue the solid improvements they have shown in the past two years under Mark Condron. After the USA and their fine shows there they will surely be confident of making a mark closer to home.

Ferryhill Town
Conductor: S. Norris

Last Year: 3rd

Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (T. Maddison)
2003: 9th in Second Section (rel) (T. Maddison)
2002: 9th (S. Robson)
2001: Winners 3rd Section (prom) (S. Robson)
2000: Winners 4th Section (prom) (S. Robson)
1999: 4th 4th Section
1998: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 3rd 3rd Section

After a couple of years when Ferryhill could do no wrong, there then followed a couple of years when they could do no right. Thankfully that stopped in 2004 when a return to good form here saw them come 3rd, and they will be looking to repeat or even better that this time around. 

Hetton Silver
Conductor: K. Wheatley

Last Year: DNC

Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 7th (K. Wheatley)
2002: Winners 4th Section (prom) (K. Wheatley)
2001: DNC
2000: 6th (rel) (K. Wheatley)
1999: N/K
1998: 11th 2nd Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Hetton didn't compete here last year and so make a welcome return to the contesting stage this time around. They have had a bit of an on/off appearance record here of late, but when they have performed they have tended to do rather well. If things are back on track they could have enough about them to challenge for a top six place at least. 

Kirkby Lonsdale
Conductor: A. Greenwood

Last Year: 9th

Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th (A. Greenwood)
2003: 6th in Fourth Section (prom) (A. Greenwood)
2002: 2nd (A. Greenwood)
2001: DNC
2000: 8th (A. Greenwood)
1999: N/K
1998: 6th 3rd Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Kirby Lonsdale will surely be looking to improve on last years result when they left Darlington propping up the Third Section table, but they should travel in hope and with a bit more confidence this time around.  If they can pull things together then they will be looking to challenge for a top six place at least. 

Murton Colliery
Conductor: D. Noble

Last Year: 4th

Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (D. Noble)
2003: 4th (J. Cook)
2002: 4th (P. Rosier)
2001: 8th (K. MacDonald)
2000: 8th (K. MacDonald)
1999: 4th
1998: 8th
1997: Winners 4th Section (prom)
1996: 3rd 4th Section

What an amazing record Murton have here over the past seven years – they seem either to come fourth or eighth with nothing in between. The last three years they have just missed out on a podium place and a bit of prize money so they will be extra determined to cast that monkey off their back and get amongst the prizes or even a qualification place this year. 

Ripon City
Conductor: L. Whitworth

Last Year: 6th Fourth Section (prom)

Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th Fourth Section (prom) (L. Whitworth)
2003: 2nd (J. Shepherd)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Only sixth place last year in the Fourth Section for Ripon City, who the year before made a real impression here when they came runners up in the Fourth Section and won mnay admirers. Lets hope they have brought that form here with them this year and that they can make a real impression on the results table. 

Stape Silver
Conductor: M. Breckon

Last Year: 5th

Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (M. Breckon)
2003: 2nd (M. Breckon)
2002: 3rd 4th Section (prom) (M. Breckon)
2001: 4th 4th Section (M. Breckon)
2000: 6th 4th Section (M. Breckon)
1999: N/K
1998: 10th
1997: 4th 4th Section (prom)
1996: 4th 4th Section

Stape just fell away a little last year when they would have been hoping to have gone at least one place better than 2003 and possibly take the title. 5th place though was a good solid return and since they have been promoted from the Fourth Section they have shown that they are strong challengers. Another trip to the Lower Section Finals may well be on the cards.  

Swinton and District Excelsior
Conductor: R. Rutter

Last Year: 6th

Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (R. Rutter)
2003: 6th (R. Rutter)
2002: 9th (R. Rutter)
2001: Winners 4th Section (prom) (R. Rutter)
2000: 5th 4th Section (R. Rutter)
1999: N/K
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: N/K

Since gaining promotion from the Fourth Section in 2001 Swinton has made solid progress and in the last two years in particular have been knocking on the door a bit. They will be hoping this year that they can actually pass through the door and move further up the prize list and a possible qualification place may be the least of their ambitions this year. 

Past Qualifiers:

2004: Lockwood Brass, Carlisle St. Stephens
2003: Wansbeck's Ashington, Stape Silver
2002: Houghton Brass, Ellington Colliery
2001: Ferryhill Town, Langbaurgh
2000: Felling, Westoe (STHCT)
1999: Langbaurgh, South Milford Brass
1998: Yarm and District, Vaux Samson Band
1997: Barrow Concert, Yarm and District
1996: Cottingham, Harrogate
1995: GT Group Peterlee, Greggs Bakery

North of England bands at the Finals:

2004: 3rd, 12th
2003: 14th, 16th
2002: 16th, 18th
2001: 4th, 16th
2000: 12th, 13th
1999: 4th, 13th
1998: 7th, 8th

4BR Prediction:

Should be a great contest for Alan Morrison to cast his experienced ears over – but one that will surely test the bands to the full here. The test piece is a real difficult one indeed, so it may be the bands who make the least mistakes rather than the best music that feature in the prizes.

Acouple of bands have really good records here over the past few years and we think on of those, Ferryhill Town will just have enough about the to take the top prize. They should be joined in Harrogate though by Carlisle St. Stephens, whilst both of the will be hard pushed by the likes of Dearham, Murton, Billingham and Stape, with our dark horse this time being Swinton.

1. Ferryhill Town
2. Carlisle St. Stephens
3. Dearham
4. Murton
5. Billingham
6. Stape

Dark Horses: Swinton

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