Rules

1. Contest open to bands of not more than 25 performers (except Youth Bands)
2. Conductors may conduct as many bands as they wish
3. All bands must report to Delph Library (Millgate)
4. Final signing in time is 10.30 p.m.
5. Final signing in for Youth Bands is 9.00pm
6. All bands must play a street march from the starting point with 'knock off' at phone box
7. Test piece march must be played once through with DC to Fine or Pause
8. Bands may play any published march they wish
9. Prizes will be awarded according to the judges decision
10. Objections to be made to the Ring Secretary together with a fee of £5.00 which will only be refunded if objection is upheld
11. Objections to be made by competing bands only
12. Prize money will be by cheque and forwarded by post to the address on the booking in sheet
13. Trophies to be returned to the Contest Secretary or Delph Band Club before the contest day
14. Youth or School bands may play up to four senior players and have a maximum of 35 players
15. No band to win more than one prize except for solo sections
16. The conductor is allowed to play but must count as one of the twenty five
17. Committee and Snr Police Officers reserve right to refuse entry to any band should they see fit
18. Registration cards not necessary
19. Bands must be in village and ready to play when instructed.

Prizes - 2008

All prize money guaranteed to be paid out by cheque within 7 days

Conductor of the winning band receives an engraved tankard donated by Robin Walker (composer)

Sponsors - 2008

For the fith year running funding from the private sector will provide the prize money for the Saddleworth and Oldham Area Championships in 2007.

The Co-operatives and Mr Alan Speding from Slough will personally sponsor the third prize of £750 for the second year running

We are also most grateful for the support given to us by the Navigation Brass Band Concert organised by Gilbert Symes and Phil Beckwith which ensures all our running costs are covered each year. This year we also have to thank the Saddleworth and Lees Area Project for their support as well as Oldham MBC for supporting our traffic management.

United Co-operatives have stepped in as major sponsors and will run alongside The Oldham Evening Chronicle who will once again be funding the whole of the local championship prize money in keeping with their role of the area's local daily newspaper.

All the contests in the group (eleven in all) are extremely grateful to these companies for their generosity, as without their support the Saddleworth and Oldham Championships would be unable to go ahead. The individual contests would find it impossible to donate the necessary amount from their own funds to make up the £6,000 needed, in addition to raising their own prize money.

United Co-operatives have a long association with the Brass Band movement, at present they sponsor four well known brass bands and a Youth Wind Band. As one of the largest retail co-operatives in Europe, community development and participation is at the heart of the movement and they have made it clear that they wish to be a community builder, helping to support a variety of initiatives, including financial support for the Saddleworth and Oldham Championships.

In a statement to Bob Rodgers, Chairman of the Delph Contest and co-ordinator of the Saddleworth and Oldham Group, Michael Fairclough, the man responsible for co-ordinating the deal on behalf of United Co-operatives said "We passionately believe that our claim to be 'Your Community Retailer' must have a concrete foundation. Here is evidence that through the Co-operative Charitable Foundation established in 2000, and in many other ways, United is making a difference throughout its trading area.