All of the details for this year's Whit Friday march contests that will take place on 28th May have been released by the organisers in the Saddleworth and Oldham District along with Tameside Council.

Council support

This year, around £60,000 is up for grabs on the night courtesy of the support from Oldham and Tameside Councils.

Oldham Council stepped in at the end of January to ensure that the area prizes were secured for 2010 after organisers failed to secure major sponsorship for the second year running.

On behalf of Saddleworth and Oldham District, Robert Rodgers told 4BR that thanks should go not only to Oldham Council but the organisers of the Navigation Brass Concert, Gilbert Symes and Phil Beckwith which raised £1,500 towards this years prize fund.

There is increased prize money at several of the individual contests including Delph, Uppermill, Greenfield, Lydgate and Diggle.

Around £60,000 in prize money will be available this year thanks to council support at Oldham and Tameside4BR

Coming of age

Over in Tameside, the Council is sponsoring the contests for the 21st year with substantial prize money.

Organisers at all the venues are determined to make this year’s contests a success after many of them suffered financially after last year’s torrential rain vastly reduced the number of spectators.

4BR understands that every contest has been working hard to ensure that competing bands are well rewarded for their efforts this year

Fernie, Horsfield, Parkes, Webster to decide

The line up of judges this year who will spend eight hours or more in caravans and tents has been confirmed. Derek Broadbent, Ray Farr, Alan Fernie, Major Peter Parkes and Dr Roger Webster will be amongst those scattered around the venues.

Volunteers

The success of Whit Friday is helped by the dedication of volunteers, but contests can never be short of enough helpers. If you can offer your help to a contest, please contact them asap.

Tameside:

Area Champions: Area Open Champions: £2,500

Audenshaw:
www.clubbz.com/club/4633/manchester/aldwinians_rufc_brass_band_contest_2010

Contest: 4.00pm — 10.30pm
Aldwinians Rugby Club
Main Prize: £700 from a total prize fund of £2,525
Adjudicator: Mr P Holland
Contact: Sylvia Donley (0161 336 6814, 07947 018175)

Broadoak:
Contest: 5.00pm — 10.30pm
Broadoak Hotel
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £1,600
Adjudicator: Dr Roger Webster
Contact: Mr J Smith (0161 3392174)

Carrbrook:
http://carrbrookvillage.users.btopenworld.com/band.htm

Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Carr Rise
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £1,515
Adjudicator: John Davies
Contact: Pete Sims (07931593133)

Denton:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.45pm
Main Prize: £250 from a total prize fund of £1,115
Adjudicator: Mr Mike Lyons
Contact: Mrs Joan Emery (0161 2925319)

Droylsden:
Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
The Bush Inn
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £2,250
Adjudicator: Mr R Breen
Contact: George Fairclough (0161 3702811)

Dukinfield:
Contest: 4.30pm — 11.00pm
Tame Valley Hotel
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of £1,500
Adjudicator: Mr Dave Chapman
Contact: Brian Hill (0161 3390072)

Heyrod:
www.heyrodbandcontest.com

Contest: 4.30pm -10.30pm
John Street
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £1,685
Adjudicator: Mr A McLaughlin
Contact: Miss Lynn Ward

Hurst Village:
Contest: 4.30pm — 11.00pm
Ashton United FC
Main Prize: £300 from a total prize fund of £1,100
Adjudicator: Mr Gareth Pritchard
Contact: Eric Stafford (0161 3300683)

Stalybridge:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Stalybridge Labour Club
Main Prize: £550 from a total prize fund of £1,655
Adjudicator: Derek Broadbent
Contact: Phil Watton (0161 3555818)

Stalybridge Celtic:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Stalybridge Celtic FC
Main Prize: £350 from a total prize fund of £855
Adjudicator: Major Peter Parkes
Contact: Gordon Greenwood (07770 433336)

Upper Mossley:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Mountain Street
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £1,485
Adjudicator: Mr M Tweedle
Contact: Margaret Gaskell (01457 832752)

Find the venue:

To enable bands to plan their routes and find the contest venues, visit the following link www.tameside.gov.uk/­­brassband/­­whitfriday

Further details:

Further details for the Tameside Contests are available from 0161 342 4144 or via email at events@tameside.gov.uk

Saddleworth and Oldham District:

Area Open Champions: £2,500, 2nd: £1,000, 3rd: £750, Youth: £250
Local Area Champion: £750, 2nd: £600, 3rd: £400

Saddleworth & Oldham Contests are supported in 2010 by Oldham Council and Navigation Brass.

Delph:
www.delph-whit-friday.co.uk

Contest: 4.15pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £3,825
Adjudicator: Mr Keith Hollinshead
Contact: Mr R. Rodgers (01457 874354)

Denshaw:
Contest: 4.15pm — 10.45pm
Main Prize: £750 from a total prize fund of £2,690
Adjudicator: A. Holdsworth
Contact: A. Baxter (07920763979)

Diggle:
Contest: 4.15pm — 10.15pm
Main Prize: £650 from a total prize fund of £2,185
Adjudicator: Duncan Beckley
Contact: B. Holden (01457 876177)

Dobcross:
Contest: 4.00pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £750 from a total prize fund of £2,885
Adjudicator: David Horsfield
Contact: K. Haynes (01457 877267)

Friezland:
3rd, 4th & Youth Sections only
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £150 from a total prize fund of £475
Adjudicator: T. Newbigging
Contact: L. Jones (01457 870081)

Greenacres:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £750 from a total prize fund of £2,405
Adjudicator: Mr B. Rostron
Contact: A. Clayton (0161 678 7255)

Greenfield:
Contest: 5.00pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £3,880
Adjudicator: Mr Ray Farr
Contact: J. Buckley (01457 874794)

Grotton:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £2,015
Adjudicator: Mr Roy Roe
Contact: G. Beverley (07932 747590)

Lydgate:
Contest: 4.30pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £775 from a total prize fund of £2,120
Adjudicator: Mr Derek Southcott
Contact: L. Bearpak (01457 872566)

Lees and Springhead:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £2,285
Adjudicator: Mr Alan Fernie
Contact: W. Cullen (0161 6267625)

Scouthead and Austerlands:
Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: £750 from a total prize fund of £3,600
Adjudicator: C Brian Buckley
Contact: D. Needham (0161 6520341)

Uppermill:
Contest: 4.00pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £2,195
Adjudicator: David Marshall
Contact: T. Hopkinson (01457 876010)

Further details:

Further details on Whit Friday can be found on www.whitfriday.brassbands.saddleworth.org