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2011 West of England Regional Championship — Torquay preview

As always there is always a warm and friendly atmosphere down in Torquay despite a slight chill of late at the Nationals.

TorquayThere is always a warm welcome to be found at the West of England Regional Championships.

Perhaps it’s the early spring breeze that gently blows though the palm trees surrounding the Riviera Centre, or the smiles you get from the organisers and helpers as you make your way to the hall.

Red hot blast

However, there may be a red hot blast about to erupt here – although not from the place you might suspect. Things at Championship level are bubbling up nicely this weekend, thanks to the early season form of a few of the rival competitors.
 
The travails of the Championship Section bands once they get to the Royal Albert Hall are well documented: A last podium finish in 1993 and a top six finish in 1994, whilst the 2010 qualifiers came 13th and 18th.  

However that could be about to change – and there is a feeling that Sunday afternoon’s contest is one not to miss.

Colder further down

Its further down the sections that a once rich seam, of what appeared to be a never ending supply of highly competitive bands has dried up a bit , although there were two podium finishers in Harrogate.  

That’s still a fine return in most regions books (Yorkshire included), but the heady days of winners galore around the turn of the Millennium is starting to fade in the memory banks.

Polyphemus

That said, even the most patriotic musical Polyphemus found in Bradford still casts a green eye of envy this way: Five of the nine qualifiers came home with top ten finishes from Harrogate.

Plenty to look forward too then – from Flowers attempts to become the first top section band to retain its title since 1996, to the delights of the Fourth Section where 22 bands are sure to impress Derek Broadbent and David Lancaster.

The region still produces high quality lower section outfits, even if it’s not quite the gold top double cream variety of recent vintage.

Ticking over nicely

Brian Elliott and his excellent team of volunteers keep a field of 74 bands ticking over nicely.

There is even good news on that front as numbers are up one this year, with the loss of Heyl, Solent, South Molton and St Breward, offset by the return of Bodmin, Soundhouse, Bideford, Gosport, Midsomer Norton and Tiverton, and debutants Andover Town.

The West of England may not be able to boast as many National Champions as Yorkshire just yet, but it is making every effort to ensure they will have plenty of bands trying.

Iwan Fox



The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Haverhill Silver Band - A Nightingale Sang... (an evening concert)

Saturday 2 August • Foakes Hall, Dunmow CM6 1DG


Haverhill Silver Band - East Anglian Beer & Cider Festival

Sunday 24 August • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1QX


Rushden Town Band

July 18 • Second Trombone vacancy. A friendly Midlands 1st Section Band, Rushden are looking for a Second Trombone player to come and join us. Great repertoire and concerts plus contests twice per year. Every other year, the band goes on tour.


Welwyn Garden City Band

July 18 • We are a friendly & sociable Second Section Band with an exciting and varied summer season of concerts. Due to an employment relocation, we have an immediate vacancy for a FRONT ROW CORNET player.


Bedford Town Band

July 18 • Bedford Town Band have vacancies for 1st trombone, 1st horn, EEb and BBb bass. We have several concerts and Wychavon contest in the Autumn. In the last few years the band won the Butlins 2nd section , been promoted to 1st section then 3rd at Wychavon


Dr. Stephen Arthur Allen

D. Phil. (Oxon) [Ph.D Oxford University], GBSM, LTCL, ABSM, ALCM, Cert. Ed.


               

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