Given the challenges of inter-island travel — involving flights, ferries, or sometimes both — Channel Islands branch practices are held twice a year and traditionally include either a six- or eight-bell striking competition. This spring’s practice, which featured the inter-island eight-bell contest, was hosted at St John’s, Jersey, with 25 ringers attending from Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney.
The day got off to a flying start with an ambitious and well-struck touch of eight-spliced, setting an impressive standard for the rest of the practice ably led by Channel Islands ringing master Justin Read. The whiteboard soon filled with ringing requests and it was pleasing to see that nearly all were accommodated. These ranged from Plain Hunt on 7 and Little Bob Major to Rutland and Cambridge Major, alongside touches of Stedman Triples and Grandsire Triples. Teams also had the chance to rehearse the competition test piece: 162 of Bastow Little Bob Triples.
Alongside the tower bell ringing, Helen McGregor worked with a group, using handbells to explore ringing theory — an excellent and much-appreciated parallel activity.
Following the traditional ringers’ lunch, the competition took place, with the Jersey team making the most of home advantage to win the trophy. The contest was expertly judged by Matthew and Adam Turner, who travelled over from Wales for the occasion.
The afternoon session brought a fresh set of requests to the whiteboard, including Double Norwich and spliced triples and major (eight-spliced plus Stedman), the latter requiring some impressively speedy and creative composing by William Read. Another highlight was a Yorkshire special: three and a half leads of Yorkshire before restarting from backwards rounds, with the tenor becoming the treble. Fittingly, the day concluded as it had begun — with another touch of eight-spliced.
Ahead of the branch practice, two quarter peals were successfully rung: Norwich Minor, and Spliced Major & Triples (Stedman and Bristol).
A big thank you to everyone who helped make the practice such a success — whether by offering beds, providing lifts to and from the harbour or airport, helping with catering, standing behind, calling touches, supplying encouraging nods and smiles, or tactfully deciding at 5pm (seven hours after we started) that the local residents had been very patient with us, and it really was time to adjourn to the pub.
The next Branch Practice and six-bell competition will take place at Elizabeth College in Guernsey on 19 September, and any visitors to the island will be very welcome to join us.
Louise Read
