With just under three weeks to go, the organisers of the Saddleworth and Oldham District Whit Friday March Contests have releaased details of their eleven venues for May 16th.
Financial boost
Once again, the organisers are indebted to their numerous sponsors who help with the finances of the evening. The Co-operative are supporting the contests for the fourth year in succession and in doing so provide the majority of the funding for the first two prizes who are declared the Saddleworth and Oldham District Whit Friday Champions. This year's winner will take home £2500 plus anything else they acrew by being named in the prizes at the individual contests.
Spedding's Christmas present
The Oldham Evening Chronicle will be supporting the local championships once again where the first prize given is £750 and for the second year running, there is an independent sponsor in the form of Alan Spedding. Alan is a huge brass band fan and he has seen the film, Brassed Off on numerous occasions. Having never attended a Whit Friday, Alan's family decided just over a year ago they would give him a Christmas present to remember by giving him the chance to sponsor a prize on Whit Friday.
The end result means Alan will once again sponsor the third overall prize of £750 for 2008 having done so last year and a trophy in his name will be presented to the third placed band.
Financial support has also come from Navigation Brass and the contests are also generously supported by the Saddleworth and Lees Area Community Project.
To qualify for a chance of taking the prize money, bands must compete at six or more contests within the district and this also includes the youth contest at Friezland.
The list of contests is as follows:
Delph
Contest:4.30-10.30pm
Main Prize:£900 from a total prize fund of £3490
Adjudicator:Mr K Hollinshead
Contact:Mr R Rodgers, 01457 874354
Denshaw
Contest:4.00-10.45pm
Main Prize:£750 from a total prize fund of £2940
Adjudicator:A Holdsworth
Contact:A Baxter, 01706 881915
Dobcross
Contest:4.00-10.00pm
Main Prize:£600 from a total prize fund of £2315
Adjudicator:D Horsfield
Contact:K Haynes, 01457 877267
Friezland
3rd, 4th & Youth Sections only
Contest:4.30-10.30pm
Main Prize:£150 from a total prize fund of £525
Adjudicator:J Newbigging
Contact:L Jones, 01457 870081
Greenacres
Contest:4.30-10.30pm
Main Prize:£750 from a total prize fund of £2470
Adjudicator:Mr D Wilby
Contact:A Clayton, 0161 678 7255
Greenfield
Contest:5.00-10.00pm
Main Prize:£1,000 from a total prize fund of £3380
Adjudicator:Mr R Farr
Contact:J Buckley, 01457 874794
Grotton
Contest:4.30-10.00pm
Main Prize:£600 from a total prize fund of £1850
Adjudicator:Mr R Roe
Contact:S Hodgkiss, 0161 633 7296
Lydgate
Contest:4.30-10.30pm
Main Prize:£775 from a total prize fund of £2020
Adjudicator:Mr D Southcott
Contact:C Brierley, 01457 872566
Lees and Springhead
Contest:4.30-10.00pm
Main Prize:£600 from a total prize fund of £2285
Adjudicator:Mr A Fernie
Contact:W Cullen, 0161 626 7625
Scouthead and Austerlands
Contest:4.30-11.00pm
Main Prize:£600 from a total prize fund of £3025
Adjudicator:C Brian Buckley
Contact:D Needham, 0161 652 0341
Uppermill
Contest:4.30-10.00pm
Main Prize:£700 from a total prize fund of £2195
Adjudicator:D Marshall
Contact:T Hopkinson, 01457 876010
Further details on Whit Friday can be found on www.whitfriday.brassbands.saddleworth.org
