Striking Competitions - Swanage Bellringing

A striking competition is a test of how good you can make the bells sound. When ringing, the bells should be evenly spaced with no gaps or crashes, which is quite hard to do. The Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers has an annual striking competition held at a different tower each year. It difficult to strike bells well in a church where you do not normally ring.

The aim of the Striking Competition is to promote and improve the standard of Sunday Service ringing for those participating members of the Guild.

Swanage is in the East Dorset branch of the Guild. A “branch” striking competition is held each Spring, and the top two bands in this competition then qualify to go through to represent the East Dorset branch in the Guild striking competition.

The main Guild competition is held on 6 bells, but there is also an 8 bell Guild striking competition held each year as well.

Left to right: Linda Hough - Treble, Eleanor Wallace - 2, Eddie Dicken -3, Matthew Pike - 4, Julian Newman - 5, Phil Miles - 6

We came 2nd out of 7 bands entered. A very strong band from Wimborne won the competition.

Picture of our band who took part in Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers annual striking competition, Saturday 16th June 2007, at Motcombe:

Left to right: Hayley Newman - Treble, Eleanor Wallace - 2, Eddie Dicken -3, Matthew Pike - 4, Julian Newman - 5, Phil Miles - 6

We came 1st out of 11 bands entered. A picture of the trophy, which was held in the Swanage belfry for 12 months, is below:

Picture of our band who took part in Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers annual 6 bell striking competition, Saturday 21st June 2008, at Martinstown:

Left to right: Hayley Newman - Treble, Linda Hough - 2, Eddie Dicken -3, Matthew Pike - 4, Julian Newman - 5, Phil Miles - 6 (In 2008, we came 2nd out of 7 bands

Picture of the combined Swanage & Wareham band who took part in Salisbury Diocesan Guild of Ringers annual 8 bell striking competition, Saturday 21st June 2008, at Wyke Regis:

Left to right: Matthew Pike, Eddie Dicken, Linda Hough, Mariko Whyte, Julian Newman, Hayley Newman, Becky Green, Mike Pitman (In 2008, we came 2nd out of 3 bands