2005 Regionals: Yorkshire - Preview: First Section

1-Mar-2005

The bands who want to try and make it to the Championship will have to overcome a bit of Comedy first of all. It won't be a laughing matter for many for sure though.


Date: Saturday 5th March
Adjudicators: Malcolm Brownbill and Geoffrey Whitham
Test Piece: Comedy Overture – John Ireland
Commences: 13.45
Draw: 12.15

No photo? Please send a JPEG to: stating the conductors name, your band, your region and section.


Colin HardyBarnsley Building Society
Conductor:
Colin Hardy

Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (J. Hopkinson)
2003: 9th in First Section (rel) (C. Hirst)
2002: 9th in First Section (C. Hirst)
2001: DNC
2000: 5th in First Section (I. Craddock)
1999: Winners in First Section
1998: 6th in First Section
1997: 7th in First Section
1996: N/K

After dropping down to the Second Section in 2004, Barnsley Building Society bounce back and will be looking to make a real impression here this time. They went to the Nationals in Harrogate and came 7th, so it may be a big step up here. Should have enough about them to more than hold their own though and with the experienced Colin Hardy at the helm they could well feature quite high up the prize list.


Derek RenshawChapeltown Silver Prize
Conductor:
Derek Renshaw

Last Nine Years:
2004: 15th Championship Section (rel) (I. Scott)
2003: 4th in First Section (prom) (Andrew Holland)
2002: 3rd in First Section (A. Dennis)
2001: 3rd in First Section (A. Dennis)
2000: 10th in First Section (D. Neil)
1999: 4th in First Section
1998: 9th in First Section
1997: 8th in First Section
1996: 8th in First Section

Chapletown Silver seem to one of those bands who have found their natural contesting weight in the world in the First Section where over the years they have been good strong contenders for the qualification places. The move up to the Championship Section would have been a bruising but worthwhile experience, but you feel they are better off here, and should once more put in a very strong show, especially as they will gain further benefit from the experienced Derek Renshaw at the helm. 


Phil ShawDrighlington
Conductor:
Phil Shaw

Last Nine Years:
2004: 2nd (P. Shaw)
2003: 15th Championship Section (rel) (C. Hardy)
2002: 12th (C. Hardy)
2001: 6th First Section (prom) (A. Eastwood)
2000: 2nd First Section (M. Bentham)
1999: 13th Championship (rel)
1998: 10th Championship
1997: 9th Championship
1996: Joint 6th Championship

Drighlington were on excellent form here last year under the baton of Phil Shaw and they return once more as one of the favourites to do well again and gain another trip to Harrogate.  Last year they came 7th there and will be keen to use that undoubted experience to set them up for another crack at the title.  They should be in and around the prizes once more we feel. 


Graham OConnorHatfield Main
Conductor:
Graham O'Connor

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners (G. O'Connor)
2003: 2nd in Second Section (prom) (G. O'Connor)
2002: 5th (G. O'Connor)
2001: 7th (G. O'Connor)
2000: Winners 3rd Section (prom) (G. O'Connor)
1999: 8th (rel)
1998: 6th
1997: 11th
1996: 9th

Last years winners will surely make the trip to Bradford as one of the favourites for the title – especially after their fine win at the Butlins contest in January. There they showed themselves to be a fine band in the making and they do have one of the best band trainers and conductors around at the helm. Should be there or thereabouts come results time and another title is not beyond them at all.  


William RushworthHolme Silver (Disposables UK Group)
Conductor:
William Rushworth

Last Nine Years:
2004: 7th (G. Hetherington)
2003: 6th (S. Tighe)
2002: 6th (I. Scott)
2001: 8th (D. Beckley)
2000: 8th (D. Beckley)
1999: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1998: 9th 2nd Section
1997: 8th 2nd Section
1996: 3rd 2nd Section

One of the most consistent bands around at this contest over the past few years, although they have not really challenged strongly enough to suggest they could actually win here. That may well change this year with a determined new MD who certainly knows how to get music out of a score and it may not come as a surprise if they feature higher up the prize list this time around. 


jim daviesKippax
Conductor:
Jim Davies

Last Nine Years:
2004: 10th (I. Colley)
2003: 8th (I. Colley)
2002: 2nd (I. Colley)
2001: 7th (I. Colley)
2000: 9th (I. Colley)
1999: 6th
1998: 11th Championship (rel)
1997: 11th Championship
1996: 2nd 1st Section (prom)

Kippax had just fallen away off the pace at the contest over the past few years and so this time around they have a new MD to head their challenge in the shape of Jim Davies.  That should invigorate the band once more and they will be hopeful of repeating the success of 2002 when they were runners up here. 


Kevin BelcherKnottingley Silver
Conductor:
Kevin Belcher

Last Nine Years:
2004: 14th Championship Section (rel) (K. Belcher
2003: Winners of First Section (prom) (K. Belcher)
2002: 5th in First Section (K. Belcher)
2001: Winners 2nd Section (prom) (K. Belcher)
2000: 2nd 2nd Section (K. Belcher)
1999: 7th 2nd Section
1998: 3rd 3rd Section (prom)
1997: 4th 3rd Section
1996: 9th 3rd Section

Knottingley return to the First Section after tasting the dizzy heights of the Championship Section last year when they struggled to make an impact and came 14th. The experience will certainly have done them good though and they should be confident of doing rather well here and a possible repeat of that 2003 win may not be too much of a long shot if they play to form.  


glyn williamsMarsden Silver
Conductor:
G. Williams

Last Nine Years:
2004: 6th (A. Widdop)
2003: 14th in Championship Section (rel) (A. Widdop)
2002: 15th in Championship Section (A. Widdop)
2001: 5th First Section (prom) (A. Widdop)
2000: 3rd First Section (A. Widdop)
1999: 6th Second Section (prom)
1998: 3rd Second Section
1997: Winners Third Section (prom)
1996: 6th Third Section

Long term MD Alan Widdop has been replaced this year at the helm of Marsden as they try to make a swift return to the Championship Section where they last played in 2003. Last year they came a disappointed 6th, so this time under Glyn Williams they will surely be full of determination to improve on that and gain a qualification place for Harrogate at least. 


Norman LawOld Silkstone
Conductor:
Norman Law

Last Nine Years:
2004: 3rd (N. Law)
2003: Winners Second Section (prom) (N. Law)
2002: 7th (N. Law)
2001: 3rd (N. Law)
2000: 7th (N. Law)
1999: Winners 3rd Section (prom)
1998: 5th 3rd Section
1997: 7th 3rd Section
1996: DNC

A band certainly moving in the right direction under the stewardship of Norman Law, Old Silkstone didn't quite get the rub of the green at many contests last year and will certainly be looking to start 2005 off with a bang. Third place last year saw them just miss out on a trip to Harrogate so they won't want to let that happen again will they. 


Stannington Brass
Conductor:
R. Morgan

Last Nine Years:
2004: 8th (R. Gray)
2003: 7th (J. Hopkinson)
2002: 7th (J. Hopkinson)
2001: 6th 2nd Section (prom) (J. Hopkinson)
2000: 5th 2nd Section (J. Hopkinson)
1999: 2nd 2nd Section
1998: 11th 2nd Section
1997: 5th 2nd Section
1996: 6th 2nd Section

Stannington are a band that has just moved off the pace for prizes here in the last couple of years, and not even Russell Gray could prevent them from coming 8th last year. That has meant yet another new face to try and put them back on track with R. Morgan give the task of trying to get them a qualification place or a top six place at least. 


Wakefield Metropolitan
Conductor:
Russell Gray

Last Nine Years:
2004: 9th (B. Dyson)
2003: 5th (B. Dyson)
2002: Winners (B. Dyson)
2001: 11th (B. Dyson)
2000: 9th (B. Dyson) 
1999: 5th
1998: Winners 2nd Section (prom)
1997: 4th 2nd Section
1996: 6th 1st Section (rel)

Wakefield Metropolitan, who after winning the title here in 2002 has just dropped away a touch and could only manage 9th place last year. If Russell Gray (not the former MD of Fodens, but the other equally talented one) can work a bit of his magic then they should be back on track and looking for a qualification place at least.  


Michael HannanYorkshire Building Society Concert
Conductor:
Michael Hannan

Last Nine Years:
2004: Winners Second Section (prom) (M. Hannan)
2003: 3rd (M. Hannan)
2002: 9th (A. McLaughlan)
2001: 12th 1st Section (rel) (B. Broadbent)
2000: 6th 1st Section (B. Broadbent)
1999: 7th 1st Section
1998: 2nd (prom)
1997: 2nd
1996: 10th

A real band on the up. The talented Michael Hannan and his band could very well be in the thick of things here come results time if they play to the type of form they showed at the Lower Section National Finals when they were more than a little unlucky not to have won. They should feature quite highly here if they can play like that again. 


Chris HouldingYorkshire Imperial Urquhart Travel
Conductor:
Chris Houlding

Last Nine Years:
2004: 13th Championship Section (rel) (D. Evans)
2003: 9th (D. Evans)
2002: 8th (D. Evans)
2001: 7th (T. Wyss)
2000: 7th (T. Wyss)
1999: 8th
1998: 5th
1997: 10th
1996: 5th

A band that has won National titles, Opens as well as no less than 9 Championship Regional titles finds itself battling it out in the First Section this year after a couple of poor results sent them crashing through the relegation trap door. They should still have more than enough class about them though to make a mark here, but they cannot take anything for granted.  


Past Qualifiers:

2004: Hatfield Coal Power, Drighlington
2003: Knottingley Silver, Hade Edge (Disposables UK Group)
2002: Wakefield Metropolitan, Kippax
2001: ASDA Stocksbridge, Pennine Brass
2000: ASDA Stocksbridge. Drighlington
1999: Barnsley BS, Yorkshire Co-operatives
1998: Rothwell Temperance, Todmorden Old
1997: Jayess '87, Rothwell Temperance
1996: Priest Lindley, Kippax
1995: Stocksbridge, Barnsley BS

Yorkshire Bands at the Finals:

2004: 5th, 7th 
2003: 4th, 13th
2002: 10th, 15th
2001: 1st, 4th
2000: 6th, 11th
1999: 3rd, 4th
1998: 1st, 8th

4BR Prediction:

This should make for one of the most intriguing contests of the whole Yorkshire weekend as there are a number of bands here who will certainly be fancying their chances of winning or at the very least gaining a qualification place for Harrogate. The test piece should sort out the real things from the pretenders and the two experienced men in the box will surely weed out those who can fro the ones who think they can.
With that in mind then we think it could be a bit of a dog fight between last years winners, Hatfield, Drighlington once more as well as Yorkshire Imps, Old Silkstone, Holme and Yorkshire Building Society with our dark horse being Wakefield Metropolitan.

We opt though for Hatfield from Yorkshire Imps this time, with Holme and Drighlington not too far behind and Old Silkstone and Yorkshire Building Society making up the top six.

1. Hatfield Main
2. Yorkshire Imperial Urquhart
3. Holme Silver
4. Drighlington
5. Old Silkstone
6. Yorkshire Building Society Concert

Dark Horse: Wakefield Metropolitan

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