Dodleston, 12th July 2003
It was the turn of the Chester Branch this year to host the Guild's annual 6 bell competition, where the winning bands of each Branch's competition come together to vie for "Benny's Box", the trophy containing the ashes of the remains of a Goostrey stay. The attractive rural setting of Dodleston was selected as the venue and many early arrivals were intrigued by the remains of a small fighter aircraft in the garden next door to the church hiding in the undergrowth.
Judge this year was Geoff Parting from Buckley, the Peal Secretary of the neighbouring North Wales Association, who coincidentally had learned to ring at Dodleston. He hadn't been keen on the idea of judging when first asked, but said he would if we were stuck….. - a fatal thing to say! When he returned home on Friday evening from a Quarter and Practice at Frodsham, he was given the message that no-one else had been found…..
He prefaced his comments by saying he was not impressed with the bells - he could say that, since he was brought up on them - difficult to ring and a long draught. He had no elaborate system of marking, he was just looking for a pleasant pace, good leading, and listening for gaps and clashes.
South Branch's Congleton team rang first, choosing call changes - believed to be the first time that call changes had been rung in the Guild competition. They set a good pace, with even leading. Most faults occurred in the first and last parts, with some changes hurried, but overall quite pleasant.
Chester's Handbridge team were next - Bob Doubles, a good piece of ringing, pleasant to listen to, good leading, some changes hurried, but the last two parts were very good.
Mid's Grappenhall team, 2002 winners, rang third - Bob Minor. A good piece of ringing, a faster pace, with some uneven leading, and middle changes hurried. The last part was excellent.
Port Sunlight, the Wirral representatives also rang Doubles. The test piece was a lot better than the practice, and they seem to have found the bells difficult to handle. It was rather uneven, with most faults in the first 60 changes.
Finally Macclesfield, East's team, rang Cambridge. This was nice even ringing, most faults in the first part, and just the odd fault thereafter. The middle part was very good.
The results were as follows:
1st Handbridge 17 faults 2nd Macclesfield 19 faults 3rd Grappenhall 20 faults 4th Port Sunlight 29 faults 5th Congleton 45 faults
Helen Mitchell, the Handbridge team's conductor was presented with the trophy. She said she had not been happy when she had heard Dodleston had been chosen as the venue. But now, Dodleston - fantastic!
Nick Thomson Presentation of the Trophy to Helen Mitchell by judge Geoff Parting
The winning Handbridge Band.
CDG Press Officer.
and Guild Ringing Master, Peter Wilkinson (right).
