Foden's 'Presidential' tenure in Tameside was maintained for the 19th time in 20 competitive years, as one again they were declared Whit Friday Champion.

Led by Michael Fowles, their polished mix of expert logistical planning and brilliant playing saw them deliver winning performances of William German's classic march at Broadoak, Carrbrook, Denton, Droylsden, Hurst Village, Mossley and Stalybridge Labour Club.

It gave the National Champion an unassailable 'six' contest results total to secure the overall Tameside title, the Rose Bowl Trophy and its £2,000 first prize, whilst a podium prize at Heyrod and a number of individual awards further boosted their coffers.

Memorial winners

The band also took the opportunity to cross over into Saddleworth, with victory at Grotton and a fourth place at Lydgate enabling them to also become the first recipient of the Paul Harrison Memorial Trophy at Mossley.

That came with an additional £1,000 bonus as they matched their win there with a minimum two appearances on the Saddleworth circuit.

It amounted to a grand Whit Friday prize package total of over £8,000, whilst their indefatigable endeavours also saw them head to Cumbria on the Sunday for a concert appearance to round off the weekend.

Michael Fowles (who notched up his own 11th title success as MD), later told 4BR that the delight at winning came from the appetite for hard work and preparation that goes into defending their title.

Superb organisations

That was echoed by Band Manager and principal cornet Mark Wilkinson, who has played his part in all the Foden's successes from 2002, as he took the opportunity to thank the volunteers and organisers of the individual contests.

"We are delighted to successfully defended the Tameside title and very happy with our consistency over the course of a long evening. As always, the atmosphere was great and the work of the volunteers at each venue and support of the council in putting the event on is superb."

He added: "We take nothing for granted in our preparations under Mike as the quality from rival bands is incredibly high, so to win seven Tameside contests to claim the overall title as well as become the first winners of the Paul Harrison Trophy at Mossley made it a Whit Friday to remember."

Rothwell runner up

Although they had to endure an anxious wait for official confirmation, Rothwell Temperance once again produced a series of excellent 'Wizard' performances led by David Roberts to come runner-up.

And with major championship appearances at Symphony Hall and the Royal Albert Hall to look forward to, they boosted their coffers by over £2,200.

They once again pushed Foden's hard, with victory at Tame Valley supplemented by podium finishes at Broadoak, Denton, Droylsden and Mossley, with a fifth at Hurst Village to round off their six qualifying scores.

Elland Bronze

It wasn't quite Elland 'Silver' as the Yorkshire band led by guest conductor Dennis Hadfield (MD, Daniel Brooks enjoyed himself on trombone) secured third place and £750 to give a contest prize package of around £2,000.

However, the band did claim a gold medal win at Heyrod with podium finishes at Droylsden, Hurst Village and Stalybridge.

Consistent performances from Longridge, Northop Silver, Ratby Co-operative, Friary Brass and Wingates saw them all claim at least one podium finish on their travels.

Local and Section winners

As always there was a great musical scrap for the bragging rights in the Section and Local categories, with a series of super performances from Skelmanthorpe (including podium finishes at Dukinfield and Hurst Village) taking the First Section honours.

Skelmersdale Prize, Darwen Brass and Rivington & Adlington also enjoyed a successful Whit Friday as they claimed the Second, Third and Fourth Section overall honours, whilst Mossley (who also took part in the morning Whit Friday Process of Witness) proudly took the 'Best Local' accolade aided by a podium finish at Carrbrook.

The splendid Macclesfield Youth Band under Louise Renshaw won the Youth section ahead of the equally cracking HD9 Community Youth Band.

Great night

With excellent weather and equally excellent organisation by a host of dedicated volunteers (especially with the newer venues and with the collation of the results), the Tameside Whit Friday events provided yet another evening of a welcoming atmosphere and inclusive support.

Once again, visitors and performers came from across the banding world, whilst BBC North West Tonight regional news programme ran a short feature on bothy circuits on Monday night.

It (at around 19.30 mins in) should be available to view for the next 24 hours or so at

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001mqmh/north-west-tonight-evening-news-05062023

Next year Whit Friday will be 24th May which proceeds the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

Malcolm Wood

As always, the atmosphere was great and the work of the volunteers at each venue and support of the council in putting the event on is superbFoden's Band

Overall Result:

1. Foden's (£2,000)
2. Rothwell Temperance (£1,000)
3. Elland Silver (£750)

Highest First Section: Skelmanthorpe (£500)
Highest Second Section: Skelmersdale (£400)
Highest Third Section: Darwen Brass (£350)
Highest Fourth Section: Rivington & Adlington (£300)

Best Local: Mossley (£750)
Runner up: Ashton under Lyne (£600)
Third: Stalybridge Old (£400)

Best Youth: Macclesfield Youth (£200)
Runner up: HD9 Community Brass (£100)

Broadoak:

(37 Bands)
Adjudicator: Duncan Beckley

1. Foden's (£500)
2. Rothwell Temperance (£250)
3. Longridge (£150)
4. Mossley (£120)
5. Elland Silver
6. Skelmersdale

Best First Section Band: Silk Brass (£100)
Best Second Section Band: Skelmersdale (£80)
Best Third Section Band: Greenalls (£80)
Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old (£70)
Runner up: Armfield Brass (£40)

Best Local Band: Ashton under Lyne (£70)
Runner up: Hazel Grove (£50)

Best Junior: Macclesfield Youth (£50)
Runner up: HD9 Community Youth (£30)

Deportment: Northop (£50)
Junior Deportment: HD9 Community Youth (£30)

First Band to play: Foden's (£20)

Carrbrook:

(36 Bands)
Adjudicator: Jon Davies

1. Foden's (£600)
2. Longridge (£300)
3. Mossley
4. Ratby Co-operative
5. Wingates
6. Skelmanthorpe

Best First Section Band: Mossley
Best Second Section Band: Whitworth Vale & Healey (£150)
Best Third Section Band: Ecclestone Brass (£125)
Best Fourth Section Band: Stalybridge Old (£100)

Best Local Band: Mossley (£80)

Best Youth: Macclesfield Youth (£60)
Runner up: HDP Community Band (£50)

Deportment: Friary Brass (£50)
Youth Deportment: Coleshill Youth

First Band to play: City of Birmingham (£20)
Steward's Prize: HD9 Community Youth (£20)

Denton:

(39 Bands)
Adjudicator: Gareth Pritchard

1. Foden's (£250)
2. Rothwell Temperance (£150)
3. Friary Brass (£100)
4. Elland Silver
5. Longridge
6. Northop Silver

Best First Section: Skelmanthorpe (£100)
Best Second Section: Emley Brass (£80)
Best Third Section: Darwen Brass (£80)
Runner up: Greenalls Brass (£30)
Best Fourth Section: Stalybridge Old (£50)
Runner up: Rivington & Adlington (£30)
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth (£60)
Runner up: Coleshill Youth (£25)

Best Cornet: Rothwell Temperance (£40)
Best Trombone Section: Foden's (£90)
Best Youth Cornet: Coleshill Youth (£50)
Best Fourth Section Band Basses: St John's (Mossley) (£30)
Best Local Band: Ashton under Lyne (£80)

Deportment: Joint — Mossley and Thoresby Colliery (£15 each)
Prize Draw: North Lakes Brass (£25)
First Band to play: Coleshill Youth Brass (£15)

Droylsden:

(32 Bands)
Adjudicator: Chris Evans

1. Foden's (£350)
2. Northop Silver (£150)
3. Rothwell Temperance
4. Elland Silver
5. Enderby
6. Tyldesley

Best First Section: Tyldesley (£175)
Runner up: Silk Brass (£65)
Best Second Section: Skelmersdale (£90)
Runner up: Besses Boys (£45)
Best Third Section: Darwen Brass (£70)
Runner up: Hoover Bolton (£40)
Best Fourth Section: Rivington & Adlington (£45)
Runner up: Stalybridge Old (£25)
Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth (£100)
Runner up: Coleshill Youth (£50)

Steward's Choice : Arnfield Brass (£50)
First Band to play: Foden's (£25)

Dukinfield: Tame Valley:

(39 Bands)
Adjudicator: Nicholas Garman

1. Rothwell Temperance (£400)
2. Skelmanthorpe (£200)
3. Northop Silver (£100)
4. Longridge
5. Friary Brass
6. Enderby

Best First Section Band: Middleton (£100)
Best Second Section Band: Whitworth Vale & Healey (£100)
Best Third Section Band: Darwen Brass (£100)
Best Fourth Section Band: Rivington & Adlington (£100)

Best Youth Band: HD9 Community Youth (£100)
Runner up: Macclesfield Youth (£50)

Best Local Band: Stalybridge Old (£200)
Runner up: Ashton under Lyne (£150)
Third place: Mossley (£100)

Heyrod:

(39 Bands)
Adjudicator: Matthew Brown

1. Elland Silver (£600)
2. Wingates (£280)
3. Foden's (£200)
4. Northop Silver
5. Ratby Co-operative
6. Friary Brass

Best First Section Band: Thoresby Colliery (£150)
Best Second Section Band: Skelmersdale Prize (£100)
Best Third Section Band: Eccleston Brass (£50)
Best Fourth Section Band: Rivington & Adlington (£50)
Best Local Band: Ashton under Lyne (£100)
Best Scratch Band: Bad Ass Brass (£50)
People's Choice: HD9 Community Youth (£50)

First Senior Band to play: Skelmanthorpe Prize (£20)
First Youth Band to play: HD9 Community Brass (£20)

Senior Deportment: Skelmanthorpe Prize (£50)
Youth Deportment: Coleshill Youth (£50)

Best Cornet: Elland Silver (£50)

Hurst Village:

(37 Bands)
Adjudicator: Jack Capstaff

1. Foden's (£600)
2. Elland Silver (£400)
3. Skelmanthorpe (£200)
4. Ratby Co-operative
5. Rothwell Temperance
6. Mossley

Best First Section: Mossley (£150)
Best Second Section: Skelmersdale (£150)
Best Third Section: Darwen Brass (£150)
Best Fourth Section: Rivington & Adlington (£150)
Best Youth Band: HD9 Community Brass (£100)
Best Local Band: Mossley (£75)

First Band: Thoresby Colliery (£25)
Last Band: Stalybridge Old (£25)

Mossley:

(41 Bands)
Adjudicator: Garry Hallas

1. Foden's (£1,200)
2. Ratby Co-operative (£500)
3. Rothwell Temperance (£350)
4. Glossop Old
5. Northop Silver
6. Enderby

Best First Section Band: Glossop Old (£200)
Best Second Section Band: Besses Boys (£150)
Best Third Section Band: Eccleston (£150)
Best Fourth Section Band: Rivington & Adlington Band (£150)

Best Local Band: Glossop Old (£250)
Runner-up: Mossley (£200)

First band to perform: Dalton in Furnace (£50)

Senior Deportment: Brass Band Oberkirch (£75)
Junior Deportment: Macclesfield Youth (£75)

Best Youth Band: Macclesfield Youth (£150)
Best Local Cornet: Mossley (£40)

The Paul Harrison Trophy: Foden's (£1,000)

Stalybridge Labour Club:

(35 Bands)
Adjudicator: Paul Norley

1. Foden's (£400)
2. Elland Silver (£200)
3. Longridge (£100)
4. Tyldesley
5. Northop Silver
6. Eccleston Brass

Best First Section Band: Tyldesley (£60)
Best Second Section Band: Skelmersdale Prize (£60)
Best Third Section Band: Eccleston Brass (£60)
Best Fourth Section Band: Rivington & Adlington (£60)

Best Local Band: Mossley (£150)
Runner up: Ashton under Lyne (£100)

Best Youth Band: HD9 Community Youth (£75)
Runner up: Macclesfield Youth (£50)

Deportment: Foden's (£30)
Youth Deportment: Macclesfield Youth (£30)

First Band to play: Ashton under Lyne (£30)