10-Bell Striking Competition
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2025
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2024
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2023
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2022
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2021
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Rules
ODG Ten Bell Striking Competition 2025
This year’s ten bell competition took place at Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire (17-3-17) on 22 November. Five branches competed, ringing a test piece of 288 Grandsire Caters.
The winners were East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire branch with 41 faults and a peal speed of 3h 21m. Their ringing was the slowest of the morning, described by the judges as measured and with an excellent pull-off. They stuck to their speed with only minor, self-corrected blemishes.
In second place came Reading branch, with 42.5 faults and a peal speed of 3h 16m. The judges praised an excellent middle section although there were minor faults throughout including a tendency for the back bells to spread out a little.
Third came Old North Berkshire branch, with 46.5 faults and a peal speed of 3h 8m. The judges highlighted a very good second half, especially the rollups towards the end of the piece. Faults were consistent and were mainly clips around leading.
Fourth came Central Buckinghamshire branch with 56.5 faults and a peal speed of 3h 8m. There were some outstanding rollups but a feeling overall that front and back bells were not quite achieving the same speed of ringing.
North Buckinghamshire branch came fifth with 78 faults and a peal speed of 3h 17m. After a good start there were a few mistakes, but the ringing later in the piece recovered very well with excellent rollups and finish.
Overall, the judges commented that it had been a very close competition on bells which, although easy to ring, were not easy to ring with a consistent rhythm.
Many thanks to judges Simon Edwards and Rachel Bagley for their detailed and constructive comments and for braving a cold morning in the splendid medieval courthouse next to the church. Thank you too to the Long Crendon ringers for hosting this year’s competition and for providing welcome hot drinks and a superb selection of cakes.
Elizabeth Mullett
St Mary the Virgin, Long Crendon
EBSB Branch (first place): Ann Davies, Patricia M. Newton, Kenneth J. Darvill, Mick Francis, Charles M. Botting, Matthew R. Johnson (Conductor), George T. Pickwell, David R. Cox, Robert H. Newton, Tom Davies
Reading Branch (second place): June A. Saint, June D. Wells, Joanne P. Druce, Jenny M. Page, Elizabeth A. Evans, D. Giles Winter, Douglas J. Beaumont, Stephen R. Smith II, Stephen A. Rossiter (Conductor), E. John Wells
ONB Branch (third place): Jenny Bennett, Gillian Loyd, Stuart Gibson, Sarah Carr, Josie Irving, Sarah Macdonell, Richard Youdale, Malcolm Fairbairn, Tim Pett (Conductor), Richard Loyd
Matthew Johnson accepting the ten-bell trophy from judges Simon Edwards and Rachel Bagley
No Report
No Report
2022 10-Bell Striking Competition
The Oxford Diocesan Guild annual 10 bell competition took place at St Andrew, Shrivenham (10 bells, 13-0-2), on Saturday 26th November 2022.
The test piece was a touch of 269 Grandsire Caters, and the competition was judged by Jeremy and Anne Pratt, who were able to take advantage of the cosy Church Rooms across the Churchyard.
There were entries from 6 Branches in the ODG, which was an excellent turnout considering the disruption from covid over the previous few years. All teams successfully completed the set piece, and the judges said that all the ringing had been pleasant and of a good standard. The results were as follows:
1st place: EBSB – 60 faults. Judges comments “This had settled quickly to a comfortable speed and was very pleasant to listen to.” Peal speed 3.06.
2nd place: VOWH – 62 faults. “Not always even, but very nearly there, and pleasant to listen to” Peal speed 2.56.
3rd place: Reading – 64 faults. “It took some time for the band to become comfortable, but was then technically very good”. Peal speed 3.12.
4th place – ONB – 75 faults. “Started with some inaccurate leading, but improved as the Test piece progressed” Peal speed 2.55.
5th place – Banbury – 107 faults. “Took a while to settle, but improved towards the end, and the last lead was very good” Peal speed 3.10.
6th place – Newbury – 123 faults. “Similarly to the 5th placed, team, took a long time to settle, but improved as it progressed”. Peal speed 3.14.
The judges presented the trophy to Matthew Johnson of EBSB, and reiterated how much they had enjoyed the ringing and the hospitality.
A huge thank you to the Shrivenham ringers who provided very welcome hot drinks throughout the competition, and a lovely lunch afterwards.
Lindsay Powell
First Place - East Berks & South Bucks Branch (60 faults)
In ringing order R-L from front
Treble Sheila Bruce, 2. Ann Davies, 3. Angela M. Darvill, 4. Patricia M.Newton 5. John C. Davidge, 6. James White, 7. Matthew R. Johnson (C) 8. Kenneth J. Darvill 9. Robert H. Newton Tenor Tom Davies
Second Place - Vale of White Horse Branch (62 faults)
Team in ringing order R-L from front, clockwise.
Treble Cheryl A. Watson, 2. Lucy Laird, 3. Joe Norton, 4. Sarah J. Green, 5. Daniel J. Watson, 6. Erica J. Crabtree, 7. Jonathan D. Wright, 8. Nicola A. Roberts, 9. Anthony J. Crabtree(C) Tenor Julian T. Watson
Third Place - Reading Branch (64 faults)
Band in ringing order R-L from front.
Treble June Wells, 2. John Wells, 3.Stephen Smith II, 4. Giles Winter 5. Robert Partridge, 6. James Champion 7. Elizabeth Evans 8. Colin Cairns 9. Douglas Beaumont (C) Tenor David Bardwell.
2021 Competition
Click this link for the full report.
2021 Certificates
1st Place - East Berks & South Bucks Branch
2021_11_27-10_Bell_First-0p1
Front R-L back L-R in ringing order:
Treble, Patricia M. Newton, 2. Angela M. Darvill 3. Charles M. S. Botting 4. Kenneth J. Darvill, 5. John C. Davidge 6. Matthew R. Johnson (c) 7. James White 8. David R. Cox 9. Robert H. Newton, Tenor Martin T. Whitaker
2nd Place - Reading Branch
2021_11_27-10_Bell_Second-0p2
Front row R-L then back row L-R
Treble, June Wells (c) 2. Elizabeth Evans 3. Jenny Page 4. John Wells 5. Robert Partridge 6. Colin Cairns 7. James Champion 8. Giles Winter 9. Doug Beaumont 10. David Bardwell
3rd Place - Newbury Branch
2021_11_27-10_Bell_Third-0p2
Front row R-L then back row L-R in ringing order
Treble, Jenny Jones 2. Rachel Backhouse 3. Eleanor Rice 4. Mike Winterbourne 5. Imogen Sculthorp 6. John Kape 7. Mark Robins (c) 8. John Manley 9. Mark Backhouse Tenor, Martin Rice.
Competition Rules
Clink this link to view or download a copy of the competition rules - 10-Bell Striking Competitions Rules-1