Recently, three of the team were selected to compete in a local striking competition, where the rhythm and accuracy of the bellringing is judged.  Teams from different churches compete to win the trophy.

Together with present and former school staff, the team of six More House bellringers travelled to St Anne’s Church in Bagshot, where there is heavy ring of eight bells – much heavier than Frensham’s set.  The competition required each band to ring the lightest six bells whilst a judge from outside of the district – so no favouritism! – marked the ‘faults’.

On arrival, a draw was held to decide in which order the nine teams would compete.  More House was drawn to ring second, and we listened to the first team, from Crondall, to suss out the competition.  When it was our turn, we climbed the tower steps to the ringing chamber and were allowed to try out the bells to see how we got on.  We realised that some ropes were too short, and we needed to stand on boxes, and other ropes were much too long!  The bells were tricky to ring, and we all felt nervous.

After a short practice, we had to give the signal to the judge that we were about to start our test piece.  This meant ringing the lightest two bells in a special pattern.  We then began our test piece; each of us concentrating really hard, not wanting to let the rest of the team down.  We rang 120 rows of call-changes.  This means that we started by ringing in ‘Rounds’, where we ring the bells in order down the scale, from the highest note to the lowest, and keep repeating it.  Then, our ‘Conductor’ called out instructions for changing the order, swapping the order of two bells at any one time.  This took us further away from Rounds, until eventually returning to Rounds and then ‘standing’ the bells (balancing them carefully on top of their circle, so the bells’ mouths all face upwards).

We were very relieved to have finished our piece of ringing, and felt pretty exhausted by the hard work and the concentration.  For the boys, this was their first ever experience of a bellringing competition, and they did brilliantly.  We spent the rest of the afternoon listening to the other teams, and eating cakes, biscuits and fruit which the local ringers provided in the church rooms.

At the end of the competition, there was a little time for General Ringing, with any ringers able to have a go at ringing together on all eight bells, including the heaviest which weighs, on its own, about one tonne.  It was quite an experience!

Some of us then stayed on for a massive Fish ‘n’ Chip supper and quiz in the evening.  After the supper, the judge, who was a past Master of the Guildford Diocesan Guild of Church Bellringers, announced the competition results and awarded the certificates and trophies.  Alas, More House came ninth out of the nine teams, but we received some really encouraging feedback from the judge.  We definitely deserve to feel proud of our efforts, on our very first attempt.  The winning team was… Frensham!  Two of our More House ringers, Mr Hetherington and Oliver were also in that team, so well done to them!

Well done to the three boys: William, Owen and Arthur.  What a great achievement, and an excellent place from which to build progress in future competitions – watch out, other teams!