There was a fine turn out of bands for the keenly contested Hebden Bridge March & Hymn Contest, where Milnrow Band rounded off a busy and profitable weekend by adding the £500 first prize to their Whit Friday winnings.

They also picked up the Alan Bottomley Memorial Shield as they pipped Yorkshire rivals Elland Silver by a point. They in turn added the 'Best Hymn' prize to their overall haul of £300, with Marsden Silver in third boosting their coffers by £150 in also claiming the 'Best Deportment' award.

Warm welcome

Not only were there cross-Pennine battles for the prizes, but the contest gave a warm welcome to Weston Silver from Toronto in Canada who were enjoying a memorable tour to the UK.

They will return home with happy memories of the contest as they claimed the 'Best First Section Band' award and the 'Best Road March' to add £150 to their souvenirs.

The Second Section honours went to Slaithwaite, with the Third and Fourth Section prizes going to Uppermill and Dobcross Silver respectively. The Youth prize was claimed by Elland Silver Youth with their super cornet player Lewis Barton taking the 'Best Youth Instrumentalist' accolade.

They also picked up the Alan Bottomley Memorial Shield as they pipped Yorkshire rivals Elland Silver by a point4BR

Result:

Hymn/March = Total

1. Milnrow: 93/96 = 189
2. Elland Silver: 95/93 = 188
3. Marsden Silver: 92/94 = 186
4. Slaithwaite: 94/91 = 185
5. Weston Silver: 91/89 = 180
6. Skelmanthorpe: 89/90 = 179
7. Uppermill: 90/88 = 178
8. Elland Silver Youth: 88/87 = 175
9= Dobcross Silver: 87/85 = 172
9= Littleborough: 86/86 = 172
10= Hebden Bridge Junior: 85/83 = 168
10= Wardle Junior Blast: 84/84 = 168