The full squad showing off their shirts at Huntingdon
2023
RWNYC 2023
ODG Youth Team weekend at the 2023 RWNYC York
The RWNYC (Ringing World National Youth Contest) goes from strength to strength and returned this year to York having been there in 2013.
In 2013 the call change and methods bands rang at the same tower, St Lawrence and competed for the same trophy. They are now split. The bands competing at different towers for different trophies. This year the call change bands went to St Lawrence whilst we went by bus to All Saints Huntingdon with instructions to be quiet if anyone went to the toilet, the judges would be sitting close by!
16 teams competed in 2013, this year there were 25 teams from 23 squads. Both the W&P Youths (Winchester and Portsmouth) and Yorkshire Tykes entered both competitions. A phenomenal growth and real credit to the focus on young ringing across the country.
Ten years ago no teams rang at York Minster. Everyone had an opportunity this time supported by experienced ringers, many of whom had competed in previous competitions. Some things, however, don’t change, there were mini rings, hand bell workshops, wristbands (they started in 2013) and lots of towers open for general ringing.
We are very proud of our young ringers. They were a real credit to the guild, impeccably behaved and rang well as a team to the best of their ability coming joint 7th scoring 6.5.
One of the challenges of youth ringing is you have limited time with a team, we have to say goodbye to members of the squad. Sara our conductor this year and Jennifer. (Jennifer rang in Exeter but couldn’t come this year to York). A funny world where you are too old when you leave school! We wish them well and will follow their ringing exploits with interest. You never know perhaps as future judges. We enjoyed seeing ex-ODG ringers Doug Vale (Olney Buckinghamshire RWNYC2018/19) and Tom Sherwood (Tilehurst RWNYC 2019/21) as assistant judges this year.
Making a weekend of it meant we could enjoy the evening social at The Minster, pizza and lots of games organised by the Young Change Ringers Association.
Sunday saw us ringing for service at Tadcaster, having lunch and cricket before ringing at Copt-Oak conveniently situation not far off the M1 and then more ringing and cake, never far away when young ringers are involved, at Nether-Heyford, just north of the ODG.
Jenny Page
July
Young ringer practice, Sunday 23 July, 2.00 – 4.00 pm, Goring
March
See photos in slide show. Elizabeth (14) attends an after school ringing practice once a week in Abingdon. She has earned her Learning The Ropes Level 3 certificate for which she had to ring two quarter peals, one covering to a doubles method and the other ringing the treble to plain bob doubles. Susan Read presented the certificate in Abingdon in March 2023.
Young Ringer Practice at Islip on Sunday 12 March 2023. We were pleased that a record number of fifteen young ringers attended the practice at Islip. There were six from the Old North Berks Branch and up to three each from the Banbury, Bicester, Oxford City and Vale of White Horse branches. Ringing ranged from rounds to Cambridge Major with lots of fun ringing exercises for the many rounds ringers present.
January
Eleven young ringers gathered at Kirtlington for a ringing practice organised by the Old North Berks Branch on Sunday 8th January 2023. Some came quite a long way for the practice, coming from six branches, including Banbury, Vale of White Horse and Reading. Ringing included the much enjoyed game of setting after a number of whole pulls determined by the throw of a dice, forward and backward rounds as well as plain bob doubles and triples. Refreshments included mince pies, chocolate cake and peanut butter cookies!
Some useful links:
Old North Berks Branch Young Ringer Practice, 21 November 2021
Ringing World National Youth Contest
Information for Youth Ringing Co-Ordinators
Permission to Ring Form (ONB)
We are delighted with the developing bands of young ringers, we value the dedication of the established bands, we acknowledge the work and enthusiasm of all our ringing teachers, and we are grateful for the support of the diocesan clergy in the work that we do for the Diocese.
Below you can see our Young Ringers as featured on national television.