Wigan Casino Dance Competition Winners by year

[Derek Pearson]

Following on from my reply in the 'Greatest Dancer' thread surely between all the knowledgeable people on here we can cobble together some sort half decent list of all the Dance Competition winners at Wigan Casino eh?

People mean well but the trouble is time and fading memories play havoc with the fine details required. (I think my mate Bob from Yorkshire won it sometime in the late seventies, I remember it 'cos I was watching Ena Sharples on Coronation Street at the time......)

How many years did the Dance Competitions run?

Photographs of the winners would be brilliant.

Derek

[Tattoodave]

The late great Steve "Danny" Daniels of Peterborough won the 2nd Anniversary Dance Competition.

[Guest Shufflin]

some answers in here

 

[Zed1]

Sandy Holt in 78.

Edit. as above.

Edited January 25, 2020 by Zed1

[Frankie Crocker]

Steve Caesar from Leeds won the first one. Gethro Jones of Wolverhampton was third. A young lady was second but I do not know her name - she might have been the lass who featured in This England, a laundry worker from Leigh but I’m very hazy on this.

[Gilly]

Jane Nichols from Halton Lancaster either won or 2nd 3rd prize very early years cant remember the exact details and maybe the prettiest girl that ever went there

[Janie Nichols]

Hi . It’s Janie (nee Nichols ) here.

I won the dance competition if 1974 to Come On Train.

I was dancing again 2 guys.

I won £100 which was given to me by the manager Mike Green.

he later asked me if I would go on Top of the Pops to dance.

I declined saying I believed our soul scene was special and didn’t want to undermine its integrity.

I was in the crowd in the back cover of the worst record in the world.

however, I treasure that photo of such happy times .

hope this can add to your catalogue of winners list .

[Janie Nichols]

I think Angie from Blackpool win the year later.

hope this helps.

at the time , I was overwhelmed by winning! It was the best feeling.

the two guys were amazing and I felt I wouldn’t win against such athletes.

the groove of the music took me as it did all of us at the casino.

what wonderful times we all had.

later in life those memories have added  warmth to me. 

[Steve Foran]

The girl from Leigh on This England beat me in the semi finals. Richard played Sandi Sheldon and Yvonne Baker. It was 76. I am sorry I cant recall her name but I understand she is still on the scene. As am I.

[Janie Nichols]

Cool xxx I can’t remember the winner of 1976 I’m afraid.

you’d have thought there would be a way of finding out who the winners were wouldn’t you? 
do no one keep a record of them ?

the casino cheque book would show the records  maybe, but it would have been burned with the casino .

I still love the music .. still dance ..

keep on dancing .. it never leaves you does it xx

[Janie Nichols]

58 minutes ago, Steve Foran said:

The girl from Leigh on This England beat me in the semi finals. Richard played Sandi Sheldon and Yvonne Baker. It was 76. I am sorry I cant recall her name but I understand she is still on the scene. As am I.

The year I won was the 1st Anniversary. 1974.

I think later the casino had more than 1 dance completion a year.

so that would account for the memories if people attributing different dancers to the same year.

 

[Frankie Crocker]

8 hours ago, Janie Nichols said:

The year I won was the 1st Anniversary. 1974.

I think later the casino had more than 1 dance completion a year.

so that would account for the memories if people attributing different dancers to the same year.

 

Hi Janie. How sure of the dates are you? I recall Steve Caesar of Leeds winning at the first anniversary in 1974. I missed the 1975 anniversary - could this be the one you won? If so, maybe Angie won the third anniversary in 1976. I was at the 1976 and 1977 anniversaries but can’t recall who won - hazarding a wild guess, maybe Sandy Holt from Bolton won in 1977 QED.

[Frankie Crocker]

Photos taken at the first anniversary - one graced the back of the Footsie/Seven Days Too Long picture sleeve.

[Kenb]

On 25/01/2020 at 21:42, Frankie Crocker said:

Steve Caesar from Leeds won the first one. Gethro Jones of Wolverhampton was third. A young lady was second but I do not know her name - she might have been the lass who featured in This England, a laundry worker from Leigh but I’m very hazy on this.

the young lady who was 2nd was Kim.

[Frankie Crocker]

26 minutes ago, Kenb said:

the young lady who was 2nd was Kim.

Was Kim Gethro’s girlfriend? Just going on a vague recollection from reading Gethro’s book...

[Janie Nichols]

10 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Hi Janie. How sure of the dates are you? I recall Steve Caesar of Leeds winning at the first anniversary in 1974. I missed the 1975 anniversary - could this be the one you won? If so, maybe Angie won the third anniversary in 1976. I was at the 1976 and 1977 anniversaries but can’t recall who won - hazarding a wild guess, maybe Sandy Holt from Bolton won in 1977 QED.

 

10 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Hi Janie. How sure of the dates are you? I recall Steve Caesar of Leeds winning at the first anniversary in 1974. I missed the 1975 anniversary - could this be the one you won? If so, maybe Angie won the third anniversary in 1976. I was at the 1976 and 1977 anniversaries but can’t recall who won - hazarding a wild guess, maybe Sandy Holt from Bolton won in 1977 QED.

 

10 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Hi Janie. How sure of the dates are you? I recall Steve Caesar of Leeds winning at the first anniversary in 1974. I missed the 1975 anniversary - could this be the one you won? If so, maybe Angie won the third anniversary in 1976. I was at the 1976 and 1977 anniversaries but can’t recall who won - hazarding a wild guess, maybe Sandy Holt from Bolton won in 1977 QED.

Hi Frankie,

I guess it could have been either 74 or 75. Not later.  I was dancing against two guys.  I deffo remember that I won though.. I’d never forget that

Din Thomas Come in Train the final record I won too.

I was known as Janie from Lancaster.

we were all known by where we were from weren’t we ?

funnily enough I became Janie Lancaster later through marriage.

that’s me in the patterned tee shirt in the photos.

All us kids having a fabulous time !

take care xx

[Chalky]

First one (1974) was won by Steve Caesar with Kim (Gethro's GF) second and Gethro third. Steve has posted a photo elsewhere in the past receiving his £50 prize money with Kim and Gethro to his right. 

[Micksmix]

Deffo Steve Caesar at the 1st anniversary I was there, from memory dancing to Terrible Tom "we were made for each other" A memorable night for many reasons, four of us travelled down, only two had tickets. We were offered a lift on Victoria Station in the back of a transit van, with some "tasty" characters in the back, ended up en-route at some flat around Salford way.Let's just say it was like a scene from "trainspotting"  managed to buy tickets outside the casino at face value, seem to remember off a guy from Sheffield called Pev? anyone know/remember him? 

Remember walking up the steps going in, when the doors opened sweat, noise and atmosphere, smacked you in the face!! Reperata and the Delrons "panic" was blasting out of the speakers(massive record at that time) spine tingling doesn't begin to describe it.

Think it was the first night of M's we bumped into the driver of the van, who offered us a lift to the Rose Rooms Burnley all dayer the next day, think we realised we'd rode our luck out and plumped for the agonisingly slow train back to Manchester from Wigan Wallgate Aaah the memories!! 

[Soulfulhound]

I would say that the very first one, must have been 1973, had Booper, Chrissie Gray and a girl in the final. I think the girl won.

[Frankie Crocker]

2 hours ago, Chalky said:

First one (1974) was won by Steve Caesar with Kim (Gethro's GF) second and Gethro third. Steve has posted a photo elsewhere in the past receiving his £50 prize money with Kim and Gethro to his right. 

My recollection too. I travelled from Leeds to Cleethorpes with Caesar in 1975 so it was something we chatted about.

[Frankie Crocker]

7 hours ago, Janie Nichols said:

 

 

Hi Frankie,

I guess it could have been either 74 or 75. Not later.  I was dancing against two guys.  I deffo remember that I won though.. I’d never forget that

Din Thomas Come in Train the final record I won too.

I was known as Janie from Lancaster.

we were all known by where we were from weren’t we ?

funnily enough I became Janie Lancaster later through marriage.

that’s me in the patterned tee shirt in the photos.

All us kids having a fabulous time !

take care xx

Hi Janie. Thanks for this. Perhaps you’re a year younger than you thought you were? Great to be in the most iconic photo of the Casino regardless of the record in the picture sleeve. There are three lasses in patterned shirts - long hair, short hair and bunches...Which one are you? I’m in the Spotlight On Wigan Casino one but had moved for the Footsie one with just a bit of my patterned shirt showing at the top. I’m still kicking myself for moving

[Janie Nichols]

Hi Frankie ,

I am pictured next to the guy in the sleeveless scoop neck shirt . I’m in profile .

my winnings were a £100

i blew it all in Top Shop  in Manchester with some lovely clothes including a fab twirling skirt!

great times xx

i wish there was a photo like that if all the winners.  That would be so helpful.

take care xx

 

[Agentsmith]

On 10/08/2023 at 10:13, Janie Nichols said:

Hi . It’s Janie (nee Nichols ) here.

I won the dance competition if 1974 to Come On Train.

I was dancing again 2 guys.

I won £100 which was given to me by the manager Mike Green.

he later asked me if I would go on Top of the Pops to dance.

I declined saying I believed our soul scene was special and didn’t want to undermine its integrity.

I was in the crowd in the back cover of the worst record in the world.

however, I treasure that photo of such happy times .

hope this can add to your catalogue of winners list .

I was at that all nighter, distinctly remember 3 people in the final, dance-off on the stage...the two guys were backdropping and all the pyrotechnics to win but you just danced!....and won itonly thing i wasnt sure about was, whether it was 74 or 75...you set the record straight there.

[Iggyplop]

As stated earlier the first anniversary dance comp was won by Caeser.

Kim from Wolvo was second

Gethro Wolvo was third

My sister Sharon Dyke Gloucester was fourth..

I used to go.out with Angie Lawrence from Rugeley..

She never won dance comp at Wigan ..

Didn't enter..though she did win same sort of time at Whitchurch alldayer

She also won first comp at Ritz Manchester ..The prize was 100 lps..

I still have a couple I borrowed ...!!

 

[Janie Nichols]

I’m so glad that you remember!

seems like no one can remember my winxx

i really thought it was 1974 but Frankie has photos of Steve’s win.

I know I won £100 so maybe they upped the prize money up after that .. who knows.

I would love to nail down the year .

some of the crew from a lancaster are no longer around of i have just lost touch by growing up and all of the stuff that goes with that it has to be 1974 or 1975.

I was offered to go on top of the Pops after my dance win , that was then it was just before the silliness crept in with the PYE label stuff and such like.

You perhaps might remember better than me.

1974 was the 1st all nighter  so maybe the commercialism set in after the 1975 dance  competition.

so glad you remember!  Feeling a bit lost  in the annuls if time  as if history might wipe md out … but knowing it was true and it felt overwhelming! 

I must have won it in 1975 then.

[Chalky]

40 minutes ago, Janie Nichols said:

I’m so glad that you remember!

seems like no one can remember my winxx

i really thought it was 1974 but Frankie has photos of Steve’s win.

I know I won £100 so maybe they upped the prize money up after that .. who knows.

I would love to nail down the year .

some of the crew from a lancaster are no longer around of i have just lost touch by growing up and all of the stuff that goes with that it has to be 1974 or 1975.

I was offered to go on top of the Pops after my dance win , that was then it was just before the silliness crept in with the PYE label stuff and such like.

You perhaps might remember better than me.

1974 was the 1st all nighter  so maybe the commercialism set in after the 1975 dance  competition.

so glad you remember!  Feeling a bit lost  in the annuls if time  as if history might wipe md out … but knowing it was true and it felt overwhelming! 

I must have won it in 1975 then.

As I said Caesar won in 1974.  Top of the Pops was January 1975.

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Chalky

[Iggyplop]

Hey Janie...

It's a long time ago..

I only remember as I was living in Wolverhampton & there was quite a crowd of us..

Maybe you did win 75??..

I too...along with my sister ..Angie Lawrence  & her brother Steve were approached to dance on Totp..

Like you we all refused...the rest as they say is history...

[Chalky]

Another topic here.

Was there competition in between the anniversaries?  Suggestion in this topic you won mid year Janie 1975?

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Chalky

[Iggyplop]

This just popped up on Facebook..

[Chalky]

1 minute ago, Iggyplop said:

This just popped up on Facebook..

Yep trying to get together a list of all finalists.....some confusion.

[Kenb]

i don't think Kim who came 2nd in 1974 is the same Kim who came 3rd in 1981...unless she used a married name?

[Chalky]

3 minutes ago, Kenb said:

i don't think Kim who came 2nd in 1974 is the same Kim who came 3rd in 1981...unless she used a married name?

Kim in 81 is a bloke

[Tomo]

I wonder if that’s the same Kim that beat Vernon into 2nd at Hinckley when we all thought Vernon would walk it;  both great dancers.

 

[Kenb]

1 hour ago, Chalky said:

Kim in 81 is a bloke

explains it. ta

[Janie Nichols]

10 hours ago, Chalky said:

Yep trying to get together a list of all finalists.....some confusion.

Yes it looks a tough one!

im sure they did hold more dance competitions in between later in . However my win was kind of the early ones.

in afraid I was convinced it was an anniversary one .

I know for sure though that it was a first place win! could never forget that xx took my £100 prize money xx

[Micksmix]

4 minutes ago, Janie Nichols said:

Yes it looks a tough one!

im sure they did hold more dance competitions in between later in . However my win was kind of the early ones.

in afraid I was convinced it was an anniversary one .

I know for sure though that it was a first place win! could never forget that xx took my £100 prize money xx

Did you go to Sale Mecca? Sure I remember the name from that period?

[Frankie Crocker]

Has anyone contacted Russ Winstanley - surely he’d have something constructive to add. What about checking the back-editions of Blues and Soul - maybe a venue report following the anniversaries. Guessing there might be some photos out there in the Wigan papers. Yes, it’s almost 50 years ago but there must be some sources that could be checked out.

[Janie Nichols]

2 hours ago, Micksmix said:

Did you go to Sale Mecca? Sure I remember the name from that period?

No .. I went to Blackpool Mecca often though, then jumped on the coach to the Casino after.

highland room there. 

[Janie Nichols]

47 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Has anyone contacted Russ Winstanley - surely he’d have something constructive to add. What about checking the back-editions of Blues and Soul - maybe a venue report following the anniversaries. Guessing there might be some photos out there in the Wigan papers. Yes, it’s almost 50 years ago but there must be some sources that could be checked out.

I agree.. you think there would be some sort of record.  Unless it was burnt along with the Casino.

I can’t remember having my photo taken . I could be wrong though .