Bedfordshire Association of Church Bell Ringers

St Peters Cup

Association Inter-District 6 Bell Striking Competition for the St Peters Cup

Our competition for the St Peters Cup is usually held on the third Saturday of September. Districts take it in turn to host the event. Generally 6 teams participate, 2 from each District, however ‘scratch’ teams can take part but wouldn’t win the Cup if they were judged to have the best striking. The Association General Committee decides what is rung each year.

Rules

Ringers taking part must be:

paid up Resident, Life or Honorary Life members of the Association; and
Sunday Service ringers at the Church they are representing.

Ringers can’t ring for more than one band.
The 2020 test piece is 120 changes of any doubles or minor method and only these changes are judged.
Each team has 5 minutes practice time before ringing the test piece.
Two whole pulls should be rung by the treble and second as a signal to the judges that the test piece is about to start.
Each team has a maximum of 20 rows (10 whole pulls) of rounds before starting their changes.

More information about running the competition is here Notes for host District

Year	Place	Winning Team	District
2023	Bletsoe
2022	No competition because of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II
2021	Haynes	Clifton	Biggleswade
2020	No competition because of Covid 19 pandemic
2019	Flitwick	Eaton Socon	Biggleswade
2018	Eaton Socon	Biggleswade	Biggleswade
2017	Colmworth	Kempston	Bedford
2016	Eaton Bray	Dunstable	Luton
2015	Clifton	Kempston	Bedford
2014	Elstow	Dunstable	Luton
2013	Flitwick	Biggleswade	Biggleswade
2012	Potton	Kempston	Bedford
2011	Renhold	Biggleswade	Biggleswade
2010	Aspley Guise	Husbourne Crawley	Luton
2009	Northill	Kempston	Bedford
2008	St Andrews, Bedford	Kempston	Bedford
2007	Kensworth	Kempston	Bedford

Previous years’ reports

The 2022 Competition had to be cancelled because of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II on the Thursday before.

The 2021 Competition was organised as ‘Get Back to Ringing’ event. It was held at St Mary’s Haynes as an Open Competition and picnic. A full report with pictures is here

The 2020 competition couldn’t be held because of the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic

The 2019 competition was hosted by the Luton District at St Peter and St Paul, Flitwick. The judges were Stephen and Carolyn Crawley from Hemel Hempstead. Six teams took part, two from each District. Eaton Socon were winners, runners up Clifton, 3rd Dunstable, 4th Goldington, 5th St Andrew Bedford and 6th Silsoe. Many thanks to the Flitwick ringers for the warm welcome and for providing refreshments throughout the afternoon.

Alban Forster receives the cup on behalf of the Eaton Socon band from judges Carolyn and Stephen Crawley .

The 2018 competition was hosted by the Biggleswade District on the back six at Eaton Socon. The judge was Mike Purday. Biggleswade were winners, with Dunstable runners up, 3rd Campton, 4th St Andrew Bedford and 5th St Peter Bedford. Many thanks to Sue and Mike Matthews for providing tea and biscuits and the Biggleswade District bakers for providing the cakes.

Paul Chandler receives the St Peters Cup on behalf of the Biggleswade band from judge Mike Purday.

The 2017 competition was hosted by the Bedford District at Colmworth. The judges were Chris and Ruth Stokes from Cosgrove. Kempston were winners, with Biggleswade 2nd, Bromham 3rd, Clifton 4th and Silsoe 5th. Dunstable were unable to raise a Sunday service band but entered a ‘scratch’ team that would have come 3rd if they had been included in the placings.

Ian Townsend (and daughter!) receives the St Peters Cup on behalf of the Kempston band from judge Chris Stokes

previous years