Black Dyke are the Saddleworth & Oldham District Whit Friday Champions for 2009.

100% success rate

Playing the march 'Knight Templar', Black Dyke, conducted by Nicholas Childs competed at eight contests in the Saddleworth area and they hit the jackpot at every contest taking first place and pocketing over £8,000 along the way — which is bound to have their treasurer grinning from ear to ear.

In addition to taking the £2,500 first prize as overall champion, Dyke took top honours at Delph (£1000), Denshaw (£750), Diggle (£600), Dobcross (£750), Greenfield (£1,000), Lydgate (£775), Lees and Springhead (£600)and Scouthead and Austerlands (£600).

Dyke competed at eight contests taking first prize at each venue and their overall prize fund will top £90004BR

Individual prizes

The National Champion also picked up money around the circuit for a plethora of individual prizes including, Best Basses, Soprano and Euphonium and with confirmation of just how much was won from their individual contributions at Lydgate yet to be confirmed, it means Dyke's prize fund for the night stands at £8,975 but will topple £9,000 once the final amounts are confirmed.

Hepworth takes second

It was fellow West Yorkshire outfit, Hepworth (Cookson Homes) who picked up second place overall and the prize of £1000.

Victories at Greenacres (£700) and Uppermill (£700) were supported by two second places at Lydgate (£275) and Scouthead (£400). David Hirst and the band who played the march, The Wizard also pocketed third places at Delph ( £350) and Dobcross (£400) and two fourth prizes at Denshaw (£250) and Lees and Springhead (£125). With further individual prizes where the amounts are still to be confirmed, Hepworth will definitely bank £4,200 for their night's work.

Brighouse in third

Making a West Yorkshire 1-2-3 were Brighouse under Andrew Duncan whose Saddleworth haul included first place at Grotton (£600) and a treble of runners up prizes at Delph (£600), Greenfield (£750) and Lees and Springhead (£400). Two third places at Diggle and Greenacres respectively boosts funds by £500 and the took £250 from Scouthead and Austerlands.

By taking the £750 for being third overall and enhanced by individual contributions from Michael Howley who picked up two euphonium prizes and their deportment at Greenacres, the West Riding outfit have taken £3,960 with 4BR just awaiting confirmation of how much Stephen Wilkinson's Best Cornet performance at Grotton will confirm their final amount for the night.

Marsden retains local pride

Marsden Silver conducted by Richard Evans retained their Saddleworth and Oldham District title they took last year by picking up prizes for some excellent performances of 'Honest Toil' at Delph, Lydgate and Uppermill to add to the £750 first prize. Runners up was United Co-op Milnrow (£600) and Diggle in third (£400).

Smithills first

The Youth Championship was taken for the first time by Smithills Senior Band and Chris Wormald. From their seven contests, they took the spoils at four of the venues, with two runners up spots and a Deportment prize and Best player enhancing their £250 first prize.

Full breakdown of results:

www.4barsrest.com/gallery/media/2009_whit_saddleworth-oldham.xls