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2004 North of England Regional Championships
Second Section:
Sunday: 21st March
Test Piece: Kaleidoscope – Philip
Sparke
Adjudicator: Ray Farr
Ray Farr should have an enjoyable time judging the Second Section
– what with a fine test piece and some good quality bands.
Last year, Langbaurgh Brass and Houghton Brass made the trip to
Dundee and came back with 4th and 6th place respectively –
a pretty good return at a high class contest. That was the second
year in a row that at least one of the qualifying bands had made
it into the top six, so unlike perhaps the top two sections, the
Second recently is in pretty good health. That said though, you
have to go back to 1975 and the Northumbria Police Band to find
a National Champion from the region, so it is long overdue. Can
one of the ten here this year go on and take the crown?
No relegated bands from the First Section, but Wansbeck’s
Ashington and Ellington Colliery are up from the Third to try and
continue their good form. It could a be a little cracker of a contest.
Barnard Castle
Conductor: I. Johnson
Last Eight Years:
2003: 11th (I. Johnson)
2002: DNC
2001: 6th 1st Section (rel)
2000: 8th 1st Section
1999: N/K
1998: 6th 1st Section
1997: 3rd 1st Section
1996: N/K
Barnard Castle will be looking to improve on their result of twelve
months ago when they came 11th, and last, so they will need a decent
return to ensure that they stave off the threat of relegation. Lets
hope they are able to do it.
Cockerton Prize Silver
Conductor: Anthony Taylor
Last Eight Years:
2003: 7th (G. Catherall)
2002: 2nd
2001: 6th
2000: 6th
1999: N/K
1998: 8th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: 2nd
Cockerton fell away last year when they came 7th here. That would
have been a disappointment as they would have had high hopes of
repeating or bettering the runners up spot of 2002. Anthony Taylor
directs the band this year, so we will have to wait and see what
form this combination brings to the stage.
Ellington Colliery
Conductor: D. Wright
Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd in Third Section (prom) (D. Wright)
2002: 2nd
2001: 5th
2000: 6th
1999: N/K
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Ellington have had four good years in the Third Section, but a
runners up place and 3rd last year mean that they have been promoted.
There is always a step up in class between sections, but they will
be hoping to continue their good form here. They came 15th at Pontins
late last year in the Third Section, so the contest could be a hard
test.
Felling
Conductor: G. Tindall
Last Eight Years:
2003: 4th (S. Malcolm)
2002: 6th
2001: 8th
2000: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1999: N/K
1998: 8th (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Felling are a band moving in the right direction here – they
have had three improving results at this level since gaining promotion
in 2000. G. Tindall takes over S. Malcolm and will be looking to
continue the good form of late. The band came 3rd at the Mineworkers
Championships, so if they can repeat that form, a qualification
place could well be on the cards.
Flimby Saxhorn
Conductor: D. Jones
Last Eight Years:
2003: 10th (D. Jones)
2002: 4th
2001: 5th
2000: 5th
1999: 3rd
1998: 4th 1st Section (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Flimby Saxhorn has been a consistent challenger for a qualification
place at the contest since they were relegated from the First Section
back in 1998. Last year however they fell away badly to come 10th,
so they will need a good result to fend of possible relegation.
They recently came 11th at the Preston Guild Hall Contest, so they
will need an upturn in form to make a mark here.
GT Group Peterlee
Conductor: B. Holden
Last Eight Years:
2003: 5th (B. Holden)
2002: 8th
2001: DNC
2000: 2nd
1999: 2nd
1998: 7th
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
GT Group Peterlee come to the contest after gaining a very fine
3rd place at the Durham County Contest where they only beaten by
Fishburn and Broughton’s. Confidence will therefore be high
and they will be looking to improve on last year’s 5th place
and gain at least a qualification place. The band also came 6th
at the Mineworkers Contest late last year, so they should be a band
to look out for.
Houghton Brass
Conductor: T. Gibson
Last Eight Years:
2003: 2nd (T. Gibson)
2002: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
2001: 4th 3rd Section
2000: 5th 3rd Section
1999: N/K
1998: 10th (rel)
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Houghton Brass are certainly a band in form here, after they gained
a very fine second place last year. That led them to Dundee where
they came a very creditable 6th place, so they will be looking for
a return this year as well. Tom Gibson and his players should be
very confident of doing well.
Lanchester
Conductor: G. Tindall
Last Eight Years:
2003: 8th (G. Tindall)
2002: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
2001: 3rd 3rd Section
2000: 2nd 4th Section (prom)
1999: N/K
1998: 5th 4th Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Lanchester showed plenty of character here last year when on their
debut at this level they came a very creditable 8th place. After
playing in the Fourth Section in 2000, that was a fine achievement.
They may need to better that this year to ensure they are not drawn
into a relegation battle, but they should be more than able to do
that.
 Spennymoor Town
Conductor: D. Beckley
Last Eight Years:
2003: 3rd (D. Beckley)
2002: 11th 1st Section (rel)
2001: 10th 1st Section
2000: 6th 1st Section
1999: N/K
1998: 4th (prom)
1997: 4th
1996: 3rd
Duncan Beckley returns with Spennymoor for a second successive
year, and they will be looking to go at least one place better
and book a trip to Harrogate for the National Finals. They
recently came 3rd at the Durham County Contest behind Horden
and Gateshead so if they can repeat that kind of form, then
the secretary may well be looking for some fund raisers.
Wansbeck’s Ashington
Conductor: N. Stedman
Last Eight Years:
2003: Winners of Third Section (prom) (N. Stedman)
2002: 5th
2001: 6th
2000: DNC
1999: N/K
1998: 6th 2nd Section
1997: N/K
1996: N/K
Wansbeck’s Ashington could well be one of the bands to beat
here if they continue with their recent run of good form. That win
last year led them to Dundee where they came 4th, whilst they also
came 4th at the Mineworkers Championships and 2nd at the recent
Durham Contest. They could well be contenders once more.
Results archive:
Full results of previous year's contests together with a results summary can
be found in our results archive.
Past
Qualifiers:
2003: Langbaurgh Brass, Houghton Brass
2002: Langbaurgh Brass, Cockerton Silver
2001: Westoe (STHCT), York Railway Institute
2000: Harrogate, GT Group Peterlee
1999: Yarm and District, GT Group Peterlee
1998: Rowntree Band, Greggs Bakery
1997: Cottingham, Greggs Bakery
1996: Carlisle St. Stephens, Cockerton Silver
1995: Broughton’s Brass, Flookburgh
North of England bands at the Finals:
2003: 4th, 6th
2002: 5th, 12th
2001: 11th, 17th
2000: 11th, 15th
1999: 4th, 6th
1998: 3rd, 14th
4BR Prediction:
A little cracker is what we said in our introduction, and a little
cracker is what we are expecting. As for the form guide though?
A couple of bands do stand out for us though, with GT Group Peterlee
and Houghton Brass in good form of late, and they should be looking
to book their hotel places for Harrrogate. The final podium place
should be taken by Felling, whilst the top six places should be
filled by Spennymoor, Wansbeck’s Ashington and Lanchester.
Our dark horse is Cockerton.
1. GT Group Peterlee
2. Houghton Brass
3. Felling
4. Spennymoor
5. Wansbeck’s Ashington
6. Lanchester
Dark Horses: Cockerton
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