Background to the Contest – the first result
This was the report from the first band contest held in Dobcross on 19th May, 1967.
- 10 bands
- Weather – deluge
- 1st Prize – Crossley Carpets Works Band
- 2nd Prize – Black Dyke Band
- 3rd Prize – Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band
Since then, nothing much has changed with Black Dyke and Brighhouse and Rastrick still regularly competing for thetop prizes in Dobcross and the Saddleworth contests as a whole. Nowadays, though, we have up to 70 bands visiting the village on Whit Friday. And the weather? Lets just say its fingers crossed on any given year!
The Contest today
Contest coaches arrive at The Square in Dobcross and the bands make their way to the Booking In tent before each band performs their street march down Platt Lane. The prize for ‘Most Entertaining Band on Platt Lane’ sponsored by the Dobcross Village Community is hotly contested and very much enjoyed by the the people who line Platt Lane throughout the evening to watch, sing, or march alongside the bands.
Platt Lane March (video)
The Dobcross Band Contest
The contest piece itself is held on Churchfields, our idyllic village green. The bands are walked down to the green to await their turn before playing for the adjudicator who sits in one of the 18th Century weaving cottages that surround the green. The contest is judged blind so when the band is in place, the steward blows a whistle to indicate to the adjudicator that the band is ready to start playing.
Below is a link to Oldham Band (Lees) play on Church Fields’ grassy knoll.
At the end of the evening, the last band plays a closing hymn and everyone is asked to join in the singing of The Day Thou Gavest.
Click here for Dobcross Contest Previous Years’ Results
We warmly welcome visitors new and old to our beautiful village to watch this world famous brass band event. However, a word of warning: Dobcross is a typical Pennine hill village with some of the steepest lanes in the area. Access can be challenging for anyone with limited mobility or who is not used to walking up hills.
Vehicles will not be able to access the village during the duration of the band contest.
