News Desk: 9th July 2005

Guild 6-Bell Striking Competition at Eastham (Wirral Branch)

It is a few years since the Guild 6-Bell Striking competition included tower bands from all five branches. The weather was exceptionally warm, not that this was the reason for the good attendance although, no doubt, it did encourage so many supporters to turn up on the day.

The bells at Eastham had been considered a good choice but on the day, proved a more than adequate challenge. This can be advantageous as it can help the judges - Celia Hughes' D'Aeth from Southport and Alison Holliday (Secretary of the Wigan Branch, LACR) from Ormskirk - more readily discriminate between the bands. (Not that they needed any such assistance!)

Results were as follows:
Tower (Branch) Faults
Weaverham (Mid)
Handbridge (Chester) 19½
Poynton (East) 27
Wallasey St Nicholas (Wirral) 34½
Wrenbury (South) 42

So, once again!, congratulations to Weaverham and also to Eastham, especially John Collinson, for so ably hosting a memorable event.

The row of pictures below show, firstly, the judges carefully perusing their notes in the churchyard, then Celia commenting on the bands performances and, finally, Pam Thomson receiving the trophy on behalf of the winning band.

The following pictures show the bands in "finishing order" in each case the ringers standing (left to right) from treble to tenor.

WEAVERHAM: Claire Thomson, Adrian Bowen, Pam Thomson, Ian Simpson, Peter Wilkinson (C) & Joanne Parker.
HANDBRIDGE: Helen Mitchell, Fiona Harrison, Brian Boyd, David Adams, Peter Barker (C) & Colin Mitchell. POYNTON: Sue Dyson, Matthew Dyson, Peter Dyson, David Friend (C), Peter Pugh & Philip Kirwin.
WALLASEY (St Nicholas): Rachael Das, Jean Taylor, Hazel Bailey, Susan Sparling, Geoffrey Sparling (C) & Peter Charnley. WRENBURY: John Elsworth, Hazel Killick, Susan Hayward, Roger Owen, David Gorton & David Elsworth (C).

Peter Humphreys (Webmaster) - who claims all responsibility for E & O.