News Desk: 23rd July 2007

Guild 6-Bell Striking Competition at Hartford: 21 July 07

Not the best of starts with ringers waiting outside the church for someone to open up. A lock-out in the offing? A quick call on a mobile phone saw Ashley Pugh, key in hand, soon on the scene. On entering the new extension, adjacent to the tower, a warm welcome, in the form of central heating, awaited the ringers, as were the tea and biscuits which had been rustled up with alacrity. 'Heating in Summer?' you might ask. 'Summer?' would seem an apt response.

Before all this, the Master ensured that the wait outside was not wasted by calling for a random set of ringers to draw, at random, Scrabble pieces bearing the initial letters of the names of each of the five branches. In reality, it was not exactly chance which determined the ringing order but the fudges were agreed by all present.

Chester branch, represented by Tarporley, were first on - and, as a consequence, first away with, apparently, more interesting things to do that evening - but not before the band had been caught on camera, as seen below.

Wirral branch (Port Sunlight) were 'drawn' last as they were a ringer short at the time. Indeed, by the time he arrived, having unintentionally opted for the scenic route, it was all over. (A SatNav for your husband next Christmas, Mary?). In a cameo appearance, the Master, in breach of the Rules, filled the breach, but it at least gave the judge the opportunity of hearing the expected five bands. (Otherwise he could still be there now!)

Second on had been Nantwich (South branch) who used the practice time, at least initially, to ring Plain Bob Minor but ended by opting for Call Changes which proved to be the choice for the test piece. A fly on the wall would, no doubt, have something interesting to report - an argument in favour of 'bugging' the Ringing chamber?

Next was Weaverham (Mid branch) ringing with an urgency which suggested they may have preferred a higher place in the draw. Cheadle (East branch) presumably resisted the temptation to go even faster and settled for what was, for we mere mortals, a more manageable pace.

All this meant that the remarks of the judge, Phil Gay of the North Staffs Association, were anticipated with more than the usual interest.

Commenting, firstly, on the overall standard of ringing, Phil assured all present that he could not justify asking for his money back had any of the bands been ringing for his daughter's wedding. He then outlined his scoring system, namely half faults for 'blemishes' in any change row, with a full faults for a clash. However, the ringing had not afforded the opportunity of awarding full faults. Nice man is Phil, isn't he?

Phil then commented on the ringing of each of the bands. Your webmaster, however, in fear of being accused of misrepresentation or being liable to prosecution for breach of the laws of libel, has declined to 'put pen to paper' in such a public arena as the World Wide Web. He can say, without fear of retribution, that the Wirral band (his own) had an 'awful pull-off' in the practice which hardly improved in the test piece.

Results were then reported in the universally accepted ascending order - so as to 'maintain the tension right to the end'. Goodness me, it is not as if it were the mega-bucks on offer at Wimbledon or Carnoustie at stake! Nevertheless, it ensured no-one wandered off to the pub until enlightenment was total.

Weaverham were declared the winners ahead of Tarporley. In view of their scores, the other contenders were all equally successful (or should it be unsuccessful?) in mastering the bells which had proved to be quite challenging, especially the light bells when rung slowly.

RESULTS
Position Rang Tower Faults
1st 3 Weaverham 10.5
2nd 1 Tarporley 19
3rd= 4 Cheadle 25.5
3rd= 2 Nantwich 25.5
(disq.) 5 Port Sunlight (25)

The winning band (Weaverham)

Pam Thomson 1, Joanne Stott 2, Alison Owen 3, Adrian Bowen 4, Peter Wilkinson 5 & Pauline Taylor 6.

Pam (momentarily having put aside wedding photos of her daughter) holds the winners trophy, with Guild Master (Peter Robson) and Judge (Phil Gay) impersonating bodyguards...

...and here with the rest (well, most) of the band feeling justly satisfied with their performance (especially having not rung together, evidently, for some time).

...and the 'Also Ran(g)s...

2nd: Tarporley: Arthur Wycherley, Neville Brown, Roger Boultree, Andy Jobson, Ian McLoughlin & Richard Brierley

3rd=: Cheadle: Clive Calton, Trevor Marchbank, Eddie Marchbank, Derek Wray, James Marchbank & Tom Harper.

3rd=: Nantwich: Mary Stanwell, Amanda Sinstadt, Lucinda Bryant, Yvonne Herbert-Jackson, Edward Leetham & Stefan Zientek.

(disq!): Port Sunlight: Brenda Humphreys, Peter Robson, David Speechley, Ernie Carvell, Peter Humphreys & Dave Hocker.