Black Dyke’s repiano player Lee Rigg was a man with spilt affiliations on Whit Friday.

Brilliant job

Lee had asked his brother in law Sean Conway to conduct Wardle High School Band as he was engaged in helping the Queeensbury outfit claim the Saddleworth title, and was delighted after the results were announced to find out that Sean had done such a brilliant job that Wardle actually equalled the European champions in winning six of the eight contests they entered!

Toes

Lee told 4BR: "On the night Dyke was playing brilliantly but I was in constant touch with Sean whilst we were travelling to each contest. He did keep me on my toes though by telling me Wardle were playing even better!"

A surreptitious bit of filming at Broadoak enabled Lee to check on their progress first hand via his iPhone – and the evidence confirmed Sean’s opinion.

Determined

Lee was determined to see his band first hand, so later that evening he made a quick dash by car from Delph to Denshaw to catch Wardle in action.

"As soon as Dyke played I gave my cornet to my parents and shot off," he revealed.

"As I got out of the car at Denshaw I saw the band at the top of road ready to march down. I was so proud of them as they made their way down, and I have to say I had a tear in my eye as Sean led them at the contest. The band struck up and played brilliantly."

I was so proud of them as they made their way down, and I have to say I had a tear in my eye as Sean led them at the contest. The band struck up and played brilliantlyLee Rigg

Six out of eight

Remarkably, as Lee later found out, Wardle won their category at Diggle, Denshaw, Uppermill, Broadoak, Denton and Mossley to equal Dyke’s achievement in taking the overall Saddleworth title with six clear wins.

"I can’t have asked for anything more," Lee said proudly. "Perhaps I’ll have to get Sean to conduct more often – he’s certainly got the Whit Friday winning knack!"