The men from West Riding in Yorkshire have something to celebrate after retaining their Saddleworth and Oldham District title at the Whit Friday marches last Friday evening.

7 is the number

Playing the march 'Ravenswood', Brighouse and Rastrick, conducted by Alan Morrison competed at eight contests in the Saddleworth area and picked up prizes at seven of the venues including six first places, pocketing up £7,000 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, Brighouse took top honours at Dobcross (£600), Greenacres (£750), Greenfield (£1,000), Grotton (£600), Lees and Springhead (£600)and Scouthead and Austerlands (£600). Second place and £350 was gained at Denshaw with a fifth place at Uppermill being the only contest where they didn't make an impact.

Brighouse's successful night included six first prizes and one second bringing them a haul of £70004BR

Individual prizes

Brighouse also picked up money around the circuit for indivdual prizes such as the Best Basses, Best Soprano and Best Euphonium, and whilst the exact figure is still to be confirmed, 4BR estimates Brighouse have picked up another £150 giving them a total prize fund of £7,150.

Rothwell take second

It was fellow West Yorkshire outfit, Rothwell Temperance who picked up second place overall and the prize of £1000.

Victories at Delph (£900) and Uppermill (£700) were supported by three second places at Dobcross (£400), Greenacres (£500) and Lydgate (£275). David Roberts and the band who played the march 'The Wizard' also picked up £150 for third place at Grotton to bring their evenings totoal to £3,925.

YBS third

Making it a West Yorkshire 1-2-3 were YBS and Morgan Griffiths whose Saddleworth haul included two first prizes at Denshaw and Lydgate and three thirds (Lees and Springhead, Scouthead and Austerlands, Uppermill) to give them a prize fund of £2,875.

Marsden's local pride

Four fourth places, one fifth and one sixth place gave Glyn Williams' Marsden Silver Prize Band the £750 prize as the 'Local Champion' with Diggle claiming second place with United Norwest Co-op Milnrow in third.

The local Youth Champion has been declared as Eric Landon's Rochdale Borough Youth Band.