Looking at this from a different point of view, the Grand Shield will be one hell of a contest in 2004. Hopefully, the paying public will agree and give everybody great support. Having said that, there was a good audience at the Shield this year, (and the Cup and Trophy seemes fairly full as well from what I remember.
I think that the bands that tend to get e.g. 7th to 15th at the Open are always going to be in difficult water. The standard at the top of the Grand Shield is as good as a great deal of the bands in the Open. However, there are those bands which are perhaps in a higher echelon as YBS proved.
Somebody (3 bands) has to go down, but then again somebody (also 3 bands!) has to go up.
I'm looking forward to it.
Igg