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City of Oxford Travesty

Dear list-members

This is a long post. I would be grateful if you would read it all and reply 
with your thoughts. In writing this post, I think I can speak on behalf 
of all of the members of the City of Oxford Band (Alastair is currently 
on holiday and therefore does not have access to an email account), 
although I have not been asked by them to write it.

Somewhat ironically, given the jubilant demeanour of my recent posts and 
the nature of the contributions from Andy Wooler regarding registration, the 
City of Oxford band has been provisionally disqualified from Sunday's 
Regional Championships in Basildon, pending an appeal to the regional 
committee and, if necessary, the NCC.

The reason for the disqualification was that the band's principal 
percussionist's name did not appear on the contest signature form. This 
was simply an oversight on the part of our contest secretary (who, 
incidentally, won the best cornet award on Sunday). When she drew up the 
list, our percussionist's card was at the registry being re-done (after 
having been lost by the authorities at the Leamington Spa contest in 
December). Consequently, our contest secretary ommitted his name from the 
list by mistake.

The player in question has been the principal percussionist with the band 
for five years, and has not missed a contest in that time. His membership 
of the band extends further back than most in the band. This was not a 
case of cheating or abusing the system. It was a simple and honest 
clerical error. If our disqualification is upheld, we will lose our place 
at the Royal Albert Hall because of the smallest, most trivial of errors. 

I accept that laws are there to be adhered to. The members of Rhos Silver 
Band, whose second section national title was taken last year, know all 
too well that fielding unsigned players is a costly mistake (whether 
deliberate or not). However, the error in the case of the City of Oxford 
is insignificant compared to that of using unsigned players. Though we 
may have inadvertedly broken a (rather pointless) rule when our 
percussionist played on Sunday, I fervently hope 
that the regional committee abide by the spirit of the law rather than 
the letter of the law when they consider our appeal. It is a spirit 
exemplified by the City of Oxford Band. How many other bands could boast 
full attendance at all practices up to six weeks before a contest?

It goes without saying that I cannot provide an unbiased opinion, as I 
am a member of the affected band, but it seems totally unfair that such a 
small mistake should cost us our life's ambition.

It would be a travesty if we 
were to be disqualified, especially as James Scott (the adjudicator on 
Sunday) said that the top two bands were well clear of the field. In 
short, we thoroughly deserve our place at the RAH.

As I understand it, an appeal has been lodged with the regional 
committee. Unfortunately, two members of that body are members of the 
Morrells (Kidlington) band. This band is the traditional rival of the 
City of Oxford, and may take a delight in seeing us disqualified. (A few 
members of that band even said so at the contest on Sunday). We at City 
of Oxford have no quarrel with the Morrells band (aside from a healthy 
local rivalry) and it would be extremely mean spirited of the Kidlington 
committee members to vote to uphold the disqualification out of spite. In 
addition, I am led to believe that at least one member of the committee 
is from Redbridge Brass, who came third in the competition and would 
therefore be given a place at the Royal Albert Hall if the decision is 
upheld. Surely, a committee (at least partially) composed of people with 
vested interests such as these cannot consider our appeal impartially? 

If the appeal is unsuccessful at regional level, we will lodge an appeal 
with the National Contesting Council. I am confident that we should win, 
given the paltry reason behind our disqualification.

In conclusion, I should like to say that words cannot adequately express 
how frustrated the rest of the band and I are. To qualify for the Royal 
Albert Hall has been our long-term ambition for years, and it now appears 
that our efforts may be rewarded with a slap in the face from band 
beaurocracy. I think our appeal is a strong one, given the player's long 
record with the band, the nature of our performance (earning two points 
more than Redbridge Brass, last years Champions), the fact that we may be 
demoted if we are disqualified (see below!), and the fact that the mistake 
made was an insignificant and honest one.

I would be grateful for your opinions on this matter. Thank you for taking 
the time to read this long message.

Respectfully,

A very sober and frustrated,

Cameron Mabon
2nd cornet, City of Oxford Band

P.S. There is a danger that, if we are disqualified permanently, the band 
will be demoted to the first section (because of some 'unusual' contest 
results last year)!! This would result in the bizarre 
situation of the other first section bands competing against arguably 
the best Championship Section Band in the region (as we will be if we 
continue to improve at the rate at which we have done so for the last few 
years)!!! The first section 
areas would be a farce, and all because one trivial rule was broken 
inadvertedly.

-- 
  Cameron Mabon				 cmabon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  Piano, cornet and duck-call
  Fundamental Brass	       http://users.ox.ac.uk/~newc0349/fun
  City of Oxford Band     http://www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/~cmabon/COSB.html


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