2005 Regionals: London & Southern Counties - Preview: Third Section
16-Mar-2005Eighteen bands line up to do battle over a bit Scottish drinking and driving. Not quite a pint of Watney's Red Barrel, but still a good yarn to tell for the winning band.
Date: Saturday 19th March
Adjudicator: Malcolm Brownbill
Test Piece: Tam O'Shanter's Ride - Denis Wright
Commences: 10.00am
Draw: 9.00am
No photo? Please send a JPEG to: stating the conductors name, your band, your region and section.
Bradwell Silver
Conductor: K. Durbin
Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th (B. Keech)
2003: 12th (B. Keech)
2002: 4th (B. Keech)
2001: 13th (B. Keech)
2000: 15th (B. Keech)
1999: 6th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 6th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
It has been a bit up and down here for Bradwell in the past couple of years, but 5th place last year once more showed that one their day they are a band to look out for. Will their day be this Saturday then?
Cantium Brass
Conductor: J. Gould
Last NineYears:
2004: DNC
2003: 15th Second Section (rel) (J. Gould)
2002: 6th (J. Gould)
2001: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
2000: 2nd 3rd Section
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
It's welcome back for Cantium as they missed last year following a poor result in 2003 when they came 15th in the Second Section. We don't know what the interim period has been like, but we hope they return stronger for the break and looking to reclaim their place back in the Second Section.
Chinnor
Conductor: D. Pegram
Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd (D. Pegram)
2003: 8th (D. Pegram)
2002: 12th (D. Williams)
2001: 10th (D. Pegram)
2000: 15th 2nd Section (D. Williams) (rel)
1999: 12th 2nd Section
1998: 14th 2nd Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 2nd
Chinnor gave a great performance here last year to claim the runners up spot and also claim a place at Harrogate. There they played well but ended up coming 15th, so they will surely be looking to return once more and better that. It all starts here on Saturday.
Croydon Brass
Conductor: A. Caldon
Last Nine Years:
2004: DNC
2003: 4th (M. Hackett)
2002: 8th
2001: 16th
2000: 12th
1999: 4th 4th Section (prom)
1998: 4th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Another band making a return this year after missing out on all the fun and games 12 months ago. That was a pity as they had shown in 2003 that they could have been contenders. Still, lets hope they return stronger and confident of doing well.
Enfield Motor Museum & Potters Bar Contest Band
Conductor: S. Jones
Last Eight Years:
2004: 2nd Fourth Section (S. Groake) (as Potters Bar)
2003: 10th (S. Groarke)
2002: 24th
2001: DNC
2000: 31st
1999: 11th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Sarah Groarke made her mark with Potter's Bar band last year and now that they have combined forces with Enfield Motor Museum, you sense things can only get even better. Last year they came 2nd [as Potter's Bar] in the Fourth Section and went on to win the National title, so what will this year bring them under new MD Simon Jones? More of the same perhaps?
Epsom and Ewell Silver
Conductor: E. Howard
Last NineYears:
2004: 12th (E. Howard)
2003: 16th in Second Section (rel) (M. Winter)
2002: DNC
2001: 11th (E. Meuir)
2000: 7th (D. Richards)
1999: 10th
1998: 14th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 7th
Epsom have fallen away at the Regional contest over the last few years – they were competing in the First Section in 1998. Last year they were placed 12th after they dropped down from the Second Section and so they will be keen to start climbing back up the prize table this weekend.
Great Yarmouth Brass
Conductor: S. Philpot
Last Nine Years:
2004: 17th (S. Philpot)
2003: 2nd Fourth Section (prom) (S. Philpot)
2002: 13th (M. Zipfel)
2001: 8th (F. Wellis)
2000: 22nd (M. Zipfel)
1999: 7th
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Great Yarmouth are making solid progress up through the ranks it seems. 22nd back in the Fourth Section in 2000 has been turned into a promtion by 2003, but they did find life a little bit more difficult here last year when they came 17th. They return once more though and it may be that a small rise up the prize table may be the ambition.
Grimsdyke Brass
Conductor: S. Broughall
Last Nine Years:
2004: 4th (S. Broughall)
2003: Withdrew (rel) (K. Ransom)
2002: DIS
2001: 7th (K. Ransom)
2000: 6th (K. Ransom)
1999: 9th
1998: 16th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 5th
It's all happened to Grimsdyke over the past three years hasn't it? A disqualification, a withdrawal and now a great 4th place, what will 2005 bring? A win perhaps or something a bit more extraordinary?
Hangleton
Conductor: J. Williams
Last NineYears:
2004: 14th (C. Nonoo)
2003: 13th (C. Nonoo)
2002: 8th 4th Section (C. Nonoo) (prom)
2001: 11th 4th Section (C. Nonoo)
2000: 11th 4th Section (C. Nonoo)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Hangleton will need a good performance here this year if they are to stave off any threat that may be lingering around about possible relegation. A top 10 place may be the best they can hope for following two years in which they have bounced along in the bottom third here.
Hemel Hempstead
Conductor: G. Weeks
Last Nine Years:
2004: 8th Fourth Section (G. Weeks) (prom)
2003: 7th (G. Weeks)
2002: 7th (G. Weeks)
2001: 25th (G. Weeks)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Hemel Hempstead are certainly a band going in the right direction, but after coming 8th here last year, could promotion up a level come a year possibly too soon? From 25th in 2001 in the Fourth Section to here has been a great achievement though, so don't be surprised if they more than hold their own.
Hilgay Silver
Conductor: A. Clarke
Last Nine Years:
2004: 5th Fourth Section (A. Clarke) (prom)
2003: 3rd (A. Clarke)
2002: 11th (R. Smith)
2001: DNC
2000: 13th 3rd Section (A. Broadbent) (rel)
1999: 9th 3rd Section
1998: 18th 3rd Section
1997: 3rd (prom)
1996: 7th
Hilgay came 5th here last year, which was a result that confirmed their promotion to the Third Section. They have been building steadily to this over the past few years - nothing too spectacular, but you feel they may be hear for the long term, with ambitions for even higher things to come.
Hitchin
Conductor: Martin Hurrell
Last NineYears:
2004: 10th (G. Carney)
2003: 5th (G. Carney)
2002: 7th (G. Carney)
2001: 9th (G. Carney)
2000: 13th 2nd Section (G. Carney) (rel)
1999: 15th 2nd Section
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: DNC
1996: 14th 1st Section (rel)
Hitchin were a band moving nicely up the prize list until last year when they just fell off the pace a touch and could only manage 10th spot here. That may have been a little disappointing as they were looking like strong contenders, but with a new MD in front of them, a strong challenge may be on the cards once more.
Hungerford Town
Conductor: T. Crouter
Last Eight Years:
2004: 16th (T. Crouter)
2003: 9th (T. Crouter)
2002: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
2001: 12th 4th Section
2000: 7th 4th Section
1999: 15th 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 20th 4th Section
Hungerford will be looking to put in a better performance here this year than they did 12 months ago when they fell away to come 16th here. They have found it quite tough since gaining promotion from the Fourth Section in 2002, so lets hope the revival starts this weekend.
Jersey Premier Brass
Conductor: Gavin Saynor
Last NineYears:
2004: 13th (T. Pritchard)
2003: 17th 3rd Section (T. Pritchard) (West of England)
2002: 15th 2nd Section (T. Pritchard) (West of England)
2001: DNC
2000: 14th 2nd Section (T. Pritchard) (West of England)
1999: 4th 2nd Section (West of England)
The band that made the move from the West of England Regional Championships to London, now has itsights set on Harrogate by being conducted by a Yorkshire based Welshman. Talk about cosmopolitan eh? They are in need of a decent result though, but don't be surprised if the winning ways of Mr Saynor rub off on them here.
Jubilee Brass (Oxford)
Conductor: K. Membury
Last Nine Years:
2004: 11th (K. Membury)
2003: 16th (K. Membury)
2002: 3rd 4th Section (K. Membury) (prom)
2001: 22nd 4th Section (K. Membury)
2000: 6th 4th Section (K. Membury)
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: DNC
Jubilee Brass are starting to find their feet here in this section after gaining promotion in 2003. Then they came 16th here, and improved that to 11th last year. Another similar shift up the gears and they could well be pushing for a top six place at least.
St. Sebastian's Wokingham
Conductor: D. Richards
Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th (B. Gentry)
2003: 11th (B. Gentry)
2002: 6th (B. Gentry)
2001: 15th (B. Gentry)
2000: 2nd 4th Section (B. Gentry)
1999: 2nd 4th Section
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
1996: 19th
St. Sebastian Wokingham are bobbling along quite nicely here it seems - never in danger of relegation, but not quite doing enough to suggest a trip to Harrogate either. Time for that to change then with a new MD at the helm? We will wait and see.
Stantonbury Brass
Conductor: A. Jenkin
Last NineYears:
2004: 7th (A. Jenkin)
2003: 6th (A. Jenkin)
2002: 11th (A. Jenkin)
2001: 4th (A. Jenkin)
2000: 16th 2nd Section (a. Jenkin) (rel)
1999: 13th 2nd Section
1998: 8th 2nd Section
1997: N/K
1996: Winners
Stantonbury could be a band to look out for here this time around, as in the past two years they have more than held their own and have hovered in and around the top six places. Could 2005 be the year when they make that little extra push up the prize table and gain aa qualifciation place?
Woodbridge Excelsior
Conductor: E. Howells
Last NineYears:
2004: 6th (E. Howells)
2003: 2nd in Fourth Section (prom) (E. Howells)
2002: 5th (E. Howells)
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: N/K
1996: DNC
Three years contesting and Woodbridge have been doing very well indeed than you. A promotion in 2003 was followed by a fine 6th place last year. This it seems is a band moving very much in the right direction, so they may be a band to look out for as well come results time.
Past Qualifiers:
2004: Sandhurst Silver, Chinnor and Littleport Brass
2003: Ware Brass, Fulbourn and Teversham, Sandhurst Silver
2002: Castleton Brass, Yiewsley and West Drayton
2001: Cantium Brass, Becontree Brass
2000: Stonesfield Silver, Cantium Brass
1999: Woking, Marconi
1998: Brent Brass, Broseley Brass
1997: Littleport Brass, Chichester City
1996: Stantonbury, Chinnor, Cawston
1995: Fairlop Brass, Cawston
2004: 7th, 15th
2003: 5th, 18th, 20th
2002: 9th, 13th
2001: 7th, 11th
2000: 5th, 11th
1999: 6th, 8th
1998: 2nd, 5th
4BR Prediction:
As always here it could be just about an impossible task to seperate the bands out before they play, as there are so mnay here who could very well make it to Harrogate or even win the title.
Looking at the form book here (and we have only looked at the form book here and not elsewhere) though and a couple of names do stand out for us and could well be our nap hand to take the prizes.
For us then, we think the rise of Potters Bar could vey well continue, and we have therefore plumbed for them to win (sorry folks!), whilst we think they could well be challenged by Stantonbury and Jersey Premier Brass for the top honours, with Grimsdyke, Bradwell and Chinnor in the mix as well. Our dark horse this year is Hemel Hempstead. You heard it here first!
1. Enfield MM and Potters Bar
2. Stantonbury
3. Jersey Premier
4. Chinnor
5. Grimsdyke
6. Bradwell
Dark Horses: Hemel Hempstead
