Central Branch Rabbits, 14th April 2018
St Michael, Thorpe on the Hill

We turned up quite early at Thorpe on the Hill, mainly because we were having a committee meeting prior to the competition. Eventually all the committee members arrived and 45 minutes later, we had finished the meeting. There was still some time before the start of the competition so we waited for the rest of the Branch to arrive. In the meantime, tea, coffee and cake was served, just as you would expect at any decent Branch meeting.

The members assemble

Eventually we got sufficient members to have 6 teams. The Branch Ringing Master (Colin Ward) and Mr James Northway drew the teams and wrote them up on a whiteboard, so that everyone knew what was happening. All teams were to have a 4 minute practice time, followed by a 4 minute test piece. The ringing would be Rounds and Call Changes for each team. While the teams were ringing there were other activities, like a quiz and judging the best painted egg competition. It was uncharacteristically warm, so many members sat outside and listened to the ringing, while some had a go at change ringing on the handbells.

Colin, Mick and Sandra show off
their handbell ringing prowess!

Eventually all the teams had rung. While we were waiting for the judge, Colin announced the winners of the quiz (Sandra) and the painted egg competition (Gill Gladman). Gill was presented with the highly coveted onion trophy and an easter egg.

Colin announces the results of the quiz
Gill is presented with her prize

The judge then came in to announce the results. This was Gemma Evans. She gave some general feedback on the standard of ringing, which was frankly of a high quality. The top 3 teams were in fact all incredibly close. However there was a clear winner. Gemma announced the results in reverse order using an A, B, C marking grade. The winning team was presented with their prizes (chocolate rabbits) and their certificates

Gemma announces the results while
wearing some rabbit ears!
 
The winning Team - From left to right:
John Underwood, Richard Johnson, Keith Gladman,
Dot Mason, Bob Hancock and Mick Stracey

Afterwards, there was some open ringing, including Cambridge Surprise Minor, Rounds and Call Changes and Grandsire Doubles. We even managed to persuade Dot Mason to ring a touch of Stedman Doubles and Colin Ward to conduct a touch of Kent Treble Bob Minor.

Members take hold for some open ringing

Eventually we rang the bells down and after some tidying up, we departed.

Jonathan Clark (webmaster)