The details for this year's Whit Friday march contests which take place on 29th May have been released by the organisers, Saddleworth & Oldham District and Tameside Council.

Council and private sponsorship

This year, around £60,000 is once more up for grabs courtesy of the financial support from Oldham Council and private sponsorship within Tameside.

Oldham Council has once again generously supported the Saddleworth & Oldham District Whit Friday contests along with support from Saddleworth & Lees District Partnership.

Funding

Over in Tameside, funding once again has been received from 103.6FM Tameside Radio whilst the organisers are thrilled that the financial support from Besson has meant that the inaugural Youth Championship will take place.

The organisers have reminded the bands to visit the website which gives bands and spectator's all the information needed for Whit Friday.

The website address is: www.tamesidebrassbands.org

Plan ahead

Both councils have informed 4BR that they are working hard to ensure that road works are kept to a minimum. The advice to the bands however is plan ahead of the day itself.

Judges

The line up of judges who will spend eight hours or more in caravans and tents has also been confirmed.

Dr Robert Childs, Tom Davoren & Chris Wormald will be amongst those making the decisions around the venues along with other familiar names including Paul Holland, Adrian Morris & Mike Kilroy.

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.

A staggering £60,000 in prize money will once again be on offer thanks to the dedication of the hard working volunteers and generous sponsorship from various organisations4BR

The full list of Whit Friday contests is as follows:

Saddleworth & Oldham District:

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

The Saddleworth & Oldham Contests are supported by Oldham Council and Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership

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

Contest: 4.15pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £4,000
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy
Contact: Mr R. Rodgers (01457 874354)

Denshaw:
http://www.denshawcontest.co.uk/

Contest: 4.00pm — 10.45pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £3,690
Adjudicator: Allan Holdsworth
Contact: Andrina Baxter (07920763979)

twitter: @denshawcontest

Diggle:
http://www.digglebandcontest.co.uk

Contest: 4.15pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £800 from a total prize fund of £2,615
Adjudicator: Simon Kerwin
Contact: B. Cliffe (01457 873901)

twitter: @DiggleContest

Dobcross:
Contest: 4.00pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £750 from a total prize fund of £2,995
Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs
Contact: Gavin Roberts (07877015169)

twitter: @DobcrossWhitFri

Friezland:
3rd, 4th & Youth Sections only
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £200 from a total prize fund of £575
Adjudicator: T. Newbigging
Contact: J. Barrett (01457 870612)

Greenfield:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £4,000
Adjudicator: Chris Wormald
Contact: Frank Rothwell (07802938270)

Grotton:
Contest: 4.00pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £2,000
Adjudicator: Stephen Tighe
Contact: Graham Talboys-Smith (07761 593342)

Lydgate:
Contest: 4.00pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £850 from a total prize fund of £3,265
Adjudicator: Derek Southcott
Contact: Nita Porter (01457 877629)

Lees and Springhead:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £1,755
Adjudicator: Alan Fernie
Contact: W. Cullen (0161 6267625)

Scouthead and Austerlands:
Contest: 4.15pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: £800 from a total prize fund of £3,680
Adjudicator: Tom Davoren
Contact: D. Needham (0161 6520341)
Bands waiting on the night number: (07880 743876)

Uppermill:
Contest: 4.00pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000 from a total prize fund of £2,660
Adjudicator: David Marshall
Contact: Pam Byrne (01457 820149)

Tameside:

Area Open Champions: £2,500, 2nd: £1,000, 3rd: £750
Local Area Champion: £750, 2nd: £600, 3rd: £400
Youth Champion: £200, £100

The Tameside Whit Friday Contests are supported by Besson and 103.6FM Tameside Radio.

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

Contest: 4.00pm — 10.30pm
Aldwinians Rugby Club
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £1,800
Adjudicator: Paul 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: Duncan Beckley
Contact: Robert Frost (0161 3302764)

Carrbrook:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Carr Rise
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £1,535
Adjudicator: John Davies
Contact: Tony Williams (07792070504)

twitter: @CarrbrookWhitFr

Denton:
Contest: 4.00pm — 11.15pm
Main Prize: £250 from a total prize fund of £1,285
Adjudicator: Mike Lyons
Contact: Mrs Joan Emery (0161 2925319)

twitter: @DBBAwhitfriday

Droylsden:
Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
The Bush Inn
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of £1,625
Adjudicator: Ryan Breen
Contact: Sheila Bowater (0161 3702811)

Dukinfield:
Contest: 4.30pm — 11.00pm
Tame Valley Hotel
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of £1500
Adjudicator: Dave Chapman
Contact: Brian Hill (07506053670)

Heyrod:
http://www.heyrodbandcontest.com

Contest: 4.30pm -10.30pm
John Street
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £1,745
Adjudicator: A. McLaughlin
Contact: Bob Lear (0161 338 2003)

Hurst Village:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.15pm
Ashton United FC
Main Prize: £300 from a total prize fund of £1,275
Adjudicator: Richie Howard
Contact: Denise Pinder (0161 308 4076, 07789392856)

Stalybridge:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.30pm
Stalybridge Labour Club
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £1, 490
Adjudicator: Adrian Morris
Contact: Councillor Kevin Welsh (07970456026)

Stalybridge Celtic:
Contest: 4.30pm — 11.00pm
Stalybridge Celtic FC
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of 1,475
Adjudicator: C. Evans
Contact: Gordon Greenwood (07770 433336)

Upper Mossley:
Contest: 4.30pm — 10.00pm
Mountain Street
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £1,875
Adjudicator: M. Tweedle
Contact: Paul Harrison (07876214425)

Find the venue:

To enable bands to plan their routes and find the contest venues, visit the following link:

http://www.www.tameside.gov.uk/brassband/whitfriday/

Further details:

Further details for the Tameside Contests are available from: http://www.tamesidebrassbands.org