*
banner

Saddleworth Whit Friday Contests

There is plenty of competitive music making to enjoy at the 11 Saddleworth & Oldham District Whit Friday venues this year.

Whit Friday
  There are 11 venues on the Saddleworth circuit this year

The Saddleworth & Oldham District Whit Friday contests take place today with over £35,000 in prize money to be won courtesy of the generous financial support from private sponsorship and Oldham Council.

Pre-register preferred

Competing bands are reminded that the Saddleworth Whit Friday website offers valuable information to assist them on the day.

It has details and links to all contests, a map of the area and a contact form to submit information to all the contests before the event.

To find out more go to: www.saddleworthwhitfriday.co.uk

Midnight finish

Whilst some contests will also post information on the number of bands waiting to play via: www.saddleworthwhitfriday.co.uk (Delph contest will also be tweeting information on waiting times for bands @dephcontest) in agreement with Greater Manchester Police and Oldham Councill as happened last year ALL contests must be concluded by midnight.

Median Value

Competing bands are reminded that a new, weighted 'Median Value' method will be used to calculate the overall prize fund positions of the bands who play in at least six contests.

Venues:

Saddleworth & Oldham District:
Area Open Champion: £2,500, 2nd: £1,000, 3rd: £750, Youth: £250
Local Area Champion: £750, 2nd: £600, 3rd: £400
The Saddleworth & Oldham Contests are supported by Oldham Council

Delph:

http://delphwhitfriday.co.uk/
Contest: 4.00pm -10.30pm (subject to numbers waiting and Police guidance)
Main Prize: £1,200
Prize Fund: £5,150
Adjudicator: Leigh Baker
Contact: Bob Rodgers (07843082582)
Bands can contact on the night itself (07742230464)
twitter: @delphcontest

Denshaw:

http://www.denshawcontest.co.uk/
Contest: 4.00pm — 10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £4,230
Adjudicator: Allan Holdsworth
Contact: Andrina Baxter (07920763979)
twitter: @denshawcontest
Facebook: Denshawcontest
Instagram @denshawwhitfridaycontest

Diggle:

http://www.digglebandcontest.co.uk
Contest: 4.00pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £800
Prize Fund: £3,185
Adjudicator: Gordon Eddison
Contact: B. Cliffe (07703184200)
twitter: @DiggleContest
Facebook: DiggleBandContest
Instagram: digglecontest

Dobcross:

Contest: 4.00pm -10.00pm
Main Prize: £750
Prize Fund: £3,085
Adjudicator: Stephen Tighe
Contact: Debs Seed
twitter: @DobcrossWhitFri
Facebook: Dobcross Whit Friday United Effort
Instagram:@dobxwhitfriday
YouTube @dobcrosswhitfriday
The Dobcross contest will be livestreamed on a YouTube channel

Friezland:

All bands excluding Championship, First and Second Section
Contest: 4.00pm -10.00pm
Main Prize: £200
Prize Fund: £950
Adjudicator: T. Newbigging
Contact: Simon Clark (07902305281)
twitter:friezwhitbands

Greenfield:

Registration from: 3.30pm
Contest: 4.00pm -10.00pm
Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £4,570
Adjudicator: Chris Wormald
Contact: Jamie Curley (07484 628043)

Grotton:

Contest: 4.00pm — 10.00pm
Main Prize: £800
Prize Fund: £3,400
Adjudicator: Christopher Bond
Contact: Anna Oldfieid (07799200454)
twitter: @WhitBrass

Lydgate:

Contest: 4.00pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £3,410
Adjudicator: Matt Whitfield
Contact: Peter Norbury (07774261491)
X: https://x.com/lydgatecontest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lydgatebrassbandcontest/

Lees & Springhead:

Contest: 4.30pm -10.00pm
Main Prize: £700
Prize Fund: £2,105
Adjudicator: Alan Fernie
Contact: Michaela (07951128250)
Twitter: @leesbandcontest

Scouthead & Austerlands:

Contest: 4.00pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £1,000
Prize Fund: £4,710
Adjudicator: Jonathan Pippen
Contact: Pam Bailey (07879 054 027)
Email: sandabbcc@gmail.com

Uppermill:

Contest 4:00pm-10:00pm
Main Prize: £1, 250
Prize Fund: £4,800
Adjudicator: Benjamin Richeton
Contact: Pam Armstrong (07851 370442)
Facebook: @Uppermillwhitfriday
Twitter: @UppermillWhit2
email: uppermill@saddleworthwhitfriday.co.uk

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


Bousfield

Welsh look forward to Bousfield appearance

February 10 • Students, staff and brass band fans are looking forward to hearing one of the world's finest trombone players in action this Friday.


Concord

Concord concert replay at RNCM

February 10 • You can now enjoy the concert performance of Danish champion Concord Brass Band from the recent RNCM International Brass Band Festival.


Doodles

Doodles offer refresh for Area mouthpiece needs

February 10 • Doodles Mouthpiece Replating can offer a 48 hour replating service for players looking to give their mouthpiece a refresh ahead of the Areas.


SBBA

Mixed AGM news to report for Scottish Brass Band Association

February 10 • There was both good and bad news to report at the annual general meeting of the Scottish Brass Band Association.


Dobcross Silver Band - Whitburn Band

Sunday 1 February • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 6 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Oompah Brass XXL

Friday 27 February • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Linthwaite Band

February 10 • We are a friendly 4th section Band , looking forward to the Yorkshire area contest next month, after which we will require a cornet player, position negotiable. Our calendar is also filling up with various engagements for the year.


Chinnor Silver

February 10 • Our COMMUNITY BAND is meeting again on Monday(16th) at 11 am.. We welcome players of all abilities who would like a relaxed friendly rehearsal.. Playing with us doesn't impact your No 1 band its just an extra blow with coffee and cake


Phoenix Band Wakefield

February 8 • Required: B Flat and E Flat Bass players.. A friendly, welcoming, non competing community band in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. We enjoy entertaining and making music. Our MD is Mark Bray. Rehearsals on Fridays 7 - 8.30 at Manygates Centre, Wakefield,WF2 7DQ


Alan Duguid

BA (Hons), PGDipMus, PGCE
Conductor, Composer, Adjudicator (ABBA)


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd