Utterly fantastic!

GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND ... the idyllic setting that sums up the whole band contest ethos — Dobcross Youth Band playing at the Dobcross contest

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THOUSANDS went “oom-pah” with delight in Saddleworth for the brass bands who showcased their talents.

The unique Whit Friday Band Contests welcomed brass bands and audiences from all over the world once again on a day rain threatened but didn’t arrive.

This year saw groups from across Europe, including Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.

Munich-based Brezn Brass, a continental collective of English, Swedish, American and Swiss members, performed for the first time at the contests.

Member Louise Oakes, said at Dobcross: “It’s simply a great event. There’s a completely different style here — this type of music is not common in Germany.”

The lederhosen-clad outfit, like all the other participating bands, hopped from village to village in their coaches to entertain the crowds.

There were more than 650 performances across the dozen venues in a bid to win a slice of prize money on offer. Organisers gave out more than £30,000 in prize money.

The world famous Black Dyke Brass Band showed their mettle during the evening by picking up several first prizes — which included the Delph contest where 81 bands performed.

Retired Dobcross Brass Band member, Phil Cumberworth, said: “It’s just an utterly fantastic event and is the greatest free show in Great Britain.

“When I speak to people in foreign bands, they ask where you are from and they have never heard of Oldham, but when you mention places like Dobcross — they have because of these contests.

Martin Ashfield epitomised his evening on Twitter by posting: “Just back from a great evening out in Saddleworth at annual band comps — real northern culture — beer, bands and midges!”



BAND CONTEST RESULTS

Open Section

1 Black Dyke Band £2,500, 2 Brighouse and Rastrick £1,000, 3 Marsden Silver Prize Band £750.

Local Section

1 Oldham Band (Lees) £750, 2 Milnrow Band £600, 3 Delph Band £400.

Youth Section

1 2nd Rossendale Scouts £250.

Delph (81 Bands)

1 Black Dyke, 2 Brighouse & Rastrick, 3 Marsden Silver, Local: Delph, Youth: 2nd Rossendale Scouts.

Denshaw (52 Bands)

1 Black Dyke, 2 Brighouse & Rastrick, 3 Rothwell Temperance, Local: Milnrow, Youth: Wardle High.

Diggle (50 Bands)

1 Black Dyke, 2 Rothwell Temperance, 3 Brighouse & Rastrick, Youth: Wardle High.

Dobcross (65 Bands)

1 Fairey, 2. Brighouse & Rastrick, 3 Black Dyke, Local: Marsden Silver, Junior: Oldham Music Centre.

Friezland (40 Bands)

1 Elland Silver, 2 Music Frohsin Oberburg, 3 Cheshire Constabulary, Local: Sale Brass, Youth: Tewit Youth.

Greenacres (43 Bands)

1 Black Dyke, 2 Rothwell Temperance, 3 Hepworth, Local:Oldham Band (Lees), Youth: Rochdale Borough Youth.

Greenfield (60 Bands)

1 Brighouse & Rastrick, 2 Milnrow, 3 Marden Silver, Local: Uppermill, Youth: Rochdale Borough Youth, Alan Chamberlain Memorial Trophy: Rochdale Borough Youth.

Grotton (46 Bands)

1 Brighouse & Rastrick, 2 Oldham (Lees), 3 Marsden Silver, Local: Milnrow, Youth:Tewit Youth.

Lydgate (62 Bands)

1 Black Dyke, 2 Hepworth, 3 Milnrow, Local: Oldham Band (Lees), Youth: Dobcross Youth.

Lees and Springhead

(50 Bands)

1 Black Dyke, 2 Brighouse & Rastrick, 3 Oldham Band (Lees) Local: Oldham Band (Lees) Youth: Smithills Senior

Scouthead and Austerlands (58 Bands)

1 Hepworth 2 Marsden Silver 3 Rainford Silver, Local: Milnrow, Youth: Smithills Senior.

Uppermill: (53 Bands)

1 Foden’s, 2 Marsden Silver 3 Hepworth, Local: Delph, Youth: Wardle High.



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