Exeter Well Placed in National 12 Bell Final
26th June and Devon ringing raised it’s
national profile by several notches when Crediton hosted the 35th
Final of the National 12 bell contest for the Taylor Trophy.
The Exeter team showed that they are now
well worthy of a place amongst the big boys with an excellent
piece of ringing to finish in a very creditable 5th place, out of
9 competing bands, with only 2 points separating 3rd and 5th
places. Congratulations to Matt and his dedicated team whose hard
work and commitment over recent months placed the Cathedral team
in the highest position ever achieved by Exeter in the
competition. The competition was won by Birmingham – for full
results see the 12 bell
website
Holding the competition in the West
Country had raised a few eyebrows when it was first mooted. “Much
too far for the teams to travel, have the locals got the
experience and facilities to be able to host such a big event in
the National ringing calendar? etc. etc.” Perhaps the quotes from
a number of ringers as they left at the end of the day might give
a flavour of how the day went. “The best competition day ever.”
“Congratulations to all involved in the organisation of a superb
day.” “Can we come back again next year?” These and hundreds of
similar comments certainly showed that Devon ringing has a lot be
proud of.
The
organisation of the day was entirely the doings of the Crediton
ringers. They should be proud of their hard work, which enabled
about 350 people to drink beer and eat home prepared baguettes,
cream teas and locally sourced pasties.
Some of the highlights of the day: Wall to
wall sunshine enabling our visitors to sit around listening to
some top class ringing on Crediton’s fine peal of bells. The
efforts by the local catering team to provide our visitors with a
real taste of Devon. The well supported bar facilities in the
Boniface Centre and the Lower Vicarage garden. The fine choral
evensong with the choir of Holy Cross. The sight of hundreds of
people sitting out in the sunshine enjoying the bells, the food
and the beer and, most importantly the fellowship and camaraderie
which is such an important part of the day. In total some 46
ringers, members of the local team, the Association and the Guild,
were wearing the distinctive polo shirts produced for the day and
were busy all day acting as stewards, bar staff, judges
assistants, and catering team. Additionally a number of
non-ringing members of the Crediton congregation pitched in to
help with the catering.
The day was a huge success and puts Devon
ringing very firmly into the national ringing consciousness. Well
done to everybody involved.
Howard Egglestone
The Exeter team (clockwise from front right):
Ian Avery, Sue Sawyer, Paul Pascoe, Alison Waterson, Sue Sparling,
Tim Payne, Pauline Champion, John Foster, Matthew Hilling (C),
Andrew Palk, Geoff Sparling, Mike Mears
Birmingham team captain, Richard Grimmett,
being presented the Taylor Trophy by Crediton Rector Revd Nigel
Guthrie.
Peter Sanderson, Howard Egglestone, Revd
Nigel Guthrie; the Crediton Bellringers
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