Rabbits Competition


Rabbits at Bassingham

The winning team

(l to r) Les Townsend (judge); Mary Riglar (3); Nigel Pendleton (4);
Alan Haynes (5); Mike Stracey (1); Amanda Pues (2); Wendy Jeins (6)

On the Spring Bank Holiday Monday, 26th May, Bassingham played host to the annual Rabbits Competition. Over 40 people came, including ringers of all capabilities. Mick Stracey, the Central Branch Ringing Master organised them into six teams of six. Ringing began with three minutes practice and then a further five minutes of rounds and call changes for each team. Those waiting to ring were seen to be falling over each other in the church and churchyard trying to find the answers to a quiz devised by Stan Underwood.

Les Townsend who had judged the competition from his car parked outside the church, said the only thing which kept him awake was the sound of bells!  He said of one team “after a shaky start, they got better as they improved!”  Marking was explained in detail with several teams’ faults within a point or so of each other.

The wining team was presented with certificates and prizes, and a raffle was drawn.

The quiz (also closely fought) resulted in several completely correct answers and so was decided by a tie-breaker limerick competition. The thoroughly enjoyable afternoon finished with the opportunity of some further ringing.

Thanks are due to all who were involved in hosting and organising Rabbits and especially the team from Bassingham and Norton Disney who provided the tea.

Martin Bull