The Friends of Tameside Whit Friday Brass Band Contest, which runs the famous march events in the area in conjunction with Tameside Council has announced details of its series of competitions to be held on 29th May.
11 venues will host bands and supporters alike, with volunteers putting in months of hard work in raising prize money and in ensuring an inclusive welcome for everyone who attends.
Prize fund
Once again there is a generous prize overall prize fund of £7,300 as well as the usual meaty financial attractions at individual venues. The Area Open Champion will bag £2,000, whilst the Top Mossley contest winner will pick up £1,500.
There is also a fun 'Passport to Tameside' draw where bands collect a stamp at each venue they compete at to be included in a prize draw (4 stamps for youth bands and 6 for adult bands) that could see them pick up with an extra £150 or £100 respectively.
Tameside Council's Strategic Director of Housing, Environment & Estates, Julian Jackson has stated publicly: "Whit Friday is an evening that means so much to Tameside, and we're so proud to welcome the contests back.
It's a celebration of history, music and community, made possible by the passion of our volunteers and the fantastic bands who travel far and wide to take part.
Thank you to everyone involved in making this much‑loved event happen. It's always a memorable night across the borough — we hope everyone can come along and be part of it."
Adjudicators
There is a wide range of experience in the various adjudication 'boxes' with Prof Chris Houlding, John Davies, Alan Bourne, Ryan Breen, Colum O'Shea, Matthew Brown, Jack Capstaff, Duncan Wilson, Alan Widdop, Paul Norley and Alan Duguid making the decisions.
Pre-Register
As previously announced, bands can pre-register their details in advance to save time. This will close at 12 noon on Thursday 28th May.
Further details and how to register can be found at: https://www.whitfridaybrass.org/
Bands with players under 16
The organisers are also making competing bands aware that they have to submit a BOPA return to Tameside Council's Education Welfare team following the event.
In order to comply with legal procedures, bands that contain players of compulsory school age (5-16 yrs) must complete registration online. It will also ensure that a band does not have to repeat the process at each individual contest.
To complete form: https://www.whitfridaybrass.org/copy-of-i-want-to-help
Further details:
Additional details can be found at: www.whitfriday.org
Enquiries: whitfridaycontest@gmail.com
The Tameside Contests are supported by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Area Open Champion: £2,000; 2nd: £1,000; 3rd: £750; Youth: £250
First Section: £500
Second Section: £400
Third Section: £350
Fourth Section: £300
Local Area Champion: £750; 2nd: £600; 3rd: £400
To find out more go to: https://www.whitfridaybrass.org/copy-of-contact
Further details can be found about all contests at: https://www.whitfridaybrass.org/
Broadoak:
First Registration Time: 4.00pm
Contest Start Time: 4.30pm
Last Band Registration: 10.30pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.00pm
Main Prize: £500
Adjudicator: Prof Chris Houlding
Contest Secretary: Janet Bower
Secretary Contact: 0161 330 1361
Carrbrook:
First Band Registration Time: 4.00pm
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Last Band Registration: 10.30pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.00pm
Main Prize: £400
Adjudicator: John Davies
Contest Secretary: Kathryn Heyes
Secretary Contact: 07760 274 629
Email: heyes.kathryn@gmail.com
Denton:
First Registration Time: 3.45pm
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Last Band Registration: 11.15pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.45pm
Main Prize: £250
Adjudicator: Alan Bourne
Contest Secretary: Jan Williams
Secretary Contact: 07780782603
Secretary Email: janwilliams076@gmail.com
Droylsden:
First Registration Time: 3.45pm
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Last Band Registration: 11.00pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.30pm
Main Prize: £300
Adjudicator: Ryan Breen
Contest Secretary: Lisa O'Shea
Secretary Contact: 07938 995 316
Secretary Email: lisaoshea@rocketmail.com
Dukinfield Tame Valley:
First Registration Time: 4.00pm
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Last Band Registration: 11.00pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.15pm
Main Prize: £400
Adjudicator: Colum O'Shea
Contest Secretary: Gary McDonald
Secretary Contact: 07912569365
Secretary Email: garymac17@yaloo.com
Heyrod:
First Registration Time: 4.00pm
Contest Start Time: 4.30pm
Last Registration Time: 10.55pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.00pm
Main Prize: £600
Adjudicator: Matthew Brown
Contest Secretary: Natalie McEvoy
Secretary Contact: Natalielmcevoy@googlemail.com
Hurst Village:
First Band Registration Time: 4.15pm
Contest Start Time: 4.30pm
Last Band Registration: 10.00pm
Contest Closure Time: 10.30pm
Main Prize: £600
Adjudicator: Jack Capstaff
Contest Secretary: Andy Clayton
Secretary Contact: 07801 351046
Secretary Email: andyc@ashtonunited.co.uk
Hyde Central:
First Band Registration Time: 3.30pm
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Last Band Registration: 9.30pm
Contest Closure Time: 10.00pm
Main Prize: £400
Adjudicator: Duncan Wilson
Contest Secretary: Hugh Roderick
Secretary Contact: 07934916305
Secretary Email: hwroderick@hotmail.com
Stalybridge Celtic FC:
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.00pm
Last Band Registration: 10.45pm
Main Prize: £600
Adjudicator: Alan Widdop
Contest Secretary: Gordon Greenwood
Secretary Contact: 07770 433336
The New Stalybridge Labour Club:
First Registration Time: 4.15pm
Contest Start Time: 4.30pm
Contest Closure Time: 10.15pm
Last Band Registration: 10.30pm
Main Prize: £500
Adjudicator: Paul Norley
Contest Secretary: Neil Merriman
Email: njmerriman@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 07745486456
Top Mossley:
First Band Registration Time: 3.45pm
Contest Start Time: 4.00pm
Last Band Registration: 11.00pm
Contest Closure Time: 11.30pm
Main Prize: £1,500
Contest Adjudicator: Alan Duguid
Contest Secretary: Nicky Iqbal
Secretary Contact: 07803 925 623
Secretary Email: nicky.iqbal@mossleyafc.co.uk
