Guild 8 Bell Striking Competition Final - 20th October 2012

The 2012 Guild Inter-Branch 8 bell striking competition was held at Surfleet on Saturday 20 October. Only four teams entered this year with the test piece set at a plain course of Oxford Treble Bob. The judges were Pat Halls and Bob Smith from the Derby D.A.

A fine warm Autumn day allowed the members and visitors to stand outside to listen to each test piece being rung whilst at the same time sampling the tea and cakes supplied by Annette Rhodes and her team of helpers. Following the completion of ringing by the last team everyone sat down for more food with delicious sausage and mash and a choice of puds.

In bringing the meeting to order the Master banged the table with a new gavel which had previously been generously donated by Michael Foulds who, on a similar occasion a few weeks earlier, had seen a spoon used when he had been a judge at the Guild Six Bell Competition.

The judges in their comments praised the standard of ringing especially, as they said, that ringing on the back 8 of a ring of 12 is not easy and this coupled with the leaning tower / rope effect added to the challenge. The judges had scored by marking half faults which were then divided by two to give the final score. The winning team was from the Central Branch with only 18 faults and the position of each team was identical to the order in which they rang.

The Results for The Henry Law James Shield
Position
Branch
Faults
1st
Central
18
2nd
Southern
47.5
3rd
West Lindsey
59
4th
Eastern
91

Owing to the Shield not travelling to Surfleet on the day and new aluminium foil cup was quickly designed and manufactured and presented to a representative of the winning team.

The Master thanked the judges for their deliberations and presented each with a bottle of wine. Thanks were also extened to Philip Green and the Elloe Deaneries Branch for hosting the event, Annette and team for all the food arrangements, Liz Jones for hosting the judges in her garden next to the church and to all the members for coming and taking part in the competition.

The Central Branch Team
The Southern Branch Team


The West Lindsey Branch Team
The Eastern Branch Team


Heather Blacklock gets her
Blue Peter Badge
Jonathan Clark receives the "trophy"
on behalf of the Central Branch


Alan G Payne
21 Oct 2012