The Saddleworth and Oldham group of Whit Friday contests has announced that the major sponsors for this year’s championships will once again be the Co-operative (previously United Norwest Co-operatives) with the Oldham Evening Chronicle sponsoring the local championships.

Generous

Alan Speding from Slough in Buckinghamshire will sponsor the third prize for the second year in succession and the group are also very generously supported by the Navigation Brass concert organised by Gilbert Symes and Phil Beckwith.

The Haydn Bradbury Youth prize will be sponsored by the Saddleworth and Lees Community Project.

The Co-operative provides a great deal of community support in a wide range of areas, not least that of the brass band movementMichael Fairclough

Support

Michael Fairclough, Head of Community and Campaigns for The Co-operative told 4BR: "The Co-operative and The Oldham Evening Chronicle is an appropriate partnership that has worked together successfully as joint sponsors of the event for the past four years."

He added: "The Co-operative provides a great deal of community support in a wide range of areas, not least that of the brass band movement. The Society currently supports several top class bands in addition to the National Youth Brass Band Championships held in Manchester each year and in 2007 sponsored the British Open Championships."

£31,000 in prize money

All the contests in the group are delighted with the response they have received from this very generous group of sponsors.

Last year well over £31,000 prize money was on offer in the Saddleworth and Oldham area and it is anticipated this amount will increase again in 2008.