The Winchester and Portsmouth Guild’s striking competition was held at St. Mary’s, Fordingbridge, on September 21st, when teams were entered from Alton, Blackmoor, Bishopstoke, Eling, Fareham, Highclere, Hordle and Kingsclere. The afternoon arrangements were carried through smoothly under the direction of Canon K. W. H. Felstead, the judge being Mr. Frank Darby, Master of the Surrey Association. A feature of this year’s meeting was the number of younger ringers taking part - one team boasting an average age of just under 14 years.
After tea in the Church Hall, Mr. Darby gave the company the result of his afternoon’s listening, with helpful criticism of each team’s performance. St. Mary’s, Kingsclere, proved to be the winners, with St. Michael and All Angels’, Highclere, runners-up and St. Mary’s, Eling. coming third. Mr. Philip Murduck received the Alliston Cup from Canon Felstead, together with a certificate signed by the Master of the Guild and the competition judge. Certificates were also awarded to the runners-up and third-placed team. Canon Felstead concluded the meeting by expressing the Guild’s thanks to Mr. Darby, to the Vicar of Fordingbridge and to the local captain, Mr. Ron Marlow.
The company enjoyed further ringing during the evening in methods up to London Surprise Major. The Guild’s thanks are due to Canon Felstead who. as chairman of the Striking Competition Committee, carried out the somewhat heavy secretarial work in arranging the competition.
A. V. D.
The Ringing World No. 3001, October 25, 1968, page 825