Lancers History
This is where you can find the low down on each and every year of The Lancers existance, the results, the highs and the lows. "Once a Lancer, Always a Lancer"
Flames of Eternity
Position:
BYBA Championship Class (Division 2) League Finish - 14th (relegated)
DCUK "A Class FINALS - 5th
Music:
Trilogy
Praga
Concierto D`Aranjuez
Malaga
Drum Major(s):
Emma Milton
We could never have thought how apt the name of our show "Flames of Eternity" would prove to be when we choose it!
The repertoire was the most demanding we had ever attempted a true Drum Corps show excellently arranged a strong staff and talented membership even if a bit down in numbers from the previous year.
In the end 2001 was to be the darkest and most difficult in our history, where many lessons were learned which would ultimately made us stronger.
Internal problems with certain members of staff and some members transpired to undermine and destabilise the Corps. In our efforts to keep pace with our member's appetite to push them we had brought in more and more instructors from outside the Corps.
This had had a positive effect during 2000 but had resulted in a burnout and members leaving slowly one by one over the winter months, due to the attitude and instructional techniques of a couple of these people.
Just before the start of the season after we had finished the show we parted company for different reasons, and a domino effect took place which was to keep going right through to the end of the first half.
How we got out on the field for our the first show of the season at DCUK Warrington we will never know, the performance was poor but thanks to everyone pulling together in the face of adversity we had met our commitment.
All in all the drill show had to be completely rewritten and relearned four times the parts had to be moved around on the Brass score to keep the balance. Then the decision to take the tiny Drumline off the field and put into the pit for second half had to be made.
Added to this the Corps was having financial difficulties resulting from decreasing membership but increased overheads, would we becoming out for the second half at all.
In the end in true Lancers spirit we would; but not without having to withdraw from a BYBA competition, for the first time in our history! This meant BYBA imposing penalty points on the Corps, resulting not only in us failing to qualify for Finals but also relegation back into Novice for the following year.
In DCUK we marched on and finally the show began to reach some of its potential ending up we a creditable 5th place at DCUK "A Class" Finals.
Although 2001 was Stafford Lancers darkest year, there were still many positives that came out of it, not in terms of results and performance but in terms of character, where people stood up in the face of adversity and refused to be beaten!
Marching Membership
BRASS LINE: 9
PERCUSSION: 7
GUARD: 8
TOTAL: 24
2001 Contesting Season Noteable Results
BYBA League - 14th
DCUK Finals - 5th
BYBA Section Wins
Drum Major - 1
Guard - 1
