Fourth place success for Northop at Whit Marches
THE Whit Marches in May is a tradition going back to the turn of the 19th century to celebrate Whitsuntide, the Pentecost.
Around the towns and the villages in the Pennines traditional brass bands gather to march and entertain the crowds.
It is a great spectacle with each band marching and playing and then standing in front of an unseen and un seeing adjudicator and playing a contest march.
The Whit Marches Contest are now known world wide and bands have taken part from all over the world.
This year there are just two bands from Europe Skeie Brass from Norway and Emmental Band from Switzerland. A total of 50 bands took part in the contests at nine of the venues in Tameside.
The top 10 bands at Tameside were: Champion band – Foden’s; 2nd Rothwell; 3rd Elland Silver; 4th Northop; 5th Silk Brass; 6th Mossley; 7th Ashton Under Lyne; 8th Valley Brass; 9th Blackburn & Darwen; 10th Eccles Borough.
The places holding the contests were Broadoak who had 30 bands taking part, Carrbrook 32 bands, Denton 31, Droylsden 25, Dukinfield 36, Heyrod 33, Hurst Cross 31, Mossley 37 and Stalybridge Labour Club 32 bands.
At the Saddleworth & Oldham
Whit Friday Contests there were 11 venues which were Denshaw with 55 bands, Dobcross 61, Granfield 68, Lydgate 65, Gratton 47, Diggle 44, Delph 73, Lees & Springhead 63, Friezland 39 and Uppermill 50.
The top ten bands at Saddleworth & Oldham were: Champion band – Black Dyke; 2nd Brighouse & Rastrick; 3rd Oldham Band (Lees); 4th WFEL Fairey; 5th Hepworth; 6th Aldbourne; 7th Chav Brass; 8th Marsden Silver; 9th Hammonds Band; 10th Milnrow.
This year there seems to have been just one Welsh band taking part, Northop and they had a successful day finishing in 4th place overall at Tameside.