Details Announced For Whit Friday Contests
The board at the Dobcross contest last year.
The timings and adjudicators have been revealed for this year’s Whit Friday band contests, which will take place on 17 June.
Because the contests fall almost on the longest day, some of the events will be going on a little later than usual, with the Scouthead and Austerlands contest not scheduled to finish until 11pm.
There will be a total of 12 contests across Saddleworth, Lees and Oldham, with a further 11 in Tameside.
One potential problem for the bands as they move between contests will be the retaining wall works on Chapel Road in Greenfield. As drivers who regularly go through the area will know all too well, coaches will have to negotiate the tricky junction next to the railway station instead.
Police, council officials and organisers have been working behind-the-scenes for months on preparations for what is often called the “Greatest Free Show on Earth.” It’s hoped there’ll be no repeat of the tragedy which struck at Greenfield last year, when a spectator was knocked over and killed by a coach on Chew Valley Road.
The police have told organisers that, in general, a greater onus will be put on them to make the contests run smoothly, allowing officers to deal with tackling crime and anti-social behaviour. Last year, 27 people were arrested, largely because of alcohol-related incidents.
The excellent 4 Bars Rest website has compiled a preview of all the contests, including details of the prize money on offer, which you can read here. The article also lists phone numbers for the various organisers, so if you want to volunteer to help out in any way at your local contest, give the relevant contact a ring.
The timings and adjudicators as confirmed on the Saddleworth and Oldham Whit Friday website is as follows:
DELPH 4:30pm-10:30pm, K Hollinshead
DENSHAW 4:15pm-10:30pm, A Holdsworth
DIGGLE 4:30pm-10:30pm, D Beckley
DOBCROSS 4:30pm-10pm, B Thompson
FRIEZLAND 4:30pm-10:30pm, J Newbigging
GREENFIELD 5pm-10pm, R Farr
GREENACRES 4:30pm-10:30pm, D Wilby
GROTTON 4:30pm-10pm, R Roe
LEES AND SPRINGHEAD 4:30pm-10pm, A Fernie
LYDGATE 4:30pm-10:30pm, D Southcott
SCOUTHEAD AND AUSTERLANDS 4:30pm-11pm, C Brian Buckley
UPPERMILL 4:30pm-10:30pm, D Marshall
You can get a lot more information about the contests from the official website here.
Previous articles about Whit Friday from Saddleworth News are here. There’ll be more on this website between now and the day itself, too.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
If you would like to share an interesting story, achievement, photo or something you just want to happily shout about please send it in an email to hello@saddleworthlife.com We'd ❤ to hear from you!!
