2010 Yorkshire Regional Championship - Second Section: Runners & Riders

Which of the 11 bands here can find a bit of Celtic inspiration to get them to Harrogate?

Saturday 6th March
Adjudicators: C. Brian Buckley & Steve Pritchard-Jones  
Test Piece: The Kingdom of Dragons (Philip Harper)
Commences: 10.30am
Draw: 9.00am

The Welsh flavour of ‘Kingdom of Dragons’ should prove an enticing challenge for the bands in the Second Section on Saturday morning.

Both Yorkshire and South Wales possess many a similarity, but more than enough differences too.

How the infamous Pontypool rugby union ‘front row’ inspires the contenders should be interesting though. The only proper scrum you tend to find in these parts is usually the one at the bar after the announcement of the results.

Cracking piece

Still, it’s a cracking piece and with plenty of solid bands (last year’s qualifiers came 4th and 6th) those who do make it through courtesy of Brian Buckley and Steve Pritchard-Jones should be confident of claiming the National title.

That would be about time too, as the last time the National title stayed in the county was back in 2003, and since then there has only been one podium finisher in twelve attempts.

Potential

This looks like a contest full of bands that have the potential to win and win well, so it makes it difficult to choose a potential winner.

That said, South Yorkshire Police are on real form at the moment and should be worth a few quid at the bookies after their fine podium finish under the direction of Leigh Baker at Butlins just a few weeks ago.

Frickley/South Elmsall meanwhile is also a band that will be looking forward to their appearance here too, after coming runner up last year and just missing out on a top three finish at Harrogate.

Dodworth MW have now started to find their feet at this level after shooting up the sections under Eliot Darwin and their Butlins performance held promise, whilst Barnsley Building Society should be confident of improving on last year’s 8th place after posting a decent finish at Pontins late last year.

Promoted bands

The two promoted bands from the Third Section could be worth an each way bet too, with the fast improving Garforth making its debut at this level under Steve Bailey. Emley are a band on the up too with MD Garry Hallas building a very solid contesting unit under his command.

Three bands in need of a bit of a boost are Horbury Victoria, who have brought in the experienced Duncan Beckley to ensure they don’t get drawn into a potential relegation scare.

Knottingley Silver, who fell through the First Section trap door despite a decent showing last year will also need to be on good form too, whilst Rockingham will want to ensure that they can bounce back after coming 11th here last year.  
 
Grange Moor could well push all the way for a qualification place under the direction of former Brighouse euphonium star Michael Howley after coming 4th last year, whilst Strata Brass is one of the most consistent bands at this contest over the past few years.

A push for a finals place is well overdue for a band that enjoys great success at entertainment contests.

As for a winner?

South Yorkshire Police could well be in the frame for a trip to Harrogate if they can replicate their Butlins form, whilst Frickley/South Elmsall could well join them there again.

Pushing them all the way though should be Grange Moor, Strata, Barnsley and Horbury Victoria if Mark Bentham can work his magic.

Our dark horse is Dodworth.
 
4BR Prediction:

1. South Yorkshire Police
2. Frickley/South Elmsall
3. Grange Moor
4. Strata Brass
5. Barnsely Building Society
6. Horbury Victoria

Dark Horses: Dodworth MW

Barnsley Building Society
Conductor: Rob Straw

Last 13 Years:
2009: 8th (W. Rushworth)
2008: 9th in First Section (W. Rushworth) (rel)
2007: 10th (K. Wadsworth)
2006: 9th (J. Hopkinson)
2005: 8th (J. Hopkinson)
2004: 2nd in Second Section (J. Hopkinson) (prom)
2003: 9th in First Section (C. Hirst) (rel)
2002: 9th (C. Hirst)
2001: DNC
2000: 5th in First Section (I. Craddock)
1999: Winners of First Section
1998: 6th
1997: 7th

Dodworth M.W.
Conductor: Eliot Darwin

Last 13 Years:
2009: 7th (E. Darwin)
2008: 7th (E. Darwin)
2007: Winners of Third Section (E. Darwin) (prom)
2006: Winners of Fourth Section (E. Darwin) (prom)
2005: 3rd (E. Darwin)

Emley Brass
Conductor: Garry Hallas

Last 13 Years:
2009: 3rd in Third Section (G. Hallas) (prom)
2008: 4th (G. Hallas)
2007: 8th (G. Hallas)
2006: 2nd in Fourth Section (G. Hallas) (prom)
2005: 4th (G. Hallas)
2004: 7th in Third Section (G. Hallas) (rel)
2003: 11th (M. Robbins)
2002: 2nd in Fourth Section (J. Bowden) (prom)
2001: 6th (I. Knapton)
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: 9th in Fourth Section

Frickley/South Elmsall
Conductor: David Nichols

Last 13 Years:
2009: 2nd (D. Nichols)
2008: 5th (D. Nichols)
2007: 7th (D. Nichols)
2006: 4th (D. Nichols)
2005: 9th (B. Morton)
2004: 9th (J. Wade)
2003: 5th (J. Wade)
2002: 3rd in Third Section (prom) (J. Wade)
2001: 5th (I. Scott)
2000: 9th in Second Section (rel) (D. Horn)
1999: 12th
1998: Winners of Third Section (prom)
1997: 5th

Garforth Brass
Conductor: Steven Bailey

Last 13 Years:
2009: Winners of Third Section (S. Bailey) (prom)
2008: 2nd (S. Bailey)
2007: 6th (S. Bailey)
2006: 5th (S. Bailey)
2005: 2nd in Fourth Section (S. Bailey) (prom)

Grange Moor
Conductor: Mark Bentham

Last 13 Years:
2009: 4th (M. Bentham)
2008: 8th in First Section (K. Wadsworth) (rel)
2007: DNC
2006: Winners of Second Section (D. Beckley) (prom)
2005: Winners of Third Section (D. Beckley) (prom)
2004: Winners of Fourth Section  (M. Early) (prom)
2003: 2nd (G. Hallas)

Horbury Victoria
Conductor: Duncan Beckley

Last 13 Years:
2009: 10th (B. Walker)
2008: 9th (B. Walker)
2007: 4th (R. Walker)
2006: Winners of Third Section (B. Walker) (prom)
2005: DNC (rel)
2004: DNC (rel)
2003: 10th (Ian Shires)
2002: 2nd in Second Section (prom)
2001: 2nd
2000: 2nd in Third Section (prom)
1999: 10th
1998: 7th
1997: 6th

Knottingley Silver
Conductor: Dr Owen Wedgewood

Last 13 Years:
2009: 9th in First Section (O. Wedgewood) (rel)
2008: 12th (O. Wedgewood)
2007: 9th (R. Morgan)
2006: 4th (K. Belcher)
2005: 11th (K. Belcher)
2004: 14th in Championship Section (K. Belcher) (rel)
2003: Winners of First Section (K. Belcher) (prom)
2002: 5th (K. Belcher)
2001: Winners of Second Section (K. Belcher) (prom)
2000: 2nd (K. Belcher)
1999: 7th
1998: 3rd in Third Section (prom)
1997: 4th

Rockingham
Conductor: Roland Spencer

Last 13 Years:
2009: 11th (S. Shimwell)
2008: Winners of Third Section (F. Hoyland) (prom)
2007: 4th (D. Beckley)
2006: DNC
2005: 7th (F. Hoyland)
2004: 5th (F. Hoyland)
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC

South Yorkshire Police
Conductor: Leigh Baker

Last 13 Years:
2009: 6th (K. Wadsworth)
2008: 11th in First Section (I. Scott) (rel)
2007: 11th (A. Dennis)
2006: 6th in Second Section (A. Dennis) (prom)
2005: 5th (A. Dennis)
2004: 3rd (A. Dennis)
2003: 8th (N. Horne)
2002: 4th (D. Lever)
2001: 10th in First Section (D. Lever) (rel)
2000: 6th (D. Lever)
1999: 4th in Second Section (prom)
1998: 4th
1997: 7th

Strata Brass
Conductor: David Hirst

Last 13 Years:
2009: 5th (D. Hirst)
2008: 4th (D. Hirst)
2007: 3rd (D. Hirst)
2006: 9th (D. Hirst)
2005: 3rd (K. Wadsworth)
2004: 7th (D. Horn)
2003: 7th (D. Horn)
2002: 8th (D. Horn)
2001: 4th (D. Moore)
2000: 8th (D. Moore)
1999: N/K
1998: N/K
1997: N/K

Past Qualifiers:

2009: Holme Silver, Frickley/South Elmsall
2008: Slaithwaite, YBS Concert Brass
2007: Wakefield Metropolitan, Kippax
2006: Grange Moor, Meltham & Meltham Mills
2005: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire Police
2004: Yorkshire Building Society Concert, Barnsley Building Society
2003: Old Silkstone, Hatfield Coal Power
2002: Hade Edge, Horbury Victoria
2001: Knottingly Silver, Hade Edge
2000: Pennine Brass, Knottingly Silver
1999: Holme Silver, Stannington
1998: Wakefield Metropolitan, YBS Concert Brass
1997: Todmorden Old, YBS Concert Brass
1996: Rothwell Temperance, Tingley Thornhill
1995: Hade Edge, South Yorkshire Police

Yorkshire bands at the Finals:

2009: 4th, 6th
2008: 4th, 9th
2007: 4th, 5th
2006: 7th, 15th
2005: 9th, 14th
2004: 2nd, 7th
2003: 1st, 13th
2002: 1st, 14th
2001: 4th, 5th
2000: 2nd, 9th
1999: 1st, 13th
1998: 4th, 15th

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