Battle for places in championship finals under way
THE Welsh Region Qualifying contests for the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain take place on Saturday and Sunday, March 18 and 19, at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea.
Bands in Sections 3, 2 and 1 compete in that order on Saturday (commence 11am) and bands in Section 4 and Championship similarly compete on the Sunday (commence 10am).
Championship Section: Adjudicators – Derek Broadbent and Mike Kilroy. Sunday (Following Section 4)
Burry Port Town (T. Davoren); City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) (N. Seaman); Cory (P. Harper); Goodwick Brass (M. Jenkins); Llwydcoed (C. Turner); Northop Silver (P. Hughes); Tongwynlais Temperance (M. Fowles); Tredegar (I. Porthouse).
Tredegar became Welsh Champions in March 2016, but I cannot see Cory being beaten as they are on a fantastic winning streak having won every major contest in 2016.
Tredegar are still a threat and the title lies between them and Cory. Burry Port are not quite the band they were, Goodwick and Llwydcoed are establishing themselves, City of Cardiff have just arrived from Section 1, so I see Tongwynlais, current Welsh Open Entertainment Champions, and Northop fighting for that extra qualifying spot as Cory have already been invited to the finals as reigning Champions, so all the rest are competing for the two qualifying places.
Section 1: Adjudicators – Stan Lippeat and John Maines. Saturday (following Section 2)
BTM (J. Hutcherson); Deiniolen (L. Eifion); Ebbw Valley (G. Ritter); Lewis Merthyr (C. Roberts); Llanrug (P. Hughes); Markham & District (M. Rowe); Mid Rhondda (Thomas Coaches) (A. Gibbs); Parc & Dare (Leftfield Environmental) (Capt. P Collis-Smith); Pontardulais Town (P. Jenkins); Tylorstown (G.Davies).
Ebbw Valley will be striving to return to the national finals as they have been there every year since being in Section 4 in 2013.
Established Section 1 bands like Lewis Merthyr, Llanrug, Parc & Dare, Markham and Pontardulais could upset them, but I cannot see further than Ebbw Valley unless relegated Tylorstown show their class and get to the finals as a step towards regaining their Championship status.
Section 2: Adjudicators – Derek Broadbent and Mike Kilroy. Saturday (Following Section 3)
Abergavenny Borough (S. O’Neill); Ammanford Town Silver (A. Jones); Blaenavon Town (L. Turner); Melingrffith 2 (A. Wareham); Penclawdd (T. Small); Royal BuckleyTown (B.Baker); Seindorf Arian Crwbin (C. Roberts).
Abergavenny have registered some very good results recently and they are certainly in the running to win this section.
Blaenavon, relegated from Section 1, could push them along with Ammanford Town who are progressing upwards through the sections.
Penclawdd were sweeping all before them in 2016, but stumbled at the final league contest.
Royal Buckley with excellent leadership could take the day. This is a truly interesting section.
Section 3: Adjudicators – Stan Lippeat and John Maines. Saturday Contest Starts 11am
Abertillery & District (J. Ruck); Briton Ferry (J. Pearce); Crosskeys (M. Davies); Newport Borough (R. Hackett); Newtown Silver (S.Edwards); Ogmore Valley Silver (A. Jones); Phoenix (L. Jenkins); Severn Tunnel (G. Jameson); Usk (J. Jones); Ynyshir (G, Davies).
There are five bands who are new to this section, three of whom are on a very successful run and two who have been struggling a little in the higher section from which they have been relegated.
The three bands promoted from Section 4 are Phoenix – the present Section 4 Champions of Great Britain – Newport Borough who were placed fifth in the finals and Ynyshir.
The relegated bands are Newtown and Ogmore Valley Silver.
Usk and Abertillery were 3rd and 4th respectively in last year’s area, but last year’s winner was Rhyl followed very closely by Briton Ferry. If Briton Ferry can maintain the progress they have been making they could be making a return journey to the national finals along with Abertillery who have been quite successful throughout 2016.
This section is going to be very close.
Section 4: Adjudicators – Stan Lippeat and John Maines. Sunday Contest Starts 10am
Buckley (S. Pugh-Jones); Cwmtawe Youth (W. Pedrick); Gwaun Cae Gurwen (J. Hutcherson); Oakdale Silver (K. Bowden); RAF St Athan Voluntary (A. Bourne); Seinforf Arian yr Oakeley (J. Jones); Upper Rhondda (J.Thomas); Vale of Glamorgan (D. Short).
When looking at the bands in Section 4, I have to be drawn to the bands that finished on the podium last year and the bands who have been relegated from Section 3.
After last year’s contest Gwaun Cae Gurwen were relegated and Upper Rhondda finished in 3rd place in 2016.
These two bands should do quite well along with Ynyshir and RAF St Athan who finished fourth and fifth last year.
However, there is a band that did not compete in last year’s contest and having heard them previously I would not be surprised if they were in the first three, and that is Cwmtawe Youth.