The details for this year's Whit Friday contests which take place on 25th May have been announced by Tameside Council.

The event which is run by the individual contests under the banner of The Friends of the Whit Friday Brass Band Contest Committee is supported by Tameside Council's Cultural Services Department.

There is around £20,000 in prize money to be won on the circuit this year courtesy of the generous financial support from private sponsorship and Tameside Council.

Aldwinians off the rota for 2018

Unfortunately, only eleven of the twelve individual contests will take place. Aldwinians Rugby Club will be unable to host the 2018 Whit Friday Band Contest due to a development project taking place at their ground. They are hoping to be in a position to host once again in 2019 and beyond.

Following its successful debut last year, The Albion Hotel in Dukinfield will host a contest once again, whilst the Broadoak Contest remains at its new home of Ashton Rugby Club.

Six of the best for First to Fourth Sections

The competing bands on this years circuit will notice a change in the way the overall prize money is distributed. In addition to the overall champion, financial incentives will be available for the highest placed bands who compete at six contests or more in Sections One to Four respectively.

With just over five weeks to go before Whit Friday itself, bands and visitors to the contests are advised to check out the website which gives all the information needed for the various contests in their area.

The website address is: www.tamesidebrassbands.org

This year's contests take place on Friday 25th May and in addition to the Tameside Open and Local Champions, new monetary awards have been introduced for bands in First, Second, Third and Fourth Sections4BR

The full list of prize money and individual contests is as follows:

Tameside Area Open Champions: £2,000, 2nd: £1,000, 3rd: £750, Overall First Section: £500, Overall Second Section: £400 Overall Third Section: £350, Overall Fourth Section: £300 Youth: £200, 2nd £100.

Local Area Champion: £750, 2nd: £600, 3rd: £400

The Tameside contests are supported by Premier Kia (Dukinfield) in conjunction with Tameside Council and the Friends of Tameside Whit Friday Brass Band Contest Committee.

Broadoak:

Contest: 5.00pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: £500 from a total prize fund of £1,600
Ashton Rugby Club
Adjudicator: Duncan Beckley
Contact: Graham Hall (0161 339 8341)

Carrbrook:

Contest: 4.00pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £1,555
Carr Rise
Adjudicator: John Davies
Contact: Kathryn Heyes (07760 274 629)
twitter: @CarrbrookWhitFr

Denton:

Contest: 4.15pm -11.15pm
Main Prize: £250 from a total prize fund of £1,260
Adjudicator: Mike Lyons
Contact: Mrs Joan Emery (0161 2925319/07939 383147)
twitter: @DBBAwhitfriday

Droylsden:

Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of £1,325
The Bush Inn
Adjudicator: Ryan Breen
Contact: Sheila Bowater (07886361242)

Dukinfield (Tame Valley):

Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of £1,050
Tame Valley Hotel
Adjudicator: Dave Chapman
Contact: Sharon McDonald (0161 339 0072)

Dukinfield (Albion Hotel):

Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: £450 from a total prize fund of £1,575
Albion Hotel
Adjudicator: Nigel Lawless
Contact: Adam Pickles (07825 254177/0161 330 3488)

Heyrod:

http://www.heyrodbandcontest.com
Contest: 4.30pm -11.000pm
Main Prize: £600 from a total prize fund of £2080
John Street
Adjudicator: Martin Heartfield
Contact: Colette Shaw (07983 335733)

Hurst Village:

Contest: 4.30pm -10.15pm
Main Prize: £300 from a total prize fund of £1,275
Ashton United FC
Adjudicator: Richie Howard
Contact: Cat Tomlinson (07500830583)

Stalybridge Labour Club:

Contest: 4.30pm -10.30pm
Main Prize: £400 from a total prize fund of £1,190
Stalybridge Labour Club
Adjudicator: Paul Norley
Contact: Leanne Feeley ( 07815 886 763)

Stalybridge Celtic:

Contest: 4.30pm -11.00pm
Main Prize: tbc
Stalybridge Celtic FC
Adjudicator: C. Evans
Contact: Gordon Greenwood (07770 433336)

Mossley:

Contest: 4.30pm -10.00pm
Main Prize: £750 from a total prize fund of £2,180
Mountain Street
Adjudicator: Gary Hallas
Contact: Jenny Harrison (07876214425)

Find the venue:

To enable bands to plan their routes and find the contest venues, visit the following link:

http://www.tameside.gov.uk/brassband/whitfriday/

Further details for the Tameside Contests are available from: http://www.tamesidebrassbands.org