Report on DCE Championships 2006

You can still feel the aftershocks at the Sparta Stadium after the events of last Saturday. About 1200 drum corps members and a couple of thousand fans created quite a spectacle in Rotterdam. Niels Merkx from Drum Corps Media sent us a personal report of the day's event. You can still feel the aftershocks at the Sparta Stadium after the events of last Saturday. About 1200 drum corps members and a couple of thousand fans created quite a spectacle in Rotterdam. Niels Merkx from Drum Corps Media sent us a personal report of the day's event.

"When I arrive at the stadium, there's a buzz of excitement in the air. It's just my luck that now I'm unable to spend the whole day here, it's more exciting than ever! In the Percussion Class, there's hardly any difference between DrumSpirit and Rhythm Stars. And in the Cadet Class, Jong Jubal is precisely one point ahead of Jong Beatrix. But the Open Class Prelims tops them all - a top 4 practically within one point of each other! Two Dutch and two British clubs, all with an equal chance of becoming first or fourth. One winner is certain - the audience. They'll be presented with a real thriller of a competition!


In the morning, a number of corps compete for the chance to open the evening program. Fidele Vogelsanger narrowly miss the evening, despite having fewer than four points less than the number 10. As it happens, I arrive as the number 10, the Federatieband, begin their show. This corps from the Hague presents us with a variation on last year's theme. The man with the hat has disappeared but all the positive aspects have remained. In fact, they are even better this time around, presenting their program with more confidence and enthusiasm.

This year, the Starriders take a trip around the world, which is no mean feat if you only have 11 minutes. Though the theme of this program is quickly obvious, it doesn't always connect well in places. It is a somewhat difficult and melancholic departure; it's almost as though the club don't need to make such a long trip. However, the Japanese part is the most striking and convincing of the program.


Last week, Wölper Löwen became the DCG champions. No surprise really with a strong performance like 'Just BLUE'. It has everything which drum corps needs, allowing you to just sit back and enjoy it.

The 6th Hove Scouts also travel to Japan, to fight as real Samurai warriors. A fast-paced kamikaze type start brings you to the edge of your seat. Unfortunately, the Brits are unable to sustain this level of suspense for the whole of the show. Maybe this is why they dropped a place, allowing Wölper Löwen to overtake?

On the other hand, the performance of the Black Knights is exciting, even somewhat foreboding, from start to finish. They leave me with a mixed feeling; though I wouldn't want to experience such a restless night myself, the Black Knights are a corps to dream about...

The question is whether the Brits can disturb Juliana's night's rest. The corps from Zeeland enter the Finals in fifth place. And although everyone is naturally talking about the top 4, Juliana is still within reach of a place on the podium. Their biggest problem is the size of their membership. Wise decisions are made, such as in the percussion field, where they decide on a full snare and bass line and no tenors, and in their choice of program, which has been well-chosen year after year. Furthermore, the corps are innovative in terms of movement and visuals. Not only their fantastic guard, but their entire corps, moves splendidly.

And then the top four begin. It's probably no surprise that these four corps are at the top, although their order may well be unexpected. But if there is hardly any difference in points between them, then what does the order actually signify? Excitement enough that their ranking differs from the order in which they'll be performing. And the final outcome is again completely different. But I'm jumping the gun a bit here.


This is the first time that the Senators, many times DCUK champion, are to take part in the DCE Finals. The club put all their heart and soul into it. What an opening! 'Don't Stop Me Now' soon resounds across the whole field and the Senators indeed appear unstoppable! These Brits meet the highest expectations and I'd gladly award them with the non-existent prizes for 'Most beautiful Ballad' ('Who Wants to Live Forever') and most original guard equipment (the 'Cymbal yoyo'). The Senators also win the finest award of the evening: the Barry Boer Rookhuiszen Award for best Front Ensemble.

Then it's Jubal's turn. Is this club from Dordrecht in pursuit or being pursued in The Chase? This is a show which is also preceded by a lot of 'buzz' beforehand. It's 'now or never' for Jubal. Nonsense of course, because Jubal aims for the highest prize each year and each year they have a chance of winning it. The story is complete, there are no weaknesses in the show and you can feel the excitement running through your whole body. Jubal is climbing to unknown heights!


Out of the top four, Northern Star is the smallest in terms of number of members. But what I already said about Juliana applies to Northern Star even more so â?? quantity says nothing about quality! All in all, this corps is just as great if not greater than the rest. Northern Star travels through time, effortlessly taking the audience with them. Everyone recognizes the greatest moments in history in this beautiful ballad. Each year, this club from Leeds gets better and better and I'm already looking forward to their promising future.

It's now Beatrix's turn. Their performance may be perfect in the afternoon, but tonight it has to be perfect. Nothing in life is certain and Beatrix are well aware that becoming a champion is no ordinary job at any time. Last year, their program was the talking point, now there were doubts about the corps itself. But this year Beatrix again proves that there's no reason for any doubts. Beatrix doesn't rise above itself, it remains true to itself! State of the Art Drum Corps: for Beatrix, it's just an ordinary day!


The results are extraordinarily exciting. Wölper Löwen takes seventh place at the expense of the 6th Hove Scouts and Juliana strengthens its fifth position, though it doesn't come any closer to the top four. It's then time to present the caption awards, though they don't really tell us anything however as Jubal and Beatrix each win one award, and the Senators and Northern Star each receive two. The only thing that's obvious is that in tonight's final details are everything.

For the first time ever I am fleetingly in favour of the 'classic' judging system, in which everyone scoring more than 80 points wins first prize. But of course that's not the way it works here. And quite right too! With only one European champion, the rest will have to improve their best, making next year's championships even more thrilling.

But let's get back to this year! The Senators and Beatrix exchange the places they had in the afternoon. The corps from Hilversum are fourth and the Senators are third. When the speaker announces Northern Star to be the number two, the tension is over - Jubal is the new DCE Champion of 2006. And although there is a minimal difference in terms of points, Jubal is a truly deserving champion.

Each year, the DCE Finals get better and better. Next year, I'll be there the whole day. Will you join me?"

Niels Merkx