Reading Branch,ODG - Competitions Diary

SIX BELL STRIKING COMPETITION – Saturday 12th September 2009

Goring wins branch striking competition

The Reading Branch striking competition took place at St Mary, Streatley, on Saturday 12 September. It was a lovely occasion, with very good ringing on a beautiful sunny evening. Those who weren’t ringing, listened in the churchyard, or enjoyed the excellent tea in the Morrell Room, next door, provided by the Streatley and Goring band.

Ken and Angela Darvill were the judges.

There were six teams, and all rang Grandsire Doubles.

Caversham was the first – starting a little late, because one of their team got caught in a traffic jam. Next came Pangbourne, then St Mary, Reading, followed by Tilehurst, then Goring; and last to ring was St Laurence, Reading.

Throughout, the ringing was of an extremely high standard. Tilehurst definitely deserve a special mention for their smart matching shirts.

Afterwards Ken Darvill gave out the results in the Morrell Room, which were as follows:

1st Goring, Team 5, with 16 faults
2nd St Mary, Reading , Team 3, with 17 faults
3rd Caversham, Team 1, with 17 ½ faults
4th St Laurence, Reading , Team 6, with 22 faults
5th Tilehurst, Team 4, with 26 faults
6th Pangbourne, with 27 faults.

Ken Darvill said that all the teams had rung very well, on what “are not easy bells”, and they had all improved as they rang. He made the following comments about each team:

Team 1: Good to listen to – some handstroke leads a bit wide.
Team 2: Leading let them down – both handstroke and backstroke.
Team 3: Very quick pace – a good rollicking speed.
Team 4: A bit syncopated to start with, afterwards ringing was marvellous.
Team 5: Excellent rhythm, particularly the tenor.
Team 6: Improved as they went along.

Robin Middleton, representing the Goring team, received the cup from Ken Darvill.

Robin Middleton receives the Reading Branch String Competition Cup from judge Ken Darvill

Goring then announced that they would probably be unable to represent the Reading Branch at the Oxford Diocesan Guild six-bell contest on 3 October as many members of their team would be unavailable. So it looks as though St Mary, Reading , the runners up, will go forward in their place. However, a final decision has yet to be made by Goring.

Team Pictures:

Team 1: Caversham:
Team 1 Caversham - Reading Branch 6 Belll Striking Competition 2009
Ann Osborne 1, Julie Champion 2, Jenny Page 3, Ralph Elmes 4, Alex Byrne (C) 5, James Champion 6.

Team 2: Pangbourne:
Team 2 Pangbourne - Reading Branch 6 Belll Striking Competition 2009
Joyce Vernon 1, Michael Palfrey (C) 2, Ann Gardner 3, Sue Norbury 4, John Harland 5, Len Palfrey 6.

Team 3: St Mary, Reading:
Team 31 St Mary's - Reading Branch 6 Belll Striking Competition 2009
Helen Diserens 1, Louise Ellis 2, Peter Ellis (C) 3, Jim Diserens 4, John Manley 5, Andrew Smith 6.

Team 4: Tilehurst:
Team 4 Tilehurst - Reading Branch 6 Belll Striking Competition 2009
Jo Druce 1, Eunice Wark 2, Chris Johnson 3, David Bardwell 4, Giles Winter (C) 5, John Southern 6.

Team 5: Goring:
Team 5 Goring - Reading Branch 6 Belll Striking Competition 2009
Andrea Gilbert 1, Antoinette Jackson 2, Wendy Middleton 3, Josie Irving 4, Ian Judd 5, Robin Middleton (C) 6.

Team 6, St Laurence, Reading:
Team 6 St Laurence - Reading Branch 6 Belll Striking Competition 2009
June Saint 1, June Wells 2, Jill Galloway 3, John Wells 4, Steve Rossiter (C), Colin Parker 6.

Report and pictures from Diana McClure

Return to Competition/Results page