Quartet Prelims 2003

What a barbershop feast! Twenty three quartets competed in the regular prelims competition and another three in the seniors contest over the weekend of 11th & 12th October. Popular quartet Primetime, the current bronze medallists, sang superbly and reversed the result of last years prelims and convention by leaping over current silver medal holders Class Act. Spirits were high for High Spirits who achieved a top three placing for the first time, and 'newcomers' Gentleman Jack from Cambridge, stormed in at number four. Long-standing Bournemouth quartet By Appointment booked an appointment in Harrogate at fifth position, and Rhapsody were in raptures over making it into the top six for the first time. With Class Act eager to reverse the roles again, and with only two points separating the quartets in 3rd, 4th and 5th, it promises to be a very interesting competition in Harrogate next May.

Local quartets

Bostin 4 a pitch, from Telford, were placed 17th and hence just missed the cut for qualification, but will be mike-warming at Convention. West Midlands & Gentlemen Songsters quartet Accord attained 19th place, thus just missing out on a mike-warming position. However, if any qualified quartet has to scratch, then Bostin could be competing and Accord would then be mike-warming. Not that we would wish anyone to have to withdraw from convention, but it would be a nice side-effect if they did!

Surprise super-star international guest quartet

Those lucky enough to be in the audience at the start of Saturday were treated to a special performance by guest quartet Clap and Shout Loudly who mike-warmed, got the judges brains in gear and really set the competition off to a fine start.

Well done and thanks to Phil Mobsby, chairman of judges, and to everyone from Anvil Chorus and Second City Sound who helped as couriers, judge minders, stewards and refreshment organisers.
Jonathan Smith

1st place
PRIME TIME
from Portsmouth & Cambridge
72.3% (867 marks)

2nd place
CLASS ACT
from Chelmsford & Cambridge
70.7% (848 marks)

3rd place
HIGH SPIRITS
from Bolton & Calder Valley
68.7% (824 marks)

4th Place
GENTLEMAN JACK
from Cambridge
68.6% (823 marks)

5th place
BY APPOINTMENT
from Bournemouth and East Dorset
68.5% (822 marks)

6th place
RHAPSODY
from Preston
67.0% (804 marks)

... and the local quartets...

17th place
Bostin' for a Pitch
from Telford
57.9% (695 marks)

19th place
ACCORD
from West Midlands and Gentlemen Songsters
54.0% (648 marks)

... and the special star guests ...

Mike warmers on Saturday
CLAP and SHOUT LOUDLY
from Back Stage & Beyond
98.0% (lots of marks)

Thank you to Pete and Beth Powell for providing the above photos of the quartets. The complete set consisting of every competing quartet plus mikewarmers can be seen on Pete's website

The full results are available on the BABS Guild of Judges website

Previous quartet prelims: 2002 2001

Previous chorus prelims: Southern 2002 Northern 2002 Northern 2001 Southern 2001