Brighouse & Rastrick has claimed its first overall Saddleworth & Oldham District Championship Whit Friday title since 2013.

£7,000

Led by Leigh Baker and resplendent in their traditional Whit Friday uniforms, the Yorkshire outfit banked roughly £7,000 for their performances of 'Ravenswood', which claimed victories at Delph, Denshaw and Greenfield, a trio of runners-up spots at Greenfield, Lees & Springhead and Lydgate and two podium spots at Scouthead & Austerlands and Uppermill.

It gave the Yorkshire giant, fresh from their trip to the European Championship in Lille, an unbeatable 'six contest' qualification total in beating off the challenge of defending champion, Fairey, with the in-form Hepworth coming third.

Wide smile

Not surprisingly, MD Leigh Baker still had a grin as wide as 'Hail smiling morn' when 4BR caught up him.

"The band always enjoys Whit Friday and I was proud of the consistency in our performances all night. Dominic Longhurst did a cracking job on soprano (in place of the indisposed Alan Morrison) and our thanks go Leon Renilson for stepping up to the plate on principal cornet as a result.

It was great to rub shoulders once more with so many bands from all over the world and we hope they enjoyed the night as much as we did!"

B&R President, Paul Beaumont also offered his congratulations to Leigh on his first contest victory as MD, as they now look forward to two concert appearances at the high-profile media CarFest hosted by Top Gear's Chris Evans, before focussing on the British Open in September.

Fairey end runner-up

It wasn't to be another memorable Whit Friday night for defending champion, Fairey under Garry Cutt. They had to make the short journey back to Stockport with a 'six contest' results sheet that included victories at Lydgate and Scouthead on 'Knight Templar', supported by runners-up spots at Denshaw and Greenfield, a third at Delph and fourth at Grotton.

However, there was more delight for Hepworth as they recorded a second successive podium finish (following the Grand Shield in Blackpool) after their renditions of 'Ravenswood' saw them take the top prizes at Diggle and Dobcross as well as a host of podium finishes to bag an overall prize package of around £3,500.

Milnrow take local title

In the Local Championship, Milnrow under Mark Bentham once again took the bragging rights after some excellent renditions of 'Mephistopheles', as they edged out the keen challenge of Oldham (Lees) and Marsden Silver (complete with Glyn and Helen Williams making a welcome return to the ranks) respectively.

Meanwhile, Wardle Academy Youth continued on a 2016 to remember after being crowned Youth Champion.

Whilst the evening rain never dampened spirits, and with the contests enjoying healthy turn-outs, the regional media spotlight from BBC North West Tonight shone on the greatest free show on earth with interviews with players and Bob Rodgers who runs the splendid Delph contest.

It was also a night where Delph acknowledged its 70th anniversary in sadness at the recent passing of Mark Rodgers.

Tributes

Tributes were paid all evening there by the bands through personal, floral, silent and most significantly, musical performances.

Uppermill (where Mark last played) donned white roses and carried his soprano cornet in front of the band in his honour, whilst Delph wore black armbands.

It was great to rub shoulders once more with so many bands from all over the world and we hope they enjoyed the night as much as we did!Brighouse & Rastrick MD, Leigh Baker

Results:

Saddleworth & Oldham District Open Championship:
1. Brighouse & Rastrick — £2,500
2. Fairey — £1,000
3. Hepworth — £750

Local Championship
1. Milnrow — £750
2. Oldham (Lees) — £600
3. Marsden Silver — £400

Youth Championship
1. Wardle Academy Youth — £250

Venues:

Delph:
(80 Bands)
Adjudicator: Mike Kilroy

1. Brighouse & Rastrick — £1,000
2. Hepworth — £750
3. Fairey- £400
4. Oberburg Switzerland — £300
5. Windcorp Brass Band — £250
6. Salvo Brass — £200
7. York Railway Institute — £150

Best non-Championship Section Band:
1. Longridge

Best 3rd/4th Section Band:
1. Market Rasen (before 9.00pm)

Best Local Band:
1. Boarshurst Silver
2. Marsden Silver

Best Saddleworth Band:
1. Diggle

Best Youth Band:
1. Oldham Music Centre
2. 2nd Rossendale Scouts Group

Deportment:
1. The Band of the King's Division

Best Cornet: Brighouse & Rastrick
Best Euphonium: Brighouse & Rastrick
Best Soprano: Hepworth
Best Basses: Fairey
Best Trombones: Salvo Brass

Denshaw:
(60 Bands)
Adjudicator: Allan Holdsworth

1. Brighouse & Rastrick
2. Fairey
3. Milnrow
4. Oldham Band (Lees)
5. Longridge
6. Slaithwaite

Best 1st Section:
1. Longridge Band

Best 2nd Section:
1. City of Bristol Brass Band

Best 3rd Seciton:
1. Greenalls Brass Band

Best 4th Section:
1. Enfield Brass

Best Saddleworth:
1. Boarshurst Silver

Best Local:
1. Slaithwaite

Best Non-UK Band:
1. A Tout Vent (France)

Best Youth Band:
1. Wardle Academy Youth
2. Tewit Youth

Best Soprano: Fairey
Best Bass Section: Brighouse & Rastrick
Spot Prize: MG Dietvil (Switzerland)

Diggle:
(59 Bands)
Adjudicator: Simon Kerwin

1. Hepworth — £800
2. Milnrow — £500
3. Oldham (Lees) — £400
4. Marsden Silver
5. City of Bradford
6. Bad Ass Brass

Best 1st/2nd Section Band:
1. Hebden Bridge — £150

Best 3rd/4th Section Band:
1. Greenalls — £150

Best Saddleworth Band:
1. Delph — £150

Holden Prize:
Marsden Silver — £100

Best Unregistered Band:
1. Bad Ass Brass — £100

Best Youth Band:
1. Oldham Music Centre — £100

Best 4th Section not winning other prize:
Diggle B — £60

Best Bass Section: Hepworth — £60
Best Youth Soloist: Oldham Music Centre (euphonium) — £50
Best Soprano: Milnrow — £30
Best Euphonium: Hepworth — £30
Best Instrumentalist (not in Championship Section): Slaithwaite (cornet) — £30
Best Band on march: Oberburg Switzerland — £30

Dobcross:
(70 Bands)
Adjudicator: Alan Widdop

1. Hepworth
2. Milnrow
3. City of Bradford
4. Bad Ass Brass
5. Fairey
6. Marsden Silver

Best Saddleworth Band: Boarshurst Silver
Best Local Band: Milnrow
Best Local Band Whit Friday morning: TBC
First Band to play: Mg Dietwil

Best Junior Euphonium: Wardle Academy Youth
Best Junior Soloist: Oldham Music Centre Youth
Best Junior Player: Oldham Music Centre Youth
Best Local Junior Soloist: Oldham Music Centre Youth
Best Youth Soprano: Wardle Academy Youth
Best Youth Trombone: Oldham Music Centre Youth

Friezland:
(47 Bands)
Adjudicator: Tim Newbigging

1. Greenfield
2. Market Rasen
3. Farnworth & Walkden
4. University of Nottingham
5. BMP Europe Goodshaw
6. Greenalls Brass

Best 4th Section Band:
1. BMP Europe Goodshaw

Youth;
1. Tewit Youth
2. 2nd Rossendale Scout Group

Best Cornet: New Band Music
Best Basses: Oldham Music Centre
Best Deportment: Littleborough

Greenfield:
(72 Bands)*
*record
Adjudicator: Chris Wormald

1. Brighouse & Rastrick
2. Fairey
3. The Band of the King's Division
4. Hepworth
5. Oldham (Lees)
6. Boarshurst Silver

Best 1st Section:
1. Boarshurst Silver
2. Elland Silver

Best 2nd Section:
1. Glossop Old
2. Greenfield

Best 3rd Section:
1. Dobcross Silver
2. Liginiers

Best 4th Section:
1. Enfield
2. Diggle B

Best Overseas Band:
Brass Band Atout Vent

Best Local Band:
Oldham (Lees)

Best Saddleworth Band:
Boarshurst Silver

Best Local 4th Section:
Diggle B

Best Youth Band:
1. Wardle Academy Youth
2. Tewit Youth

Best Deportment:
1. The Band of the King's Division
2. Liginiers

Best Entertainment:
1. Brass Band Atout Vent
2. Hade Edge

Grotton:
(47 Bands)
Adjudicator: Stephen Tighe

1. Milnow — £600
2. Brighouse & Rastrick — £300
3. City of Bradford
4. Fairey
5. Oldham (Lees)
6. Birmingham Conservatoire

First Section:
1. Hebden Bridge — £100
2. Hade Edge — £75

Second Section:
1. Boarshurst Silver — £75
2. Delph — £50

Third Section:
1. Ligineress — £75
2. Oberburg Switzerland

Local:
1. Oldham (Lees) — £100
2. Marsden Silver — £75

Youth:
1. Oldham Music Centre — £100
2. 2nd Rossendale Scouts — £50

Deportment: Oberburg Switzerland — £30
Youth Deportment: Tewit Youth — £25
Best Cornet: Brighouse & Rastrick — £30
Best Soprano: Brighouse & Rastrick — £30

Lees & Springhead
(46 Bands)
Adjudicator: Alan Fernie

1. Birmingham Conservatoire — £500
2. Brighouse & Rastrick — £250
3. Oldham (Lees) — £150
4. Milnrow
5. City of Bradford
6. Marsden Silver

Best 1st Section:
1. Silk Brass — £75
2. Hade Edge — £50

Best 2nd Section:
1. Boarshurst Silver — £75
2. Delph — £50

Best 3rd Section:
1. Oberburg Switzerland — £75
2. Greenfield — £50

Best 4th Section:
1. Shrewsbury — £75
2. North London Brass — £50

Best Youth:
1. Rochdale Youth — £50
2. 2nd Rossendale Scout Group — £30

Best Local:
1. Milnrow — £100

Best Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council:
1. Boarshurst Silver — £50

Best Cornet: Oldham (Lees) — £25
Best Euphonium: Birmingham Conservatoire — £25

Best Deportment:
Silk Brass — £50

Best Youth Deportment:
Rochdale Youth — £50

Lydgate:
(71 Bands)
Adjudicator: Derek Southcott

1. Fairey
2. Brighouse & Rastrick
3. City of Bradford
4. Oldham (Lees)
5. Diggle
6. Milnrow

Best 1st Section:
1. Elland Silver
2. Hebden Bridge

Best 2nd Section:
1. Wakefield Metropolitan
2. Boarshurst Silver

Best 3rd Section:
1. Farnworth & Walkden
2. Littleborough

Best 4th Section:
1. Huddersfield & Ripponden
2. Penrith Town

Best Local:
1. Oldham (Lees)
2. Diggle

Best Youth:
1. Wardle Academy
2. Oldham Music Centre Youth

Best Unregistered: Mark's Stage Band
Best Deportment: Elland Silver
Youth Deportment: Wardle Academy
Best Cornet: Fairey
Best Soprano: Fairey
Best Euphonium: Fairey
Best Bass Section: Fairey
Best Trombones: Brighouse & Rastrick

Scouthead & Austerlands:
(74 Bands)*
*equals contest record
Adjudicator: Jonathan Pippen

1. Fairey — £800
2. Hepworth — £400
3. Brighouse & Rastrick — £300
4. Oldham Band (Lees) — £200
5. Yorkshire Imperial David Urquhart Travel
6. Marsden Silver

1st Section:
1. Longridge — £125
2. Hebden Bridge — £75
3. Langley — £50

2nd Section:
1. Glossop Old — £125
2. Slaithwaite — £ 75
3. Alexander Brass — £50

3rd Section:
1. Greenfield — £125
2. Crofton Silver — £75
3. Lingiers — £50

4th Section:
1. Enfield Brass — £125
2. Sale Brass — £75
3. London Metropolitan — £50

Best Local:
1. Marsden — £125
2. Diggle — £75
3. Middleton — £50

Best Youth:
1. Tewit Youth — £125
2. 2nd Rossendale Scouts — £75
3. Rochdale Youth — £50

Best Saddleworth:
1. Uppermill — £125
2. Delph Band — £75
3. Dobcross Silver — £50

Deportment:
Brighouse & Rastrick — £50

Junior Deportment:
Tewit Youth — £50

Uppermill:
(52 Bands)
Adjudicator: David Marshall

1. Windcorp Brass Band
2. Oldham (Lees)
3. Brighouse & Rastrick
4. Hammonds Saltaire
5. Fairey
6. Oberburg Switzerland

Best Euphonium: Hammonds Saltaire

Best 1st Section:
1. Lunds University Band

Best 2nd Section:
1. Amersham Band

Best 3rd Section:
1. Oberburg Switzerland

Best 4th Section:
1. Pendeen Silver

Best Saddleworth band not in prizes:
1. Uppermill

Deportment:
1. Oberburg Switzerland

Youth Deportment:
Wardle Junior Blast