The Essex Association of Change Ringers   President: The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Chelmsford

Striking Competition Rules

These Striking Competition Rules were last amended at the Management Committee meeting in February 2018, and before that at the 2016 AGM. Prior to 2016 the Competition was held on the first Saturday in July.

1	The Association Annual Striking Competition shall comprise a Six Bell Final and an Eight Bell Competition which shall normally be held on the second Saturday of July.
2	The Competition shall be hosted by a district, chosen each year in rotation. The District shall be responsible for organising a venue for each of the Six Bell and Eight Bell competitions, appointing persons to act as M.C., and making all local arrangements including refreshments.
3	OFFICIALS — The Association Secretary shall arrange the draw for the order of ringing at the appointed time. To overcome any attendance difficulties teams may with the consent of the Association Master and the other teams re-arrange the order in which they shall ring. The Association Master shall appoint judges for each of the Six Bell and Eight Bell competitions. There shall be at least two judges for each competition who shall preferably not be resident within the Association’s area. An M.C. shall supervise the ringing. They shall be the only person in the Ringing Room with each competing team and will report to the judges as to method(s) rung and the truth of the ringing at the conclusion of the competition. The Judges shall recognise each team by a number only. They will announce the result of the competition after each event and will be expected to give a report on each team's performance.
4	A TROPHY will be presented to the winning team after the Judges have given their decision. The holders shall be responsible for its safe-keeping whilst it is in their possession and shall ensure that it is returned to their District Master at least 14 days before the date on which the next Association Competition is to take place.
5	If necessary, ruling concerning any matter not covered by these rules shall be given by the District Master or their nominee in the case of a District Heat or by the Master or their nominee at the Final and any such decision shall be final. Rules 7.2, 7.3 & 7.5 below shall also apply to the District Heats, other requirements are at the discretion of the District Master.
6	These rules may be amended by the Management Committee.
7	SIX BELL COMPETITION
7.1	There shall be up to two teams from each District in the Six Bell Final. Each District must arrange and hold their Heat before the end of June and the winners and runners-up (or next available team) of each District Heat shall be entitled to compete in the Final. In the event of any District having fewer than three teams prepared to compete in the District Heat then that District may dispense with the District Heat and if applicable those teams who were prepared to compete shall be deemed to have qualified for the Final.
7.2	THE COMPETITION PIECE shall be 240 changes of either Minor or Doubles with tenor covering. Five bell towers may ring Doubles without a covering bell.
7.3	Practice rounds or changes of two minutes will be allowed before each team rings the competition piece. Commencement of the competition piece shall be indicated by an agreed signal.
7.4	Any team failing to complete the competition piece at the first attempt (unless due to a mechanical breakdown, e.g. broken rope) shall retire.
7.5	TEAMS — All towers within the Association’s boundaries may compete in their District Heats.
	a) A tower may enter any number of teams composed of ringers listed as being members of that tower in the current report or any who may have been elected since the last report was published. Up to three ringers listed as Unattached in the District may ring for a tower provided that they regularly ring at that tower.
	b) A tower finding difficulties to form a team on the competition day, may make their own arrangements to have up to two substitutes from neighbouring towers.
	c) A tower with insufficient members to form a team may join with a neighbouring tower in the same situation to form a joint team, entering the competition in the joint name of both towers. Ringers at towers within a parish group, or who regularly ring in a parish group, may join together and enter a team in the name of the parish group. A parish group may cross district boundaries but may only enter one team in one District Heat unless there are sufficient ringers to form two bands.
	d) No ringer shall compete in more than one team in either the District Heats or the Association Final. To overcome any attendance difficulties teams may with the consent of the District or Association Master and the other teams re-arrange the order in which they shall ring.
8	EIGHT BELL COMPETITION
8.1	THE COMPETITION PIECE shall be determined each year by the Master who shall decide whether a set touch is to be used or whether the touch is to be left to the discretion of each team.
	a) If a set touch is to be used, the details will be advised at the Annual General Meeting.
	b) If no set touch is defined then each team shall ring at least 250 changes of Major or Triples with tenor covering.
8.2	Practice rounds or changes of three minutes will be allowed before each team rings the competition piece. Commencement of the competition piece shall be indicated by an agreed signal.
8.3	Any team failing to complete the competition piece at the first attempt (unless due to a mechanical breakdown, e.g. broken rope) shall retire.
8.4	TEAMS — Each District may enter one team.
	a) District teams shall be composed of ringers listed as being Ringing Members of that District in the current report or any who may have been elected since the last report was published
	b) No ringer shall compete in more than one team.

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