St Peter’s ringers visit Alderney

4 intrepid ringers from St Peter’s came to Alderney for a weekend of intensive training Nov 29th – Dec 2nd. Concentrating on handling, ropesight and plain huntng the 4 were supported by the Alderney band at special sessions at Wells Bells, St Anne’s, on handbells and on the simulator. Videos were watched and methods ‘rung’ on playing cards and walked in the hall:-)

During a normal practice session there simply isn’t time for indepth discussions on ropelength, the importance of straight arms, ‘find them follow them, forget them’, ‘somebody – treble – somebody – 4’ etc etc. Living & breathing ringing for a whole weekend gave us that time

Good fun was had by all & we like to think that the novices left our island armed with a better understanding of what was expected of them than they had before:-) We look forward to their next visit when we hope to see clear signs of them having made good use of all the information we imparted.

HMMcG

 

Channel Islands go north

We have just finished an amazing fortnight of ringing in Tulloch – the 10th such annual event. The clue is in the name – Reading, Channel Islands and friends. The photos at the bottom of the bellboard link show lots of smiling faces – we have had a great time:-)

Week 1 had 4 from Jersey, 2 from Alderney and an ex-Alderney. Week 2 had 6 from Alderney, 1 from Jersey & 2 ex-Alderney

https://bb.ringingworld.co.uk/event.php?id=19747

Too many firsts to list individually but each week focused on developing the skills of those present be it conducting grandsire triples, ringing surprise maximus, first on 10, first on 12, treble bobbing on 6, Stedman workshop. Exhausting but hugely satisfying

The Alderney band’s next venture north will be in February when 4 from Alderney & 1 from Guernsey will be embarking on Levels 4 & 5 of the ART Minor Stepping Stones programme. With friends we will be proceeding from Cambridge minor to spliced s minor via small easily navigated stages

Each of these events sees the individual ringer become much more proficient and therefore a greater help to their home tower/island, well done everyone.

HMMcG

3 days on Alderney

We can offer any number of 3 day events as a long weekend or as a midweek break

We have free B&B accommodation: Sharing a shower room = a double room & a twin room. The twin room is up a flight of space-saver stairs. An ensuite triple room being a large single and a set of adult bunks.

Plenty of other accommodation on the island: visitalderney.com/stay we will collect you in the morning & return you at night

We will focus on any one of the following 5 options – though I don’t promise there will be no overlap!

  1. Handling/ropesight/tenor cover & plain hunt
  2. Plain bob doubles
  3. Grandsire doubles
  4. Plain Bob minor with starting to treble bob
  5. Handbells

Ideally there will be a group of you from the same tower wanting to work on the same aspect of your ringing & then I might see if 1 or 2 others from a different tower want to join us. Course fee, Ploughman’s lunch & all day tea & coffee plus tower donation = £60. We will probably have fish & chips one night & a Thai/Indian takeaway the other night – priced individually

All you need to arrange is travel to Alderney airport (aurigny.com) or harbour  alderneyferryservices.co.uk) & we will collect you

Most of the ringing will take place on Wells Bells but we will also visit St Anne’s belfry either to join an Ay practice or for a special session there being joined by St Anne’s ringers

For more info/agree the dates please email: [email protected]

CI Inter-Island 8-Bell Competition 2019

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Results of 8 bell Inter-island. Judge Jack Page. Test piece Little bob major (WHWsH) x 2

Jack outlined that he had had plenty of opportunity to ring the bells at Wells. They had limited odd-struckedness, & that it was very easy to ring them too slowly. He had been worried that his vantage point in the kitchen would have permitted him to recognise the voices of the ringers but he was pleased to report that although he could hear the bells clearly, he couldn’t recognise any voices

Team A (Gsy): The team started confidently, their practice time had all been put to good use. The was much good ringing from various individuals – the 8 set a good beat and the 7 worked well with the 8, however the band needed to ring better together. In particular they needed to make sure that their leading wasn’t too quick and that the bells really reached the back at the end of the change. They recovered well from 2 method mistakes. Peal time 3hrs 4 mins

Team B (Ay): Peal time here 3hrs 5mins. This team spent the practice time NOT ringing Little Bob but then they appeared to learn it as once the practice time was finished they did ring Little Bob. They produced some pleasant ringing, the tenor set a good pace which was matched by the 6 & 7. Clip avoidance at the back was the tactic employed by this band which did result in the bells slowing down, the treble rang well which kept the front moving nicely

Percentage scores : A 65% & B74%. Winners were Alderney

Aaron collects the trophy from Jack Page on behalf of the Alderney band