Welcome to the website for the Ridgman Trophy Ten Bell Striking Competition
The Ridgman Trophy is awarded to the winner of a striking competition on ten bells, held annually in May or June. The territorial associations in East Anglia (including the Lincoln Guild) often enter teams, and others are welcome as space permits. Badges of participating Guilds and Associations are shown below; click a badge to go to the website for the organisation.
2025 Ridgman 10 bell striking competition
For the 2025 competition has accepted the invitation of the Lincoln Diocesan Guild to hold the contest at Boston, St Botolph (aka Boston Stump). Deborah and Penny Thorley have kindly agreed to judge the test piece, which is a half course of Yorkshire Surprise Royal.
The contest rules are available elsewhere on this website.
If it makes a difference to any of the bands, we're willing (as last year) for up to three ringers to be borrowed from other teams, rather than the two stated in the rules.
The contest draw will be made at Great St Mary's, Cambridge on Sunday 1st June at 3.45pm. If you would like to witness the draw, you are welcome to attend in person (and join Evensong ringing afterwards!), or via Zoom. As in previous years, we will permit teams to request an 'early' [first half] or a 'late' [second half] draw.
Practice slots
There will be an open practice on Saturday 10th May at 1pm, with all bands considering entering the contest warmly invited to attend. There are at least 10 ringers present, and the tower is provisionally available until 3pm, so there should be a chance for some good ringing.
Arrangements on the day
Everyone gets to enjoy the fine tower of Boston Stump, with its panoply of bells (26 in total) - see the RW Article Issue 5896, 26th April 2024
There are 198 steps to the ringing chamber, although bands will be able to climb most of the way up the tower during the preceding test piece.
Light refreshments will be provided in the Blenkin Memorial Hall, opposite the north door of the church
The church refectory is open between 10am and 1.30pm, serving a variety of soups, toasties and sandwiches, or there are a number of other local pubs and restaurants
The judges will use a sound feed, and are likely to be located in the church vestry
There will be a short committee meeting between the end of ringing and the results
The presentation will be in the chancel
About Bell Ringing
For more information about ringing church bells and learning to ring: the website of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has information about bell ringing and learning to ring; Discover Bell Ringing is a website which includes country-wide contacts with local Associations and Guilds.
2024 Ridgman 10 bell striking competition
The 2024 competition was held on Saturday 8 June at at St Andrew Biggleswade hosted by the Bedford Association. The Ridgman trophy is a 10 bell striking contest for associations that border the Ely DA. The judges were Graham and Webdy Bloom.
The results were as follows:
1st Bedford (82%)
2nd Suffolk (78%)
3rd Essex (76%)
4th Lincoln (74%)
5th CUG (72%)
6th Ely (67%)
Contact Us
For more information about the Ridgman Trophy, contact Dave Richards (dadeece_at_gmail.com. For queries, comments or suggestions on this website, contact webmaster_at_elyda.org.uk.
Guilds and Associations
