Current Rules, as amended for 2023 onwards

1. 1. The Competition shall be known as the Ridgman Trophy in honour of William J. Ridgman, past president of the C.U.G.C.R and past General Secretary of the Ely D.A.

   2. The Trophy shall be awarded to the winners of a striking competition on 10 bells, to be held annually on a date in May or June, as agreed under Rule 4.

   3. Territorial associations bordering the Diocese of Ely (including the Ely Diocesan Association) and the Cambridge University Guild shall have the right to enter one team each. Other associations may be invited to enter one team each as under rule 4. Any association taking part in a given year shall have the right of entry for one team the following year.

   4. Each association taking part shall nominate one representative to a committee which shall decide the date and host association for the following year, which associations shall be invited to participate, and the identity of the judges.

   5. There shall be at least two judges whose decisions concerning ringing shall be final.

   6. The team for each territorial association shall consist of full resident members of that association: the CUG may call upon non-resident members for up to four of its team. No person may ring for more than one team other than as a “borrowed” ringer (rule 7).

   7. “Borrowing” is intended to help an association which has prepared in good faith but for whatever reason is short of a full team. Teams may "borrow" up to two ringers either in advance or on the day, with the trophy awarded to the leading team who have not borrowed. To avoid giving unfair advantage, preference should be for ringers who have already rung their own test piece, otherwise a borrowed ringer should never be given the bell which they will later ring for their own team. Borrowing should be reported to the steward, preferably at the time of signing the ringing book, but certainly before the test piece starts.

   8. All teams shall ring the same test piece. Teams shall be notified of the test piece at least 4 weeks in advance.

   9. The order of ringing shall be decided by drawing lots. This may be done up to 3 weeks prior to the competition. Representatives of each team shall be entitled to witness the draw, the arrangements for which shall be advised in good time.

   10. The whole of the test piece shall be judged, but not the rounds at the beginning and end.

   11. Each team will be allocated a 30 minute slot, starting on the hour or half hour.

   12. The changes of the test piece must be commenced by 15 or 45 minutes past the hour as applicable, but not before 10 or 40 minutes past the hour. Subject to this limitation no restriction is placed on the practice ringing before the test piece. Teams are asked to minimise rounds rung at the completion of the test piece.

   13. Commencement of the test piece shall be signalled by two whole pulls on the treble.

   14. The committee shall provide a steward to accompany each competing team in the ringing chamber to assist in the timing of the practice, rounds and test piece.

   15. Infringement of any of the above rules will result in disqualification.