The Minimus (Minnie Mouse) Striking Competition
This year's competition took place as advertised on a genuine ring of 4, the first time for a very long time. Our thanks go to Wyck Rissington's PCC for allowing us to hold it there, and to Andrew Ransom for letting us in. Three teams plus a scratch team battled for the trophy, which, for the last three years, has been held by 'The Committee', a team comprising committee members. Last year, Mickleton came very close to knocking 'The Committee' off the winners' podium.
Congregating outside waiting for the stragglers to turn up!
Again as advertised, this is the Guild's 'fun' striking competition. There's no rising and falling, and there's little stress in ringing Minimus (but see later). Our judge was Simon Adams from Yardley.
We had to wait while some of the participants found Wyck Rissington (one didn't at all!). During this wait Andrew Roberts discovered a method called Wyck Rissington Hybrid Minimus via his internet phone. We'd come to ring Minimus at Wyck Rissington and we'd found a method called Wyck Rissington Minimus! We vowed to give it a try, although not one of the teams thought they would ring it for the competition. Common sense won against valour: it would be tried afterwards.
Once sufficient ringers had found Wyck Rissington, the competition got underway. We had to ring four plain courses of any Minimus method, which amounted to 96 changes. The teams rang in the following order, shown with the marks given out of 96:-
Moreton Bob Minimus 79 3rd
Wellesbourne Bob Minimus 70 4th
'The Committee' Bob Minimus 89 2nd
Scratch band Double Bob Minimus 90 1st
Simon giving us the results
As the Scratch band was ineligible in this case, 'The Committee' team were once again the winners. This is the third year in succession. It's too many times; this team needs to be beaten. Please consider doing this at the next competition.
So what about Wyck Rissington Hybrid Minimus? We did ring it afterwards: Wyck Rissington at Wyck Rissington! Here it is in all its glory:-
It's a bit tricky until you get used to it. And another thing: it only runs to 21 changes. It doesn't really matter at this level, unless, of course, you include it in a peal of Minimus
CMP