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2004 Midlands Regional Championships
Fourth Section
Sunday 14th March
Test Piece: Partita –
Edward Gregson
Adjudicator: Roy Roe
It is one of the real strengths of Midlands banding that they
have such a large and varied Fourth Section. We say varied
because this year sees three new bands coming back into the
fold – and at
least two of them are famous old names from years gone by. Ireland
Colliery and Creswell Colliery are bands with famous pasts,
so their reappearance is something to celebrate. With Amington
also making a return, lets hope it will be the first of many
more appearances here.
Two bands make the drop down from the Third Section – Alcester
and Ilkeston, so there is another ingredient put into the mix to
spice things up a bit and make life difficult for adjudicator Roy
Roe.
On a Nationals stage, the three bands that made it to the Finals
in Dundee did OK – Long Eaton gaining a fine second place,
but both Bakewell and Phoenix not troubling the judges. The last
band to go from here to actually win the National Fourth Section
title was the youngsters from Shirland Miners Welfare in 2001. The
good news though is that those successful bands have gone onto better
things, whilst having a look at the recent form of many of the competitors
here this year, it will be a real dog fight to gain one of the three
qualification places on offer.
A good set work will examine the bands to the full, and we think
it could well be a close run thing. Good luck to all the bands.
Alcester Victoria
Conductor: TBA
Last Seven Years:
2003: 14th in Third Section (rel) (N. Smith)
2002: 11th
2001: 14th
2000: 6th
1999: 13th
1998: 14th
1997: 3rd 4th Section
Alcester fall back to the Fourth Section this year after six years
in the Third where they could only manage a best of 6th place in
2000. No news as yet to who will be heading their challenge, but
whoever has the job, they will be looking to start on the road to
recovery.
Amington
Conductor: W. Kendrick
Last Seven Years:
2003:
2002:
2001:
2000:
1999:
1998:
1997:
We are afraid we know next to nothing about Amington, so we hope
they will show that our lack of knowledge is no bar to them doing
well here. If they do have a good one, we are sure they will let
us know.
Creswell Colliery
Conductor: A. Wood
Last Seven Years:
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
A famous name in the banding world. Creswell were strong contenders
at the highest level many a year ago, and it is nice to report that
they make a long awaited return to this contest this year. They
came 7th at the recent Mineworkers contest, so they have wetted
their feet back on the contest stage. It should give them much needed
confidence to do well here.
Ireland Colliery (Chesterfield)
Conductor: I. Knapton
Last Seven Years:
2003: DNC
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
Ireland Colliery make a return to the Midlands contesting arena,
and they too are a famous old banding name. It is nice to see them
return, and we hope it is the first of many more appearances to
come.
Banovallum Brass
Conductor: S. Ingham
Last Seven Years:
2003: 15th (S. Ingham)
2002: 7th
2001: DNC
2000: 15th
1999: DNC
1998: 12th 4th Section
1997: 15th 3rd Section (rel)
Banovallum dropped away last year at the contest where they could
only manage to come 15th. That was a major disappointment to them
as thee year before they had challenged for a top six place. S.
Ingham is the man at the helm again, and he and his players will
be searching for a better return this time around.
Dronfield CMW
Conductor: R. White
Last Seven Years:
2003: 7th (N/K)
2002: 14th 3rd Section (rel)
2001: 9th 3rd Section
2000: 11th 3rd Section
1999: 6th 3rd Section
1998: DNC
1997: 16th 2nd Section (rel)
Dronfield were a little bit of a mystery to us last year as we
couldn’t find out who was in charge of the band when they
came a well merited 7th place. R. White is the man in the middle
this time and he also led the band into 7th place at the Pontins
Championships late last year.
Dunchurch Silver
Conductor: N. Thompson
Last Seven Years:
2003: 10th (G. Smallwood)
2002: 13th
2001: 12th
2000: 16th
1999: 10th
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
Dunchurch will surely be hoping to break into the top 10 at least
this year after they have hovered around the mark for the past three
years. N. Thompson is the new MD this year after taking over from
G. Smallwood. Will the change prove beneficial?
Enderby Youth
Conductor: S. Osgood
Last Seven Years:
2003: 11th (S. Osgood)
2002: 11th
2001: 11th 3rd Section (rel)
2000: 5th 3rd Section
1999: 19th 3rd Section
1998: 8th 3rd Section
1997: 14th 3rd Section
Enderby Youth will be hoping that the curse of “Legs Eleven”
will not occur again this time around at the contest. The last three
years have seen them occupy the spot just outside the top 10, so
can they break the jinx and get into single figures?
Hathern 'B'
Conductor: M. Cooper
Last Seven Years:
2003: 16th (M. Cooper)
2002: 12th
2001: 20th
2000: DNC
Hathern seemed to have been heading in the right direction here
until last year they dropped four places to come 16th. M. Cooper
and his player will therefore be looking to reverse that trend and
better that 12th place once more. We wish them well.
Ilkeston Brass
Conductor: D. Jones
Last Seven Years:
2003: 15th in Third Section (rel) (D. Jones)
2002: 17th
2001: 18th 2nd Section (rel)
2000: 19th 2nd Section
1999: 12th 2nd Section
1998: 13th 2nd Section
1997: 18th 2nd Section
Not the prettiest set of results we have ever seen at a Regional
contest for Ilkeston, and they will be determined to show that they
have finally hit their lowest point and the only way is back up.
In 1998 they were in the second Section here, now they are in the
Fourth. Contesting can be very cruel at times, so lets hope they
get a big slice of good fortune.
Kirkby Colliery Welfare
Conductor: S. Berrill
Last Seven Years:
2003: 5th (S. Berrill)
2002: 15th
2001: 22nd
2000: DNC
A band to look out for we think - if the results of the past three
years are anything to go by. 22nd in 2001, 15th in 2002 and 5th
last year. That is some improvement by anyone’s standard,
so can they make it a qualification spot or even a win? Winners
at the Mineworkers and 9th at Pontins means that they will be one
of the favourites for sure.
Matlock
Conductor: R. Jepson
Last Seven Years:
2003: 12th (K. Short)
2002: 18th 3rd Section (rel)
2001: 15th 3rd Section
2000: 10th 3rd Section
1999: 8th 3rd Section
1998: 9th 3rd Section
1997: DNC
Matlock are on a high at the moment after winning the recent Derby
contest in fine style a couple of weeks ago. The new man in the
middle seems to have done the trick, although they will have to
repeat that recent form here if they are to make an impression on
the top 10. We think they may have the confidence to do it, and
more.
Newhall
Conductor: M. Phillips
Last Seven Years:
2003: 9th (M. Phillips)
2002: 5th
2001: 8th 3rd Section (rel)
2000: 12th 3rd Section
1999: 16th 3rd Section
1998: 7th 3rd Section
1997: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
Newhall are another band in decent form at the moment after they
came third at Derby behind Matlock and Rolls Royce Derby. That could
prove the boost they need to make an impression on the top 6, after
they dropped away a touch last year to come 9th.
Rolls Royce (Derby)
Conductor: M. Heywood
Last Seven Years:
2003: 13th (N. Eden)
2002: 9th
2001: 14th
2000: 7th
1999: 25th
1998: 9th
1997: 8th
Rolls Royce came runners up to Matlock at Derby a few weeks ago,
so confidence will be bubbling. Their best result here in the last
seven years was 7th place in 2000, whilst their worst was the lowly
25th place in 1999. It has been a bit of a yo – yo ride since,
so will that runners up spot mean a upswing into the top 10 or beyond
again?
Rushden Windmill
Conductor: R. Graves
Last Seven Years:
2003: 4th (R. Graves)
2002: 19th 3rd Section (rel)
2001: 12th 3rd Section
2000: 3rd 3rd Section
1999: 15th 3rd Section
1998: 3rd 3rd Section
1997: 6th 3rd Section
Rushden showed that the drop from the Third Section in 2002 did
not damage them too much as they just missed out on a podium place
and came 4th. If they can repeat or better that form this time around
then a possible trip to Harrogate may be on the cards.
Skegness Silver
Conductor: S. Walker
Last Seven Years:
2003: 8th (S. Walker)
2002: 17th
2001: 24th
2000: DNC
1999: 22nd
1998: DNC
1997: DNC
Skegness are another band who seem to be moving in the right direction,
after improving from 24th in 2001 to 8th place last year. S. Walker
seems to have given them a real boost so can they make another leap
up the prize list and gain a podium place or better?
Swineshead Silver
Conductor: D. J. Stephens
Last Year: 14th
Last Seven Years:
2003: 14th (D. Stephens)
2002: 18th
2001: 19th
2000: 24th
1999: 24th
1998: DNC
The fantastically named band are making steady but solid progress
in the right direction here. 24th in 2000 has now become 14th on
their last outing, so they will be disappointed if they don’t
make another jump up the prize list this time around.
Tideswell
Conductor: B. Thompson
Last Seven Years:
2003: 6th (B. Thompson)
2002: 10th
2001: 18th
2000: DNC
1999: 14th
1998: 14th 3rd Section (rel)
1997: 17th 3rd Section
Tideswell will travel to Burton Upon Trent confident of keeping
up their recent form here over the last few years. 18th in 2001
has been improved to 6th last time out, so can they make that final
jump and gain a qualification spot?
Wellington (Telford) Brass
Conductor: S. Curtis
Last Seven Years:
2003: 17th (S. Curtis)
2002: 8th
2001: 11th
2000: DNC
1999: DNC
Wellington (Telford) Brass will be looking to stop the rot here
after coming a disappointing 17th place, and last, 12 months ago.
The only way is up though, and their 3rd place at Pontins will have
given the confidence to do well. We are confident they won’t
be propping up the table at the end of the results (unless they
win of course!)
Results archive:
Full results of previous year's contests together with a results summary can
be found in our results archive.
Past
Qualifiers:
2003: Phoenix West Midlands Brass, Long Eaton Silver, Bakewell
Silver
2002: WEM Jubilee, Leicester Cooperative, Long Eaton
2001: Carlton Brass, Shirland Miners Training, West Mercia Constabulary
2000: Raunds Temperance, Malvern Hills
1999: Audley Brass, Malvern Hills, Raunds Temperance
1998: University of Warwick, Porthywaen
1997: Porthywaen, Newham
1996: Alcester Victoria, Chapel en le Frith
1995: Kirkby Colliery, Rushden Windmill, Chael en le Frith
1994: Banovallum Brass, Kirkby Colliery
Midlands bands at the Finals:
2003: 2nd, 9th, 12th
2002: 6th, 9th, 18th
2001: 1st, 5th, 6th
2000: 3rd, 6th
1999: 11th, 16th, 19th
1998: 4th, 9th
4BR Prediction:
A notoriously difficult task of choosing the winners and qualifiers
as always in the Fourth Section, but there are bands here who have
shown good form in the last couple of months, so they may be the
ones to look out for come results time.
That in mind we opt for Kirkby as our favourites to take the title,
with Matlock and Rolls Royce (Derby) filling the remaining qualification
places. After that it is a question of who pulls it off on the day,
as there are any number of good solid outfits who could do well.
We will stick our necks out then and go for Tideswell for fourth
followed by Rushden Windmill and Swineshead in the top six. Our
dark horses are Ireland Colliery on their return back to the fold.
1. Kirkby Colliery Welfare
2. Matlock
3. Rolls Royce (Derby)
4. Tideswell
5. Rushden Widmill
6. Swineshead
Dark Horses: Ireland Colliery
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