NEXT YEARS FINALS [Archive] - theMouthPiece.com

ploughboy

27.09.2003, 19:18

It's what I heard too, Next year and possibly for the next five or so years.. Harrogate is good for pubs/restaurants/hotels, It's in th middle of the country too i suppose,
But i would rather see Birmingham used, it's got the same facities but a much better concert hall, I played there in 97 and Is th3e most fantastic hall, i think the lower sectiohn finals deserve a good venue to play in.

P. Sanderson

27.09.2003, 23:19

Ive also heard that it might be the Albert Hall in Nottingham
Any one know about that place

iancwilx

28.09.2003, 01:20

I believe Harrogate has been booked for the next 9 years - some official confirmation would be nice .
It is nice and central in the map of the UK, but the geographical extremities would suffer - but let's face it, we've done Cardiff,Torquay, Dundee etc.
It's a nice logistical compromise.
I must say that IMHO, I do think that to have all sections on the same day in London would be better for banding.
With the lower section Finals being toured around the country we seem to lose the "Glory of the occasion", though the achievment of bands is still to be applauded.
How would "Premiership" bands feel if a decision was made to abandon the RAH as their Nationals venue in favour of touring the elite competition around various regional centres ?
Would they feel that the gilt was being chipped away from the Crown of achievement ?
Apart from The Open in the Kings Hall at Belle Vue Manchester, my greatest banding memory was playing at the RAH - Caird Hall,Dundee or International Conference Centre Harrogate just doesn't have the same ring as London !!
Perhaps it would work in other Cities as long as all five sections were in the same town on the same day - it would give credibility and and a sense of occasion to what is , after all, the National Brass Band Finals Competition.

ploughboy

28.09.2003, 01:27

I don't mind the idea of moving round the country a little, The idea has suffered with the questionable descision to go to the south coast and then northern scotland.. . . .If we'd stayed in the "middle" things would have not seemed so extreme..

There'd be plenty to go at Leeds/manchester/Liverpool/Blackburn/Harogate/Birmingham and so on...........

satchmo shaz

28.09.2003, 10:00

I like ploughboys idea! :wink:

28.09.2003, 15:46

I think the finals need to really review things especially after this last weekend. The standards have slipped since the last time i was there with Barnsley Building SOciety in section 1 finals around 97 i think on Frongs test piece at the Wembley conference centre.

After all this is supposed to be the best.

iancwilx

28.09.2003, 20:19

I like ploughboys idea! :wink:

So do I - Viva Ploughboy !!

michellegarbutt

28.09.2003, 21:55

I do agree saying you qualified for London does seem have more prestige than qualifying for Harrogate or Torquay ect. However I played in the 3rd section finals twice at Wembley Conference Centre and it was the most boring contest I've played in. We were drawn near the end of the section both times so had to hang around for hours waiting to play. The bar was only open from 11 to 1 . There was nowhere to get anything to eat and not everyone wants to listen to other bands before they play. I must say it would be nice for me to have the finals at Harrogate. Nice easy travelling for a change.

CORNISHMAN

29.09.2003, 18:42

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS. FEEP THEM COMING. JUST AFEW FURTHER THOUGHTS. I PERSONALLY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO HARROGATE AND SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT IT IS A GREAT VENUE SET IN A PLEASANT CITY. HOWEVER THE ORGANISERS MUST DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO CONTNUE THE IDEA OF SHARING THE FINALS AROUND - AND I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE IDEA OF WEST OF ENGLAND LAST YEAR,SCOTLAND THIS, MIDLANDS NEXT OR WHATEVER. OR IF THEY DECIDE TO HAVE A `STATIC` SITE THEN THAT SITE MUST BE CENTRAL IN FAIRNESS TO ALL COMPETING BANDS. I KNOW MY GEOGRAPHY IS NOT MY STRONG POINT BUT I DONT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE CAN CALL HARROGATE CENTRAL. IF IT IS ID LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ITS CENTRAL TO. IN CORNWALL WE HAVE TO TRAVEL OVER 100 MILES TO REACH THE MOTORWAY THEN ON TO ANOTHER 80+ MILES TO JUST REACH BRISTOL. WERE NOT COMPLAING ABOUT THAT ITS WHAT KEEPS CORNWALL SPECIAL HOWEVER IT DOES CAUSE ANY COMPETING ORGANISATION (NOT JUST BANDS) A HUGE AMOUNT OF DOSH JUST GET TO ANY NATIONAL VENUE. I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS POINT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE BEEN KEPT FULLY INFORMED, BUT ITS NOW UP TO SITES LIKE THIS AND THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE TO LET THE ORGANISERS KNOW IF THIS MOVE IS UNPOPLULAR. IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE CENTRAL SITE WHAT ABOUT THE MIDLANDS. SURPRISINGLY ITS ROUGHLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY, NOT IN THE NORTH. BIRMINGHAM MAYBE. REACHABLE BY MANY BANDS IN A DAYS TRIP IF THEY THINK IT RIGHT SO TO DO. PLEASE KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING. ID REALLY LIKE TO READ OTHER S VIEWS.

Aidan

29.09.2003, 19:13

http://www.ivygreen.ctc.edu/avery/activities/tech/images/capslockbig.jpg

PeterBale

30.09.2003, 09:38

I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS POINT THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO HAVE BEEN KEPT FULLY INFORMED, BUT ITS NOW UP TO SITES LIKE THIS AND THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE TO LET THE ORGANISERS KNOW IF THIS MOVE IS UNPOPLULAR. .

Regarding being informed, here's a link to the 4barsrest report of the announcement, made in January this year:

http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=661

Choosing the venue for something like the National Finals is always going to be contentious, and you'll never get everyone to agree. It's a pity, really, that you can't have some sort of "pooled expenses" scheme, such as I've encountered on a few conferences, where those who are local pay something towards the travelling for those who have a long way to go. I can see that it would never work in banding terms, partly because everyone's expectations will be different, with some bands looking towards a luxury coach with all facilities, whereas others might be happy with cars and a van for the instruments.

I would agree with those who've said that London does have an allure of its own, but also that Wembley is a terrible venue from the point of view of the lack of facilities or anyting to do outside the centre itself - the Salvation Army has used it for a few events, and it is very unpopular for those reasons. As for Birmingham, whilst Symphony Hall, with its facilities, is first-class, I don't know how you would be fixed for the number of halls and practice areas etc you need for a 4-section finals, and it is also good to use another location, rather than just London and Birmingham all the time.

asteria

30.09.2003, 09:48

I KNOW MY GEOGRAPHY IS NOT MY STRONG POINT BUT I DONT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE CAN CALL HARROGATE CENTRAL. IF IT IS ID LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ITS CENTRAL TO.

IF THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A MORE CENTRAL SITE WHAT ABOUT THE MIDLANDS. SURPRISINGLY ITS ROUGHLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY, NOT IN THE NORTH. BIRMINGHAM MAYBE. REACHABLE BY MANY BANDS IN A DAYS TRIP IF THEY THINK IT RIGHT SO TO DO.

Hmm, sorry i agree with Aidan (even if he is as subtle as a sledgehammer!), i found the all caps lock a little difficult to read!! :)

Some fair points though, but i think you'll find Harrogate is one of the most central places you'll find. Birmingham may be central to England, but what about all the bands travelling from Scotland!!

A trip to Birmingham from Lands End is only 285 miles (5 and a half hours) compared to 576 miles (11 and a half hours) from John O' Groats.

In comparison, Harrogate is 419 miles from Lands End and 483 miles from John O' Groats, a lot fairer all round and you're still better off in Cornwall than the average band in Scotland.

OK, so there's probably not many bands from the John O' Groats area, but you get my drift! :wink:

Incidentally, who were the most Northern and Southern bands at the finals this year?

geordiecolin

30.09.2003, 15:12

Sorry to confuse you all even more, but the geographical centre of Britain is a little town called Haltwhistle in Northumberland, about 30 miles West of Newcastle.
People often don't give Scotland the credit it deserves sizewise. It's a damn big place actually!!

I think Harrogate would be a great permanent venue. It is pretty much central!

rutty

30.09.2003, 16:06

Sorry to confuse you all even more, but the geographical centre of Britain is a little town called Haltwhistle in Northumberland, about 30 miles West of Newcastle.

Or is it?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2271914.stm

;)

I think that Harrogate would be a great place to hold it - nice town, close to a lot of bands, and not Birmingham.

ploughboy

30.09.2003, 16:37

Although I see the bonus in lodging the Finals in one place, personally I like to plan a weekend away for the nationals, Harrogate every year would mean the yorkshire bands would be playing on there own doorstep. I find this then could be a local contest which doesn't hold the glamour of the finals! I want to take my team away and have a weekend checking a bar out I haven't seen before.

Could we not have a 5 town cycle say Harrogate/Blackpool/Manchester/Birmingham and Sheffield, just as an example!!!!

asteria

30.09.2003, 17:26

Now there really would be an outcry if the National Finals was held on a bog!!! All the bands would sink! :lol:

Accidental

30.09.2003, 18:45

Could we not have a 5 town cycle say Harrogate/Blackpool/Manchester/Birmingham and Sheffield, just as an example!!!!

:roll: Don't forget the Southern bands - just because we never seem to win at the finals, we're always there! London was never such a bad venue, and it would have been a heck of a lot easier than Dundee this year!

Aidan

30.09.2003, 18:53

im sorry... but scubar is the geographical centre of britain... this fact cannot be denied by any combine-harvester riding wannabees

ploughboy

30.09.2003, 22:17

I realise wherever the finals are there's alwasy gonna be someone having to travel! I just think that should stay away from the Extremeties of the country like the past two years!

Straightmute

01.10.2003, 01:29

London was never such a bad venue, and it would have been a heck of a lot easier than Dundee this year!

Yes, London was bad. Wembley was the pits. I went there three times for the finals and it was truly nasty.

It's also so much more expensive than anywhere else and - if a tie break was needed - the beer was dreadful.

D

Kernewek Den

01.10.2003, 01:42

Does it really matter where it is?

Although going to Dundee was expensive it was probably the best weekend (long weekend) away that our band has had in years. Last time we qualified the finals were at Wembley but that wasn't a patch on Dundee. The result probably helped but even without that it it would have been a fantastic weekend.

At the end of the day the more it costs you to go to the finals the easier it is to raise the funds - how many of the Scottish band could have raised £5k for them to attend the finals on their doorstep.

It must be time for the Isle of White to host the finals - now that would be a good crack!!!

Max

01.10.2003, 10:55

I too have heard that the finals are going to be in Harrogate next year.

Another thought on this. When choosing the location for such events it would be worth investigating the amount of hotel accomodation within say 30m mins of the contest venue. I say this as someone who had to travel for over an hour at an obscene time of day to get to Caird Hall in Dundee. I think this was the case with quite a few bands, not just us.

Would it make sense for regional committees to provisionally book enough hotels for the bands that will go to the finals from their area? This would prevent "bed blocking" by bands who reserve rooms before they even do the area finals, thus taking space they may not need.

Cantonian

01.10.2003, 11:02

Could we not have a 5 town cycle say Harrogate/Blackpool/Manchester/Birmingham and Sheffield, just as an example!!!!

How about Cardiff (or Swansea)?

Grunt

02.10.2003, 11:50

I agree that it would be better if all the finals could be held at the same time in the same venue.

The North West Areas in Blackpool are like this. At any one time there can be as many as three sections competing in the same building.

This gives the place such a buzz as players circulate and you get to meet old friends.

I think that this was the one thing missing from Dundee (that and the fact that the bar shut after band 16 of 17 in the first section!!!!)

I also think that there is some merit in taking the finals around the country as it gives all the regions a sense of belonging to the banding movement.

Lauradoll

02.10.2003, 16:58

[quote="
Could we not have a 5 town cycle say Harrogate/Blackpool/Manchester/Birmingham and Sheffield, just as an example!!!![/quote]

Right enough, Scotland and Wales are too far for English people to travel to :!:

Cornishwomble

02.10.2003, 17:41

Totally agree with Kernewek Dan in that it doesn't matter where the finals are. There will always be some bands that have to make a long journey.
Lets face it not many bands go year after year below the championship section. Most of the bands that go to the finals get promoted the following year and in general don't qualify the year after.
If a band is good enough to make the finals for 2 or three years in a row then the finals moving around will benefit them as it's a good bet that in one of the years the finals will be close to them.
Kernewek's band Lanner, if they are good enough to qualify in the areas next year, will still have a long journey involving considerable finance even if the finals are held in the centre of England (wherever that may be) as they have to travel up from Cornwall!!!

Moy

02.10.2003, 19:59

For all those who enjoyed Dundee what giving Aberdeen a try for the Finals.
Only another hour and bit North of Dundee..........
What a time we could have :wink:

ploughboy

02.10.2003, 22:23

Could we not have a 5 town cycle say Harrogate/Blackpool/Manchester/Birmingham and Sheffield, just as an example!!!!

How about Cardiff (or Swansea)?

Anywhere would be good, Although I was in cardiff in 96 and it was like playing in a sports hall with some seating put in, And the seating was like 30 feet from the stage, very odd!

Lauradoll

03.10.2003, 09:43

Wherever the finals are held, some people will have to travel further than others. It's just a fact of life. There are many great places in Britain where the finals can be held successfully. It should be moved around to avoid one area getting off "cheaper" than the rest of the British bands that qualify. Anyway, back to my lesson eek. The joys of IT eh!!

CORNISHMAN

03.10.2003, 19:22

totally agree Laura. it really isnt fair that ONE place should have the honour. hows about letting each of the area hold it in turn. fair enough for everyone over time. or has this been tried also.

iancwilx

03.10.2003, 22:57

Moy

04.10.2003, 00:13

but I do consider that the "Centralised" idea is possibly more feasible as I think the majority of qualifying bands will come from a 200 mile radius of
Remind me to check autoroute to see how far it is from Aberdeen........

Accidental

04.10.2003, 09:13

I think the majority of qualifying bands will come from a 200 mile radius of Harrogate.

Erm...you've heard of the equal representation for the London, West of England and Scottish regions then?

iancwilx

04.10.2003, 17:00

I think the majority of qualifying bands will come from a 200 mile radius of Harrogate.

Erm...you've heard of the equal representation for the London, West of England and Scottish regions then?

I think you'll find that London is only about 200 miles from Harrogate,and Glasgow / Edinburgh are 215 miles from Harrogate.
Admittedly the South West is further, but I did say "The majority of bands"

Moy

04.10.2003, 17:07

Lauradoll

10.10.2003, 15:59

Holding the Lower Section Finals in each Area on a rotational basis really is an idea worth consideration - but I do consider that the "Centralised" idea is possibly more feasible as I think the majority of qualifying bands will come from a 200 mile radius of Harrogate.

Is that also including Yorkshire, North East, North West and Midlands areas? Move it around. it's fairer and more of an adventure!!!!

Dave Payn

14.10.2003, 15:25

As someone who's lived in London all his 40** years, I suppose London doesn't have the same allure for me. To be honest, if any band I'm involved in were to qualify for the finals, I'd like the idea of a weekend away somewhere else! If Harrogate is fairly central to all and the venue's good, then I don't see anything wrong with that.

**Believed to be a misprint. It should have read '21' :lol:

Regards