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2003 Yorkshire Regional Qualifying Championships
Second Section
St. George's Hall, Bradford
Saturday 1st March
Starts 10.45am
Adjudicator:
Colin Hardy
Yorkshire has a very good record of producing bands
that have gone on and actually won the National title in the Second
Section, and last year, Hade Edge under the baton of Simon Wood
went from Bradford to Torquay and won the big ‘un. Prior to
that Holme won in 1999 and there has also been Chapletown in 1994.
In fact since 1998, at least one of the two qualifiers has come
in the top four, so whoever gets through this time will travel to
Dundee with high hopes of doing well.
Lots of good solid bands on display with Armthorpe and Frickley
up from the 3rd Section to add spice to proceedings. There is a
very good set work to test the bands, and the experienced judge,
Colin Hardy, whilst some past winners and their conductors have
gone on to greater things, including Robert Childs who won here
way back in 1992.
It could well come down to a close fight between three or four
bands with the talent to go with their ambitions and those who have
mastered the basics required in a test piece that will strech the
bands to the full. Should be well worth taking the time listening
to then.
Armthorpe Elmfield
Conductor: H. Griffiths
Last Year: 5th 3rd Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th 3rd Section (prom)
2001: Winners 3rd Section
2000: 3rd 3rd Section
1999: 13th 3rd Section
1998: 8th 3rd Section
1997: 12th 2nd Section (rel)
1996: 13th 2nd Section
A band that has been here before – they were relegated in
1997 after propping up the prize list, so they will be determined
to stay longer this time around. Won the 3rd Section title in 2001,
but came 5th last year. They gained promotion, but will be hoping
to at least hold their own first year back at least.
Elland Silver
Conductor: TBA
Last Year: 10th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 10th
2001: 8th
2000: 6th
1999: 10th
1998: 8th
1997: 6th
1996: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
A solid record in the past few years here, but not one that has
suggested that they have been pushing for the prizes. Are things
due for a change then? Last year they came 10th, and that was the
third year in a row that they had come lower than the previous outing,
so they will want to reverse the trend this time around. Could this
be the year and a return to the championship winning days of 1994
and 1995 when they took the 4th section titles?
Frickley/South Elmsall
Conductor: J. Wade
Last Year: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
Last Seven Years:
2002: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
2001: 5th 3rd Section
2000: 9th (rel)
1999: 12th
1998: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1997: 5th 3rd Section
1996: 10th 3rd Section
Promoted up from the 3rd Section, Frickley are a band that has
an excellent record of achievement at Bradford over the years, including
their win in 1998. They were twice runners up in the 4th section
in 1993 and 1994, 3rd in the 3rd section in 1995 and then winning
in 1998. They will hope to last longer than the two years in the
higher section this time though.
Hatfield Coal Power
Conductor: G. O’Connor
Last Year: 5th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th
2001: 7th
2000: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1999: 8th (rel)
1998: 6th
1997: 11th
1996: 9th
Another band who have won the 3rd section, but have managed to
survive with a touch of cofort at the higher level since 2001. The
last two years have seen a 7th place and then 5th last year, so
they are on an upward curve. The experienced Graham O’Connor
will have done plenty of work on the test piece and they should
be well prepared to make an even higher mark.
Huddersfield Bras
Conductor: I. Tiffany
Last Year: 11th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 11th
2001: 11th
2000: 3rd
1999: 9th
1998: 5th
1997: 2nd 3rd Section (prom)
1996: 5th 4th Section (prom)
After two consecutive promotions from the 4th and 3rd sections,
Huddersfield have settled into the higher section, but now need
a good result to maintain that status further. They seemed on course
for further promotion after coming 3rd in 2000, but have fallen
away slightly in the last two years and with a new MD they will
be looking for a good result to at least saty up.
Meltham & Meltham Mills
Conductor: S. Fawcett
Last Year: 6th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 6th
2001: 5th
2000: 10th
1999: 7th 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 4th 3rd Section
1997: 13th (rel)
1996: 11th
One of the most famous names in Yorkshire and UK banding have had
three good solid years of late here, just being on the edge of the
top six for the last two years. They were promoted up after two
years in the 3rd section, but have proved they are more than good
enough to hold their own. What they need to do now is to show they
can really challenge for a qualifying place.
Old Silkstone
Conductor: N. Law
Last Year: 7th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 7th
2001: 3rd
2000: 7th
1999: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 5th 3rd Section
1997: 7th 3rd Section
1996: DNC
Old Silkstone were one of the favourites here last year, and many
had them marked down for a win after their performance. It wasn’t
to be though and they had to be content with 7th place, a repeat
of 2000. Ex Black Dyke man Norman Law has been here for a while
and has put together a very good band. They could well by the band
to beat again and add to their 3rd section victory of 1999 in the
process.
South Yorkshire Police
Conductor: TBA
Last Year: 4th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 4th
2001: 10th 1st Section (rel)
2000: 6th 1st Section
1999: 4th (prom)
1998: 4th
1997: 7th
1996: 7th
Our friends from the force haven’t informed us of their MD
at present, so we don’t know who will take over from D. Lever
who took them to a good 4th place last year. They found life in
the higher section a touch difficult when they were promoted in
2000 and returned after a couple of years. At this level though
they are worthy contenders and could well again feature –
if they have found an MD!
Strata Brass
Conductor: D. Horn
Last Year: 8th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 8th
2001: 4th
2000: 8th
1999: N/K
1998: N/K
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
We could only find records for the band for the past three years,
but in that time they have fluctuated a bit with two 8th places
in 2000 and last year, and 4th in 2001. The band were the former
artists known as Weaver Building Group and have been led by David
Horn for some time. They do well on the contest circuit and could
well make a mark here this year.
West Yorkshire Police
Conductor: B. Thompson
Last Year: 5th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 5th
2001: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
2000: 5th 3rd Section
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: N/K
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
The second police band in this section have made steady progress
over the past few years under the baton of the experiences Barry
Thompson, who also knows what it takes to impress a judge, as he
is a busy man in the box. The band didn’t compete before 1999
as far as we could find out, but since then have improved on each
outing and gained promotion from the 3rd section in 2001. 5th last
year, they will be keen to keep the year on year improvement going
this time around.
Yorkshire Building Society Concert
Conductor: M. Hannan
Last Year: 9th
Last Seven Years:
2002: 9th
2001: 12th 1st Section (rel)
2000: 6th 1st Section
1999: 7th 1st Section
1998: 2nd (prom)
1997: 2nd
1996: 10th
The “other” YBS have been making a name for themselves
over the past few years and this time around they have a new MD
to help try and improve on last years 9th place. They were runners
up here in this section in both 1997 and 1998 before being promoted.
They lasted three years in the 1st section before returning last
year. They will be hoping to build on last years result and start
the climb back to the qualification places.
Past Winners:
2002: Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson)
2001: Knottingly Silver
2000: Pennine Brass
1999: Holme Silver
1998: Wakefield Metropolitan
1997: Todmorden Old
1996: Rothwell Temperance
1995: Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson)
1994: Armthorpe Elmfield
1993: East Yorkshire Brass
1992: City of Hull
Winning Conductors:
2002: S. Wood
2001: K. Belcher
2000: I. Porthouse
1999: D. Beckley
1998: B. Dyson
1997: D. Hadfield
1996: D. Roberts
1995: E. Landon
1994: A. Griffiths
1993: A. Whitaker
1992: R. Childs
Test Pieces:
2002: Symphony for Brass – V. Ewald
2001: The Moor of Venice – W. Alwyn
2000: The Sword, Jewel and Mirror – P. Harper
1999: Symphonic Suite – L. Lucas
1998: Culloden Moor – G. Wood
1997: New Buckingham Suite – A. Jackman
1996: Hollywood – G. Richards
1995: Rococo Variations – A. Street
1994: A Salford Sinfonietta – D. Barry
1993: Oceans – G. Richards
1992: Dimensions -
Adjudicators:
2002: J. Roberts
2001: G. Cutt
2000: R. Roe
1999: M. Brownbill
1998: S. Sykes
1997: K. Bolton
1996: A. Fernie
1995: D. Broadbent
Past Qualifiers:
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:
2002: 1st, 14th
2001: 4th, 5th
2000: 2nd, 9th
1999: 1st, 13th
1998: 4th, 15th
Last Years Result:
1. Hade Edge (J&E Dickinson) – S. Wood 185pts
2. Horbury Victoria – I. Shires 184pts
3. Wilfreda Beehive Hatfield – G. O’Connor 180pts
4. South Yorkshire Police – D. Lever 179pts
5. West Yorkshire Police – B. Thompson 178pts
6. Meltham and Meltham Mills – S. Fawcett 177pts
7. Old Silkstone – N. Law 176pts
8. Weaver Building Group – D. Horn 174pts
9. Yorkshire B.S. Concert – A. McLauchlan 172pts
10. Elland Silver – T. Whittaker 171pts
11. Huddersfield Brass Ensemble – S. Derrick 170pts
12. Stanley Newmarket Colliery – G. Walker 169pts
4BR Prediction:
Difficult one this as no one band really stands head and shoulders
above the rest for us. Old Silkstone though were unlucky last year
and so we think they may be more determined than most to put that
injustice right, so we think they could well be the band to beat.
Meltham and Hatfield should also feature strongly, whilst we think
Frickley could make a mark with the two police bands not far behind.
Dark horses could well come from Strata and we have a soft spot
for the famous old Elland Band. We’ll have to wait and see.
1. Old Silkstone
2. Hatfield Coal Power
3. Meltham and Meltham Mills
4. Frickley/South Elmshall
5. West Yorkshire Police
6. South Yorkshire Police
Dark Horses: Strata Brass
© 4BarsRest
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