Shropshire Association of Church Bellringers

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Striking Competition Rules

Aims

The aim of the Striking Competition is to encourage, in an atmosphere of friendly rivalry, good striking in Sunday service, and in doing so to encourage Sunday service ringing in general.

Eligibility

1. The Competition shall be open to all towers within the Archdeaconry of Salop whether or not the ringers are members of the Association. An appropriate entry fee per band (to be decided by the committee) shall be payable by all bands entering. This is to enable a suitable donation to be made to the host tower.
2. At least four members of each band shall be bona fide Sunday service ringers for the tower they represent and not occasional visitors. If a tower is unable to make up a full band from its Sunday service ringers it may include up to two ringers who frequently help with ringing at that tower. If this is not possible it may include up to two other ringers from the Association membership, in which case the Officer in charge shall be advised of the fact before the day of the competition. Towers should make every effort to make up their complete band(s) before the competition day.
3. Any bands that arrive short of ringers shall notify the Officer in charge at the outset. With the agreement of the Officer in charge such bands may draw up to two competent ringers from those present who are willing to help.
4. If a tower enters a second band, the first band must be composed entirely of bona fide Sunday service ringers and the second band must include at least four ringers who did not ring in the first band.
5. To encourage individual members who wish to concentrate on their striking, but are unable to join a Sunday Service band, the officer in charge will endeavour, if time permits, to form one or more scratch bands from such members. Such bands will receive marks and comments from the judge, but will not be eligible to win any of the trophies.

Ringing

The test piece shall comprise either:

1. at least 120 rows of call changes to include Queen’s (135246) and Tittums (142536). Call change bands should ensure that they reach Queen’s and Tittums, and return to rounds within 120 rows.
2. 120 changes of method ringing. If plain courses are rung, only one row of rounds shall be rung between each course.

THE MARKED PIECE SHALL BE THE 120 ROWS COMMENCING WITH THE FIRST CHANGE FROM ROUNDS BE IT METHOD OR CALL CHANGES. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH CALL CHANGE AND METHOD BANDS BE MARKED ON THE SAME NUMBER OF ROWS (120).

Bands shall be allowed a total of three minutes trial ringing plus a reasonable time to alter ropes. Bands may ask for a timekeeper to be provided if required. Bands shall signify their readiness to commence competition ringing by sounding the tenor bell a number of times.

Trophies

1. The Ernest Willcox Challenge Cup shall be awarded to the band with the fewest faults.
2. The Call Change Trophy shall be awarded to the call change band with the fewest faults.
3. The Charles Allmand Memorial Shield shall be awarded to the best placed of the other towers which has not won any of the three awards in the previous two competitions. The Association secretary shall be responsible for advising as to which towers are not eligible to win the shield at any competition.

Disputes

The Officer in charge shall be the final arbiter in any dispute that arises at a competition.