19th January 2006
2006 Season - Off and Running
Finishing the summer events with a performance at a Brighton & Hove Albion football match on behalf of the City Council the members and staff "disappeared" into sports halls and gyms to start work on preparing for the 2006 WinterGuard United Kingdom season.
Following a busy 3 months of rehearsal, all 4 Southern Knights units performed in exhibition at the Annual Preview Evening on Saturday 7th January with a record audience and a guest performance by the other Brighton based colour guard - Reflexions. But this was just a warm up to the contest season which started on Saturday 15th January with the first WGUK contest of 2006 in Stoke On Trent.
The members of the A Class Guard had worked hard preparing their production of "The Giving Tree" but only a couple of weeks previously there was concern whether there would be enough of the show learnt to compete at Stoke. In true SK style over the proceeding 3 rehearsals the 9 girls (5 of which have never marched a winter season!!) and staff made huge strides and whilst still a long way to go they were positioned 4th out of 7 and less than ½ point off 3rd. They have a great show which will only grow over the next 3 months once the final touches are added and the props and equipment all start to be slotted in
The Open Class Guard, with 14 members, are moving up a level from their Championships winning 2005 show and this year have a classy production, entitled "Hymn to Love". Once again they have had the added support from our US designer and consultant, Adam Sage, with two visits to the UK, one in November and again during the first week of the new year. The performance at Stoke lacked a bit of the normal SK "sparkle" (maybe first show nerves!!) but was still a solid start placing us in 3rd place (exactly as per the first show in 2005) out of 8 and with the costumes, silks and scenery still to add it looks like another quality SK year.
All 4 Guards will be in performance at the Southern Knights organised Southern Classic Winterguard Contests at the Triangle Centre, Burgess Hill on Sunday 29th January 2006.