The hills are truly alive with amazing music

Glorious weather, exhilarating music and thousands turning out in force made Saddleworth’s legendary Whit Friday celebration a joyous community affair.

The colourful roll-out began with the annual walks headed by a swirling vanguard of banners and brass bands leading villagers to King George V playing fields.

They came from Saint Anne, Lydgate, Christ Church, Friezland, Ebenezer, Uppermill, Uppermill Methodist, Family Church, Saddleworth,Saint Chad, Saddleworth, Sacred Heart and Saint William, Kilngreen Mission Church and Holy Trinity, Dobcross.

They were welcomed by Reverend Sachin Awale, Team Vicar, Benefice of Saddleworth, and address was given by  Reverend Doctor Katie Smith, the Mission Area Lead for Greater Manchester and Deputy Chair of the North West England District.

And they shared uplifting hymns and rousing music before returning to their communities for afternoon games and refreshments.  

The launch of the actual contests themselves saw more than 100 local, regional and world class bands compete for more than £35,000 in prize money in “greatest free show on earth” which ended at midnight.

Paul Sykes, the new Mayor of Austerlands, wearing the traditional clog iron and chain, lead the first band at the Scouthead and Austerlands contest to Dawson’s Field off the A62 Huddersfield road.

And there was a poignant note in Dobcross when Dobcross Youth Band wore sprigs of rosemary on a rose in honour of Rosemary Whiffin - a much-missed volunteer, friend, and beloved member of their community.

Rosemary gave so much of her time and heart to Dobcross Village Store and to all who knew her. 

Results:

Saddleworth & Oldham District

Area Open Champion:

1. Brighouse & Rastrick (£2,500)
2. Black Dyke (£1,000)
3. Hepworth (£750)

Local Area Champion:

1. Milnrow (£750)
2. Oldham Band (Lees) (£600)
3. Boarshurst Silver (£400)

Youth:

1. Wardle Academy Youth (£250)

Delph

Main Prize: £1,200
Prize Fund: £5,150
Adjudicator: Leigh Baker
75 competing bands 

1. Black Dyke (£1,200)
2. Brighouse & Rastrick (£800)
3. Leyland (£500)
4. Chav Brass (£300)
5. Aldbourne (£250)
6. Milnrow (£200)

Best First Section Band: City of Bradford (£150)
Best Second Section Band: Uppermill (£150)
Best Third Section Band: BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw) (£150)
Best Fourth Section Band: Bedford Concert Brass (£150)

Best Youth Band: Oldham Music Centre (£150)
Runner-up: Wardle Academy Youth (£100)

Best Band not in Championships Section: ASB Brass (£150)

Best Local Band: Marsden Silver (£150)
Runner-up: Delph (£100)

Best Saddleworth Band: Boarshurst Silver (£150)
Runner-up: Friezeland (£100)

Best Cornet: Brighouse & Rastrick (£40)
Best Euphonium: Black Dyke (£40)
Best Trombones: Brighouse & Rastrick (£40)
Best Basses: Black Dyke (£40)
Best Soprano: Leyland (£40)

Denshaw

Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £4,230
Adjudicator: Allan Holdsworth
55 competing bands

1. Hepworth (£1,000)
2. Black Dyke (£600)
3. Redbridge Brass (£400)
4. Hawk Green (£200)
5. Whitworth Vale & Healey 
6. Delph

Best Saddleworth Band: Oldham Band (Lees) (£150)
Runner-up: Boarshurst Silver (£125)

Best Local Band: Hebden Bridge (£125)

Best First Section Band: Whitworth Vale & Healey (£150)
Runner-up: City of Bradford (£100)

Best Second Section Band: Delph Band (£150)
Runner-up: Slaithwaite (£100)

Best Third Section Band: BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw) (£150)
Runner-up: Maltby Miners (£100)

Best Fourth Section Band: Littleborough (£150) 
Runner-up: Loxley Silver (£100)

Best Soprano: Hepworth (£40)
Best Bass Section: Hepworth (£40)

Diggle

Main Prize: £800
Prize Fund: £3,185
Adjudicator: Gordon Eddison
58 competing bands

1. Brighouse & Rastrick (£800)
2. Hepworth (£500)
3. Redbridge Brass (£400)
4. Wingates (£275)
5. City of Bradford 
6. Aldbourne

Best First/Second Section Band: City of Bradford (£150)
Runner-up: Uppermill (£100)
Best Third/Fourth Section Band: Milwaukee Festival Brass (£150)
Best Unregistered Band: Chav Brass (£100)
Peter Blacker Prize: Tasta Brass (£60)
Best Saddleworth Band: Oldham Band (Lees) (£125)
Best Youth Band: Oldham Music Centre (£120)

Holden Cup: Milnrow (£100)

Best Soprano: Hepworth (£30)
Best Solo Cornet: Brighouse & Rastrick (£30)
Best Bass Section: Brighouse & Rastrick (£60)
Best Euphonium: Hepworth (£30)
Best Instrumentalist not in Championship Section: Trombone — Uppermill (£30)
Best Youth Soloist: Oldham Music Centre — cornet (£50)
Best Band on march: Milnrow (£50)
Most Entertaining Band on march: Wroughton Silver (£100)

Dobcross

Main Prize: £750
Prize Fund: £3,085
Adjudicator: Stephen Tighe
61 competing bands

1. Brighouse & Rastrick (£750)
2. Hepworth (£500)
3. Chav Brass (£400)
4. Milnrow
5. Aldbourne
6. KNDS Fairey

Best First Section Band: Hebden Bridge (£100)
Best Second Section Band: Shirland Welfare (£100)
Best Third Section Band: Dobcross Silver (£100)
Best Fourth Section Band: Crookes Brass (£100)

Best Youth Band: Oldham Music Centre (£150)
Runner-up: Dobcross Youth (£100)

Best Overseas Band: Tasta Brass (£100)
Best Unregistered Band: 'Till Death us do Parp (£100)
Best Local Band: Milnrow (£100)
Best Saddleworth Band: Dobcross Silver (£100)
Best Local Band on Whit Friday morning: Boarshurst Silver (£75)

Best Bass Section: Hepworth (£75)
Best Soloist: Brighouse & Rastrick (£100) 
Best Youth Soloist: Oldham Music Centre (£25)
Best Local Youth Soloist: Dobcross Youth (£25)

First Band: Elland Silver (£50)
Last Band: Dobcross Silver (£50)

Most Entertaining on Platt Lane: Junior Wardle Brass 

Friezland

All bands excluding Championship, First and Second Section
Main Prize: £200
Prize Fund: £950
Adjudicator: T. Newbigging
36 competing bands

1. Dobcross Silver (£200)
2. BMP Europe (Goodshaw Ltd) (£100)
3. Clockface Miners Heritage (£50)
4. Eccleston Brass
5. Queensbury Music Centre
6. Warwickshire Brass

Best Fourth Section Band: Queensbury Music Centre (£50)
Runner-up: Littleborough 

Best University Band: University of Lancaster (£100)

Best Youth Band: Oldham Music Centre Youth (£50)
Runner-up: Mossley Hollins School (£30)

Best Solo Cornet: Clockface Miners Heritage (£25)
Best Basses: City of Traralgon (Australia (£25)

Deportment: 2nd Rossendale Scouts (£30)
Best Entertainment: Oldham Music Centre Youth (£30)

Greenfield

Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £4,570
Adjudicator: Chris Wormald
69 competing bands

1. Brighouse & Rastrick (£1,000)
2. Black Dyke 
3. Milnrow
4. Hepworth
5. Sandhurst Silver
6. St. Dennis

Best First Section Band: Lindley
Runner-up: Uppermill 

Best Second Section Band: Tintwistle
Runner-up: Clockface Miners Heritage

Best Third Section Band: BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw)
Runner-up: Pillowell Silver

Best Fourth Section Band: Wardle Academy Youth 
Runner-up: Tottington Public
Third place: 2nd Rossendale Scout Group

Best Youth Band: Oldham Music Centre Youth
Runner-up: Coleshill Youth

Best Local Band: Milnrow
Best Local Fourth Section Band: Friezland

Best Saddleworth Band: Boarshurst Silver
Best Saddleworth Youth Band: Dobcross Youth Training Band 

Best Overseas Band: City of Traralgon (Australia)

Best Solo Cornet: Brighouse & Rastrick
Best Euphonium: Brighouse & Rastrick 
Youth Solo Prize: Wardle Academy Youth

Deportment: Sandhurst Silver
Runner-up: British Army Catterick 

Grotton

Main Prize: £800
Prize Fund: £3,400
Adjudicator: Christopher Bond
47 competing bands

1. Black Dyke (£800)
2. Hepworth (£400)
3. Brighouse & Rastrick (£200)
4. KNDS Fairey (£150)
5. Oldham Band (Lees)
6. Wingates

Best First Section Band: Silk Brass (£175)
Runner-up: Lindley (£100)

Best Second Section Band: Slaithwaite (£175)
Runner-up: Shirland Welfare (£75)

Best Third Section Band: Clockface Miners Welfare (£175)
Runner-up: BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw) (£75)

Best Fourth Section Band: Pillowell Silver (£175)
Runner-up: Tottington Public (£75)

Best Youth Band: Wardle Academy Youth (£175)
Runner-up: Dobcross Youth (£75)

Best Local Band: Oldham Band (Lees) (£175)
Runner-up: Milnrow (£100)

Best Scratch Band: British Army Catterick (£125)

Best Cornet: Brighouse & Rastrick (£50)
Best Soprano: Hepworth (£50)

Lees & Springhead

Main Prize: £700
Prize Fund: £2,105
Adjudicator: Alan Fernie
37 competing bands

1. Hepworth (£700)
2. KNDS Fairey (£350)
3. Chav Brass (£200)
4. British Army Band Catterick
5. Aldbourne
6. Oldham Band (Lees)

Best First Section Band: Manx Concert Brass (£75)
Runner-up: Lindley (£50)

Best Second Section Band: Shirland Welfare (£75)
Runner-up: City of Traralgon (Australia) (£50)

Best Third Section Band: Dobcross Silver (£75)
Runner-up: Sale Brass (£50)

Best Fourth Section Band: Manx Concert Brass (£75)
Runner-up: 2nd Rossendale Scout Group (£50)

Best Youth Band: N/A
Runner-up: N/A

Best Local Band: Oldham Band (Lees) (£100)
Best in OMBC: Boarshurst Silver (£50)

Best Cornet: KNDS Fairey (£25)
Best Euphonium: Oldham Band (Lees) (£25)

Spot Prize: Sale Brass (£100)

Deportment: British Army Band Catterick (£50)
Youth Deportment: N/A

Lydgate

Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £3,410
Adjudicator: Matt Whitfield 
72 competing bands

1. Black Dyke (£1,000)
2. KNDS Fairey (£500)
3. Brighouse & Rastrick (£250)
4. Milnrow
5. Aldbourne
6. Hepworth 

Best First Section: Elland Silver (£150)
Runner-up: Manx Concert Brass (£100)

Best Second Section: Hawk Green (£150)
Runner-up: Ratby Co-operative Mid (£100)

Best Third Section: Dobcross Silver (£150)
Runner-up: Clockface Miners Heritage (£100)

Best Fourth Section: Queensbury Music Centre (£150)
Runner-up: Tasta Brass (£100)

Best Local Band: Milnrow (£125)
Runner-up: Oldham Band (Lees) (£100)

Best Youth Band: Wardle Academy Youth (£100)
Runner-up: Oldham Music Centre Youth (£100)

Best Scratch Band: ASB Brass (£75)

Deportment: British Army Catterick (£100)
Junior Deportment: Wardle Academy Youth (£60)

Best Trombones: Aldbourne 
Best Basses: KNDS Fairey
Best Euphonium: Brighouse & Rastrick
Best Cornet: Milnrow
Best Youth Soprano Cornet: Wardle Academy Youth

Scouthead & Austerlands

Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £4,710
Adjudicator: Jonathan Pippen
65 competing bands

1. KNDS Fairey (£1,000)
2. Leyland (£600)
3. Hepworth (£400)
4. Oldham Band (Lees) (£300)
5. Aldbourne 
6. Brighouse & Rastrick 

Best First Section Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£100)
Third: (£50)

Best Second Section Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£100)
Third: (£50)

Best Third Section Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£100)
Third: (£50)

Best Fourth Section Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£100)
Third: (£50)

Overseas Award: (£100)

Best Youth Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£100)
Third: (£50)

Best Local Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£100)
Third: (£50)

Best Saddleworth Band: (£150)
Runner-up: (£1000
Third: (£50)

Deportment: (£50)
Youth Deportment: (£50)

Best Bass Section: (£50)
Best Soprano Cornet: (£30)
Best Solo Cornet: (£30)
Best Bass Trombone: (£30)

First Band: (£50)

Uppermill

Main Prize: £1,250
Prize Fund: £4,800
Adjudicator: Benjamin Richeton
59 competing bands 

1. Brighouse & Rastrick (£1,250)
2. Chav Brass (£750)
3. Hepworth (£500)
4. KNDS Fairey (£250)
5. Whitworth Vale & Healey
6. Boarshurst Silver

Best First Section Band: Whitworth Vale & Healey (£175)
Runner-up: Blackburn & Darwen (£125)

Best Second Section Band: Uppermill (£175)
Runner-up: Delph (£125)

Best Third Section Band: BMP Europe Ltd (Goodshaw) (£175)
Runner-up: Littleport (£125)

Best Fourth Section Band: Littleborough Brass (£175)
Runner-up: Dobcross Brass Monkeys (£125)

Best Local Band: Boarshurst Silver (£175)
Best Saddleworth Band: Oldham Band (Lees) (£175)

Best Youth Band: Wardle Academy Youth (£175)
Runner-up: Oldham Music Centre (£150)

Deportment: Brighouse & Rastrick (£75)
Local Deportment: Marsden Sliver (£50)
Youth Deportment: Oldham Music Centre (£50)

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