2010 saw the 50^th anniversary of the first ever six bell striking contest in Derbyshire. That contest was held on May 13^th 1961 at Horsley. The rules then were practically non-existent; contestants did not have to belong to the Association; there were no heats, just the contest itself. The winning team was Alvaston. The aim of the contest was then, as it is now, to encourage bands throughout the Association to improve their striking. The first Arthur Ashby cup contest was held at Bradbourne in October 1988; Arthur Ashby, who rang at Barlborough, was there to present the cup to a team from Derby Cathedral.

In 2010 five teams qualified for each competition. The judges for the Horsley cup were Andrew Wignell and John Cook. In a close fought contest they placed Derby Cathedral first with 243 points; second was Old Whittington with 236 and third Darley Dale with 233. Jim and Janet Crabtree were the judges for the Arthur Ashby contest, which took place at Denby. Etwall were declared the winners with 229.5 points, followed by Ashford in the Water with 223.75, then Overseal with 208.25. The standard of striking was high, with no team in either contest being awarded fewer than 200 points.

Thanks to David Marshall for organising the judges and for seeing fair play at Denby; to Andy Thackeray who oversaw the ringing at Horsley; to the ladies of Derby Cathedral and Overseal who did the catering and to the Horsley ringers who served the tea and did all the washing up.

Pat Halls