National Championships of Great Britain - Qualifying Bands - First Section [Archive]

Bryan_sop

24.04.2007, 07:09

I'm quite surprised no-one's posted on here either (and I didn't want to be the first! lol)

Our band has worked out that it's going to cost us £75 ish per person to stay 2 nights in Harrogate, we're writing/speaking to lots of local companies asking for sponsorship, and we've made a nice little wad of money from selling duplicated music from our library (Probably thanks to the fact that I advertised it on tMP!) and there'll be more to follow once I've finished cataloguing the library!

Good luck to everyone that got through, this'll be my first time ever at the finals and I can't wait!!

07.06.2007, 01:13

The adjudicators have been announced by Kapitol for the National Finals as:

C.Brian Buckley & Wing Commander Robert Wiffen
http://www.kapitol.co.uk/

dawny

16.09.2007, 13:36

Good luck to all bands playing victorian snapshots, with only two weeks til d day, hows all the preparation going. We are getting in to it now down at gresley so should be a good weekend. Special good luck to derwent hope to see you in the bar afterwards for a few beers

20.09.2007, 13:38

Has anyone else received their errata from Kapitol?
The reference to the EEb bass part doesnt seem to make sense to me - surely it should be "play both times from 2 before 1st time bars" not bar 55?
Or perhaps we'll never know - RSA admits he can't remember writing it...
And then there's the tempo marking towards the end (BB?) of 112 - surely not!
And what about the bars scored for 4 (and 5!) trombones? I fear some part swapping needed (scandal!)

JR

brassintheed

20.09.2007, 18:56

Willie Webster

20.09.2007, 22:38

Let's not start getting anally retentive about the errata, Whoever plays best on the day will win. Good luck to everybody

kandsi

23.09.2007, 20:14

How's everyone feel about bandsmen having to pay for tickets to listen.
Will we all be playing to a half empty hall with most in the bar until results?

Good luck all anyway.

Bass Man

25.09.2007, 19:12

Predictions are now on 4Bars Rest. We aren't even the Scabby Donkey!

brassintheed

29.09.2007, 08:32

Good luck to all bands today.

postie

29.09.2007, 21:44

Results from 4 bars rest:

Test Piece: Victorian Snapshots - On Ratcliff Highway, Ray Steadman-Allen
Adjudicators: C. Brian Buckley & Wing Cmdr. Rob Wiffen OBE

Results:
1. Pennine Brass, Ian Porthouse, 17, 194
2. Northop Silver, Thomas Wyss, 4, 190
3. Poulton le Fylde, Gary Clegg, 15, 187
4. Derwent Brass, Keith Leonard, 10, 186
5. Timperley Band, David Evans, 6, 185
6. Woodfalls Concert Brass, Steve Dunster, 16, 184

Soloist: Bb Bass, Pennine Brass

brassneck

29.09.2007, 21:54

Results:

1. Pennine Brass, Ian Porthouse, 17, 194
2. Northop Silver, Thomas Wyss, 4, 190
3. Poulton le Fylde, Gary Clegg, 15, 187
4. Derwent Brass, Keith Leonard, 10, 186
5. Timperley Band, David Evans, 6, 185
6. Woodfalls Concert Brass, Steve Dunster, 16, 184
7. Felling, Graeme Tindall, 11, 183
8. Hyde, Jonathan Camps, 14, 182
9. Stocksbridge, D. Nesbitt, 7, 181
10. Lockwood Brass, John Roberts, 3, 180
11. Treherbert, Craig Roberts, 13, 179
12. Milton Keynes Brass, Paul Fensom, 9, 176
13. Gresley Colliery, David Hirst, 8, 175
14. Jackfield Elcock Reisen, John Maines, 1, 174
15. City of Cambridge, Peter Bassano, 2, 172
16. Newmilns & Galston, Craig Anderson, 12, 168
17. Dunaskin Doon, John Boax, 5, 167

Soloist: Andy McNae, Bb Bass, Pennine Brass

http://www.4barsrest.com/live/2007harrogate/placings1.asp

- quite a wide range of points today!

Daniel Sheard

29.09.2007, 22:54

Big congrats to Pennine and also to Poulton le Fylde. We're pleased with 2nd!

PeterBale

30.09.2007, 00:42

Congratulations to all involved, and good to see the soloist's prize going to a worthy instrument ;)

Bass Man

30.09.2007, 01:04

I have had an absolutely tremendous day. What an excellent result. I couldn't be happier. The band performed excellently on stage, I was pumping with adrenaline for a good hour after our performance.

In one word - Cracking

Bass Man

30.09.2007, 01:05

Congratulations to all involved, and good to see the soloist's prize going to a worthy instrument ;)

Couldn't agree more Peter

robcav

30.09.2007, 01:29

Many congratulations to Pennine Brass. Great to see a Yorkshire Band winning out and by quite a margin it would seem. Well done Marky Boy.

glitzy

30.09.2007, 01:47

Who on earth is Andy McNae...he certainly doesn't play for Pennine!! Go Pete Denton for the soloist prize!!!!

markyboy

30.09.2007, 02:29

Many congratulations to Pennine Brass. Great to see a Yorkshire Band winning out and by quite a margin it would seem. Well done Marky Boy.

Cheers Rob !! Bumped into our mate Platty who was asking about you .

The amazing thing is that we only just made in to the Finals as well ...

Anno Draconis

30.09.2007, 17:59

Congrats to everyone at Northop on getting 2nd place :clap:

ian perks

30.09.2007, 19:45

Well a great weekend we were happy about our performance in general;
Now for a few gripes and moans;
£7.50 to listen to other bands a complete joke i dont think any/not many band person went to listen to other bands i cant blame them after we had paid to enter the contest plus the cost to go up as well!!!
No doubt the organisers will have a say about this
"Not many bandspersons in hall to hear other bands":confused: or words to that tone.

Did anyone see how much it was for a MARS BAR80p what a rip off did not bother having one also for a MUFFIN£2.05 even bigger rip off
£3.00 for a pint did not have one ;
went to the pub just down the road a great atmosphere with all bands there.
Now to that JOBSWORTH person on the registration desk woman with that green dress on;
Thought she was Hitlers Sister on how she spoke to me regarding the our registartion cards not a very nice person and a very bad attitude as well.:mad:
Contests
WE LOVE EM:biggrin:

SuperMosh

30.09.2007, 19:56

Now to that JOBSWORTH person on the registration desk woman with that green dress on;
Thought she was Hitlers Sister on how she spoke to me regarding the our registartion cards not a very nice person and a very bad attitude as well.:mad:
Contests
WE LOVE EM:biggrin:

The £7.50 to listen to other bands did seem harsh but I assume someone from Kapitol could justify this? People I spoke to said that if banders had to pay £3/4 it wouldn't be so bad.

As for my learned friend's comments above, these are his comments and not reflective of our band. :)

Anno Draconis

30.09.2007, 20:20

The £7.50 to listen to other bands did seem harsh but I assume someone from Kapitol could justify this? People I spoke to said that if banders had to pay £3/4 it wouldn't be so bad.

Is it Kapitol who set the price or the venue?

KMJ Recordings

30.09.2007, 20:37

Is it Kapitol who set the price or the venue?

It used to be that the contest organisers literally just hired the hall and the appropriate staff to run it - my guess is that the face value of the tickets is then set by the organisers at a level such that they make sure they don't make a loss...it certainly works that way when, for instance, you hire out something like one of the Concert Halls at the RNCM (which is what I did with one of the last concerts I promoted).

The actual dry hire of the venues is relatively high, plus you've got to factor in the cost of staffing.

The debate on tMP and elsewhere with respect to who goes to Brass Band contests (particularly set test piece ones) has been done to death - with the usual paraphrased answer is that we make up the vast majority of the audience at such events. The obvious implication of that is that you've got to charge people admission of some kind in order just to cover the costs never mind make a profit - and obviously we should remember that ultimately these contests are there as a profit making device....

Whether or not the face value of the tickets is too high is another question - it's a balancing act...lower prices = more people (does it?), higher prices = less people but maintained income (possibly?)....it's a tough call.

I still think there's a case in putting all the sections back together somewhere - personally I wouldn't have it at the RAH, though, as the overheads I've mentioned would be far too high (which if my info was correct was one of the main reasons it was changed in the first place).

KMJ Recordings

30.09.2007, 20:40

While I think about it, many congratulations to Ian and Pennine :D

(and also to the folks at Derwent and Felling Brass - we'll see you shortly ;) )

ian perks

30.09.2007, 21:01

As for my learned friend's comments above, these are his comments and not reflective of our band. :)
:tup

little_miss_marcroft

30.09.2007, 21:02

Always make sure you request a bus with an empty toilet when going to such contests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chizzum

30.09.2007, 22:03

Always make sure you request a bus with an empty toilet when going to such contests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

haha it was abit full!

flugeldude666

01.10.2007, 11:23

Always make sure you request a bus with an empty toilet when going to such contests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i lost my fone battery on that bus. im not really sure i want it back to be honest :-?

hellraiser

01.10.2007, 11:30

well done pennine
2nd a great result for Northop & T.Wyss from draw no.4

dave johnston

01.10.2007, 16:11

Well done to all the placed bands, and in particular to Northop and Principal Trombone, Daniel Sheard. Good to meet up - even if only briefly - at the coffee bar. Pity you couldn't stay for a 'pint' or two. We'll catch up again, I'm sure. Any chance you will change your mind on the test piece now?

02.10.2007, 09:27

Cheers Rob !! Bumped into our mate Platty who was asking about you .

The amazing thing is that we only just made in to the Finals as well ...

Well done Mark and Pennine Brass!
I saw Platty as well...

JR

Andy_Euph

02.10.2007, 14:05

Now to that JOBSWORTH person on the registration desk woman with that green dress on;
Thought she was Hitlers Sister on how she spoke to me regarding the our registartion cards not a very nice person and a very bad attitude as well.:mad:
Contests
WE LOVE EM:biggrin:

Haha sounds like the same women that was there last time I played at Harrogate...she got some expletives then and i'm sure she'll have got some at the weekend :biggrin:

Daniel Sheard

03.10.2007, 17:59

Thanks Dave - it was nice to meet up with Broseley/MK people again. Unfortunately I had to dash fairly soon after we played and didn't get to say hello to Ed. No, I'm still not that keen on the piece...

ROBTHEDOG

03.10.2007, 18:32

Interesting the 4BR forecasts

Given the form book and the relative strengths of each of the bands we have to go with a battle between Yorkshire, the North West and Wales for the top prize this year. Pennine is a classy band on their day and Stocksbridge is very solid too and we think it will be between them to become champions. Northop are a quality outfit also whilst Timperley and Derwent Brass should be up there come the results. Hyde could well be in the mix if the judges like what they hear and our dark horse is Poulton – le – Fylde.

1. Pennine Brass = 1st
2. Stocksbridge = 9th
3. Northop Silver =2nd
4. Timperley =5th
5. Derwent Brass =4th
6. Hyde =8th

Dark horse: Poulton-le- Fylde = 3rd

NOT bad predictions will be interesting to see 'retrospectives'

My first rip to Harrogate pretty good organisation. Like the hall. Regarding the beer and food prices plenty of other alternatives near by..

Well done to Pennine would liked to hear it but couldn't afford the ticket

CU all at the areas 2008

03.10.2007, 18:52

1. Pennine Brass = 1st
2. Stocksbridge = 9th
3. Northop Silver =2nd
4. Timperley =5th
5. Derwent Brass =4th
6. Hyde =8th

Dark horse: Poulton-le- Fylde = 3rd

NOT bad predictions will be interesting to see 'retrospectives'

Hmm, hows this for a comparison then

Here are the top 7 from Prediction Central:
(Based on the total number of predictions per band [ far right column])

1. Pennine Brass - 1st
2. Stocksbridge - 9th
3. Northrop - 2nd
4. Gresley - 13th
5. Timperley - 5th
6. Derwent - 4th

Dark Horse: (Well 7th ;) ) Woodfalls Concert Brass - 7th

So, 3 out of top 7 in the correct position and 2 in the top 6 but in the wrong order.

Not bad ladies and gents, not bad.

Hmm, wonder how you did with the other sections.

*trots off to the other threads to do some comparisons. :)

ian perks

09.10.2007, 15:36

Haha sounds like the same women that was there last time I played at Harrogate...she got some expletives then and i'm sure she'll have got some at the weekend :biggrin:
I wonder if anyone else had a ear bending from her about nothing just to show that SHE was incharge at the registration desk:-?

Bryan_sop

09.10.2007, 22:38

Had a fantastic time in Harrogate! Bit disappointed with the results and disagree entirely with certain decisions having listened to our recording but then that's banding. Unfortunately some adjudicators can pick out the better performances, but then are unable distinguish between the others! I'm not going to dwell on it...it's to be expected of contesting these days!

I do have to say though...what an utterly awful venue to play in?! I've played into better socks!

WoodenFlugel

10.10.2007, 00:29

I wonder if anyone else had a ear bending from her about nothing just to show that SHE was incharge at the registration desk:-?

Surely she had to be in charge at the registration desk? If it was left up to the bands it would be total anarchy?

Having been called a Nazi myself I have to say its not a very nice thing to say about someone. Someone, who has probably given up their whole weekend to allow stroppy bandspeople to indulge themselves at the Nationals at no reward or gratification to themselves except for a few lazy insults shot in their direction on tMP.

ian perks

10.10.2007, 14:42

Surely she had to be in charge at the registration desk? If it was left up to the bands it would be total anarchy?

Having been called a Nazi myself I have to say its not a very nice thing to say about someone. Someone, who has probably given up their whole weekend to allow stroppy bandspeople to indulge themselves at the Nationals at no reward or gratification to themselves except for a few lazy insults shot in their direction on tMP.
May be so i agree with you;) but contests are supposed to be relaxed and friendly coming across with a attitude like she had got does no band/band person any favours when waiting to go on stage and play.
If she had come across with a friendly approach to myself to the item in question then fair enough,but im sorry the days of BACKS TO THE WALL AND LISTEN OR ELSE have gone:clap:
As you can see this person as been like it at previous National Finals read AndyEuphs post.
If they do not want to do the job then they should not give their time up for a whole weekend.
By the way im not a stroppy band person!!!

ian perks

10.10.2007, 14:57

[quote=ian perks;557010]May be so i agree with you;)
If they do not want to do the job then they should not give their time up for a whole weekend.

A good number of our band could not see why she took on that attitude towards myself regarding the matter youd thought that id committed a serious crime at the registration regarding one registration card they just started laughing at something as petty as it was.
It did not bother me as at the end of the day its only a hobby but looked like she was trying to make it look very serious and the tone of her voice could have been better and a far better way of putting it over would have helped the matter.
It was not even a storm in a tea-cup issue but to her it was CRIMEWATCH APPEAL TIME:biggrin: