STRIKING COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE

The Guild 6 and 8-bell competitions this year were held at Bishopstoke and the two towers in Basingstoke, on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May. Surprisingly, it is thought that these are the first Guild Competitions to be held in these fairly prominent and available towers. With 8 teams in the six-bell, 6 in the Inter-District and 5 in the eight-bell tower competition some 10% of Guild members were in action over the two days.

Richard Stevens, from Launton in Oxfordshire, judging the six bell from a garage backing on to the churchyard at Bishopstoke, was faced with a thunder storm just as the competition began on Friday evening. This however did not affect his performance nor that of the teams who were set 120 changes of Doubles or Minor or four minutes call changes. In his opening remarks in the Church, Richard reported a good evening’s ringing, saying that if Sunday service ringing was up to this standard then all was well in the Guild. He advised those present not to take to heart or be upset by any of the comments he was about to make on each of the test pieces. The evening produced some close results where an odd clip or missed dodge affected the final positions, which were as follows:-

The Guild Master presented the cup and first place certificate to Mark Esbester from Catherington whose team ended the recent run of victories by Carisbrooke and St John’s Jersey, both of whom have won in consecutive years over the last four but were not “placed” this time. Second and third place certificates were presented to Graham Wright of Bishopstoke and Michael Church from Upton Grey. It was pleasing to see the Whitwell/Shanklin band (who share members and service ringing) entering for the first time and Hawkley who have not appeared in a Guild Competition for some time. At one stage it looked as though we would have teams from three different off-shore Islands competing, but sadly it was not to be. It is very rewarding to have these “travelling” bands making the effort to take part in mainland hosted activities.

In contrast to Friday’s rain Saturday was a glorious spring day. The 8-bell Inter-District kicked off (it was FA Cup Day) in the afternoon at St Michael’s followed by an excellent tea and results in Church Cottage. The 8-bell tower competition followed in the evening at All Saints with results in the church. The judges were Martin Hough, needing no introduction in his old stomping ground, and David Haysom from Swanage. A convenient cottage close to the tower housed the judges in the afternoon and the churchyard proved to be the best vantage point at All Saints. The District teams were asked to ring 224 changes of any Major method(s) and the tower teams 224 of Triples or Major, or eight minutes call changes. Both judges marked both of the competitions, the number of faults divided by two and the final positions collated between them. Martin did the talking. He commented on method choice, speed of the ringing, the usual faults and errors, the touches they particularly liked and a very good piece of tenor ringing. The Guild Master presented the Shield in the afternoon, the Cup and three certificates in the evening and thanked and congratulated all those concerned with the day’s events. The results were as follows:-

The Portsmouth District were very pleased at winning the Inter-District for the first time, and as Catherington had won the previous evening, were hoping for a clean sweep by Portsmouth Cathedral winning the eight bell. But sadly (for them) it was not to be. The Southampton City Centre Band stuck to their tried and tested Cambridge and Winchester Cathedral to their careful Grandsire Triples. Stedman Doubles being rung on Friday evening and Little Bob Major and Oxford Bob Triples on Saturday increased the normally small scope of methods rung at our competitions. With the inscription of “Portsmouth 1997” on the Inter-District Shield (which was presented to the Guild by Arthur and Gilian Davis in 1976) the last small blank metal shield on the wooden trophy was used. It has now been rearranged to allow for the inscription of future winners.

All the usual thanks must go to everyone involved in the contests and despite the busy schedule of ringing at these events there is still room for more teams. Pass it on!

John Colliss