Four Shires Guild of Bell Ringers

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Inter-Shire Championship Striking Comp

THE GUILD INTER-SHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP STRIKING COMPETITION.
HELD AT HARVINGTON ON SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER
WORCESTERSHIRE WIN!

TONY COCKS, CAPTAIN OF THE WORCESTERSHIRE TEAM, PROUDLY HOLDS THE INTER-SHIRE TROPHY

Teams from the four Counties met at Harvington to compete for the Guild's Inter-Shire Championship Trophy. Mickleton represented Gloucestershire, as Tewkesbury Abbey, last year's winners, were unable to attend. Oxfordshire was represented by Drayton St Leonard, Warwickshire by Bilton, and Eckington batted for Worcestershire.

There was little between the first and second places. But of course, all the ringing was good! Full report below…


The Worcs team: L-R, Andrea Goodall, Polly Goodall (the lucky mascot?), Kath Cocks, Phil Sagar, Ros Long, Tony Cocks, Caroline Evans.
The Oxon team: L-R, Amy Herlihy, John White, Hilarie Rogers, Daniel Rogers, Charlotte Rogers, Christopher Rogers.
The Warks team: L-R, David Price, Linda Allen, Chris Idle, Sally Idle, Dave Sammon, Gerry Allen.
The five (supposedly-)Wise Men: L-R  Mark Sayers (Warks), Bill Nash (FSG), Chris Povey (Glos), Paul Marshall (Worcs), Alan Marchbank (Oxon).

The annual Guild Inter-Shire Championship ringing competition took place at Harvington, Worcs, on 16th November. The Oxfordshire team was Drayton St Leonard and they nominated Alan Marchbank as their judge. Bilton rang for Warwickshire, their nominated judge being Mark Sayers. Eckington represented Worcestershire, with Paul Marshall being the nominated judge. Mickleton represented Gloucestershire (last year's winners, Tewkesbury Abbey, being unable to attend) with their judge Chris Povey. (It surprised some that I actually live in Glos. Only my postcode is Worcs! CMP). The fifth judge, representing the Four Shires Guild, was Bill Nash.

After the judges went into the Vestry, turned on the heater and ascertained that they could hear a trial ring adequately, the ringing order was drawn.

Throughout the afternoon the rising, ringing and lowering, all marked as the Guild's Newing Shield competitions, was very competent. The result, announced by Bill Nash, was:-

First place:           Eckington (Worcs)
Second place:       Drayton St Leonard (Oxon)

As is our custom, the order of the remaining teams was not given. The Inter-Shire Championship Trophy was presented to Tony Cocks, the captain of the winning team (see above).

The Guild's thanks extend to the four competing teams for coming to make this a successful day. We hope you enjoyed it.

Additionally many thanks are due to the Harvington ringers, particularly Anthony Wheeler and Chris Haynes, for their part in the arrangements. Thanks also to the food and drink providers, particularly Jackie Hands, Stuart Cummings, Andrew Gunn and others. Thanks are also due to those who did the washing up, while the rest of us were enjoying a ring.

Finally the afternoon would not have progressed so smoothly without the help of our Ringing Master, Sophia Lewis-Skeath.

John Nicholls

(Thanks to you, John , for making the arrangements.  Ed)

Sadly I can't show a photo of the Glos (Mickleton) team, as whomsoever took the photo shook the camera and it's blurred! I suspect most members will know the persons in this team regardless of lacking a photo: John Kinchin, David Clarke, Chris Righton, Mike Fairfax, Andrew Gunn and Jackie Hands.