Rules 2008 - 2015
The Ridgman Trophy Ten Bell Striking Competition Rules
Revised Rules 2008 - 2015
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.
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.
The Ely Diocesan Association and the Cambridge University Guild shall have the right to enter one team each. Other associations shall also 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.
Each association taking part shall be entitled to nominate one representative to a committee, which shall decide the date, the host association for the following year, and which associations shall be invited to participate. Other detailed arrangements for the competition shall be delegated to the host association, which shall decide the venue, method for the test piece, and the identity of the judges with the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers and Cambridge University Guild of Change Ringers
The team for each territorial association shall consist of full resident members of that association. The C.U.G.C.R. may call upon non-resident members for up to four of its team.
No person may ring for more than one team.
All teams shall ring the same test piece. Teams shall be notified of the test piece at least 4 weeks in advance.
The whole of the test piece shall be judged, but not the rounds at the beginning and end.
The order of ringing shall be decided by the drawing of 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 by the host association.
Each team shall be allocated a 30 minute time slot, starting on the hour or half hour. The changes of the test piece must be commenced by 15 or 45 minutes past the hour as applicable. The test piece may not be started before 10 or 40 minutes past the hour, and subject to this limitation no restriction is placed on the rounds before the test piece. Bands are asked to minimise the rounds rung at the completion of the test piece.
The host association shall provide stewards to accompany each competing team in the ringing chamber to assist in the timing of the practice, rounds and test piece.
The commencement of the test piece shall be signalled by two whole pulls on the treble.
Infringement of any of the above rules will result in disqualification of the offending team. There shall be two judges whose decision in all matters shall be final.