2003 Arthur Ashby Cup and Horsley Cup Finals

The 2003 finals of the Arthur Ashby Cup and the Horsley Cup were held on Saturday 17th May. Bob and Ruth Smith were the judges for the afternoon. There were a total of 10 teams that had qualified through to the finals, 6 in the Horsley Cup and 4 in the Arthur Ashby Cup. This was the same number in the Horsley Cup, but was 2 less in the Arthur Ashby Cup than the number that competed last year. Unfortunately, West Hallam was unable to compete in the Horsley Cup on the day. Details of the results are shown below:

Tea and results were held in the village hall and evening ringing continued at Denby. Congratulations go to the winners, Darley Dale and Etwall and to all the teams that entered the competition.

Our grateful thanks are due to the judges Bob and Ruth to the incumbents of Horsley and Denby for the use of their bells and for the combined efforts of those who provided the refreshments and tea.

Pamela Timms

6 - Bell Competition Rules

Two 6-bell striking competitions run concurrently with two trophies: the Arthur Ashby Cup for call change ringing and the Horsley Cup for method ringing. The competition shall be run as heats in each of the four districts to select teams to go through to a final.

Eligibility

1. Each team should, as far as possible, consist of ringers from the same tower.

2. No ringer may ring in more than one call change team or more than one method ringing team.

3. Towers may enter more than one team, but the number of different ringers in the teams should be greater than four times the number of teams. For example, to enter 2 teams at least 9 ringers should be involved; to enter 3 teams at least 13 ringers should be involved.

4. Call change teams should include at least three ringers who have not rung in a peal at the time of the district heat.

5. In the final, all ringers should be Association members.

Ringing

6. Teams may ring call changes or any doubles or minor method. Those ringing call changes will be eligible for the Arthur Ashby Cup, those ringing a method for the Horsley Cup. The selection of call change or method ringing must be maintained between the district heat and the final. Teams should inform the organisers whether they intend to ring call changes or a method before the contest starts.

7. The test piece should be two extents of a doubles method, 240 changes of a minor method or 120 whole pulls of call changes, which should include Queens (135246) and Tittums (142536).

8. Preliminary ringing should be in rounds and should not exceed one minute for adjusting ropes and two minutes before starting the test piece.

9. The treble bell should be rung for two whole pulls before starting the test piece. Marking will start at the first change from rounds. One false start, not exceeding 12 rows, will be allowed.

10. A call change conductor may have the assistance of a seventh person to count the rows.

11. If closed handstroke ringing is intended the organisers should be informed in advance of the ringing.

Marking

12. Teams are allocated 240 points from which faults are deducted. A maximum of one fault per row may be deducted, with fractional deductions at the judge's discretion.

13. Marking commences at the first change. For call changes, 240 rows are marked and any subsequent rows ignored. Any more than 20 rows of rounds, within the 240, or any rows short will count as whole faults. For methods, marking continues until the ringing comes into rounds. Any changes short of 240 will count as whole faults; changes in excess are marked as normal.

14. The points obtained from the marking are multiplied by a bonus factor as below:

15. The teams with the highest scores in the call change and method categories will go through to the respective finals. The number of teams eligible for the final depends on the number of entrants in the heat for each category:

16. The call changes and methods may be judged by the same person or by different judges at the organisers' discretion. The judge(s) should not know the identity of the teams ringing.

17. Deviations from these rules will be penalised at the judge's discretion.

8 - Bell Competition Rules

1 Each district committee to supply one or more teams comprising district members.

2 Ringing procedure for each team:

a) Preliminary rounds for testing rope lengths, etc., not to exceed two minutes.

b) Stop ringing, adjust and try ropes as necessary.

c) Practice ring; no method restriction but not to exceed five minutes.

d) Stop ringing for a few moments.

e) Ring the treble for a few blows to inform the judge that the test piece is next.

f) Ring the test piece - two minutes of rounds allowed before going into changes.

3 The scoring system to be at the judge's discretion.

4 Scoring will commence at the first change and cease on coming into rounds. Any changes short will count as maximum faults per row.

5 No false starts allowed.

6 The test piece will be 224 changes of any Triples or Major method.

7 All competitors must be Association members.