| RANG | TIME | FAULTS | ||
| 1st | Sussex County Association | 5th | 14′ | 45 |
| 2nd | Ancient Society of College Youths | 6th | 14’11” | 50 |
| 3rd | Essex Association | 4th | 13’30” | 54 |
| 4th | Surrey Association | 3rd | 13’42” | 79 |
| 5th | Derby Diocesan Association | 2nd | 13′ | 68 |
| 6th | Kent County Association | 1st | 13’34” | 80 |
| 7th | Suffolk Guild | 7th | 14’27” | 82 |
The trophy is of a model bell and fittings in a frame made by Bob Leavett (of Tollesbury in Essex) for Frank Lufkin. The Master introduced Frank who presented the trophy to the Master of the Sussex County Association, Peter Hurcombe, and gave a ringers’ tie or apron to each member of the winning team as follows:
Four associations (Essex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex) agreed to host the competition in rotation and this tradition has been followed over the past 41 years, supported by regular invitations from the Guildford Diocesan Guild and the Hertford County Association and occasionally from other associations.
Methods rung have ranged from Grandsire Caters to London No.3 Surprise Royal, with the most popular method being Yorkshire Surprise Royal.
The competition has been held in 33 different towers during its 41 year history (Bletchingley, Guildford (St Nicolas), Horsham, Leeds and Southover have been used more than once). Over 65 different judges have deliberated over the ringing and it is believed that only 8 have taken part more than once. The competition has been held every year since its inception, with the exception of 2001 when it was cancelled as it was due to be held the weekend following the September 11th attacks in the USA. The 25th competition was held at Hornchurch on 11 September 2004, in the Essex Association’s 125th Anniversary Year.
The Essex Association refurbished the trophy in 1997, the year that Frank Lufkin died, and provided brass plates listing all the winners, leaving space for winners up to 2029!
Frank Lufkin was a ringer for over 70 years, a Life Vice President and Past Master of the Essex Association and a representative on the Central Council for 50 years, being made a Life Member of the Council in 1995. He was a prolific peal ringer, ringing over 1000 peals, the first predominately Essex ringer to do so. He conducted over 700 peals, including a number of long lengths in the 1950s and early 60s, as well as attempts for the extent of Plain Bob Major.
The hosts
to be confirmed Sussex County Association
The date
12th September 2026
Venue
tbc
Draw time
10:00am
Method
Rutland Surprise Royal
| YEAR | VENUE | HOST | TOUCH | WINNER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tbc | Tbc Sussex C A | |||
| 2025 | Basingstoke | Winchester and Portsmouth DG | 339 Stedman Caters | Sussex C A | |
| 2024 | Epsom, St Martin of Tours | Guildford DG | 320 Spliced Plain and Little Bob Royal | Essex A | |
| 2023 | Walthamstow, St Mary | Essex A | Grandsire Caters | Surrey A | |
| 2022 | Bletchingley | Surrey A | Yorkshire S Royal | Essex A | |
| 2021 | Staplehurst | Kent C A | Cambridge S Royal | Kent CA | |
| 2020 | CANCELLED | ||||
| 2019 | Southgate | Middlesex CA & London DG | Stedman Caters | Kent C A | |
| 2018 | Horsham | Sussex CA | Yorkshire S Royal | Sussex CA | |
| 2017 | Hertford, All Saints | Hertford CA | Superlative No.2 S Royal | Sussex CA | |
| 2016 | Writtle | Essex A | 287 Grandsire Caters | Essex A | |
| 2015 | Guildford, St Nicolas | Guildford DG | Pudsey S Royal (Plain Course) | Essex A | |
| 2014 | Maidstone | Kent CA | 298 Stedman Caters | Kent CA | |
| 2013 | Beddington | Surrey A | 200 Lincolnshire Royal | Kent CA | |
| 2012 | Southover | Sussex CA | 315 Stedman Caters | Kent CA | |
| 2011 | St Albans (St Peter) | Hertford CA | London no. 3 Surprise Royal (plain course) | Guildford DG | |
| 2010 | Coggeshall | Essex A | Cambridge Surprise Royal (plain course) | Essex A | |
| 2009 | Hythe | Kent CA | 324 Erin Caters | Hertford CA | |
| 2008 | Lewes (Southover) | Sussex CA | Yorkshire Surprise Royal (plain course) | Guildford DG | |
| 2007 | Bletchingley, Surrey | Surrey Assn | 346 Stedman Caters | Sussex CA | |
| 2006 | Haslemere, Surrey | Guildford DG | Cambridge S Royal (Plain Course) | Surrey Assn | |
| 2005 | Isleworth, Middlesex | Middlesex CA | Lincolnshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Guildford DG | |
| 2004 | Hornchurch, Essex | Essex Assn | 317 Stedman Caters | Guildford DG | |
| 2003 | East Meon, Hants | Winchester & Portsmouth DG | Cambridge S Royal (Plain Course) | Guildford DG | |
| 2002 | Watford, Herts | Hertford CA | Pudsey S Royal (Plain Course) | Guildford DG | |
| 2001 | Saffron Walden, Essex | Essex Assn | CANCELLED | ||
| 2000 | Staplehurst, Kent | Kent CA | 288 Little Bob Royal | Sussex CA | |
| 1999 | Dorking, Surrey | Surrey Assn | 339 Stedman Caters | Hertford CA | |
| 1998 | Warnham, West Sussex | Sussex CA | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Sussex CA | |
| 1997 | Guildford Cathedral | Guildford DG | 305 Double Norwich Court Bob Caters | Guildford DG | |
| 1996 | Bocking, Essex | Essex Assn | Superlative no 2 S Royal (Plain Course) | Essex Assn | |
| 1995 | Leeds, Kent | Kent CA | Lincolnshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Hertford CA | |
| 1994 | Bletchingley, Surrey | Surrey Assn | Cambridge S Royal (Plain Course) | Hertford CA | |
| 1993 | Rickmansworth, Herts | Hertford CA | Stedman Caters | Guildford DG | |
| 1992 | Southover, Sussex | Sussex CA | Cambridge S Royal (Plain Course) | Essex Assn | |
| 1991 | Braintree, Essex | Essex Assn | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Surrey Assn | |
| 1990 | St Nicholas’ Guildford, Surrey | Guildford DG | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Hertford CA | |
| 1989 | Ashford, Kent | Kent CA | 291 Stedman Caters | Sussex CA | |
| 1988 | Reigate, Surrey | Surrey Assn | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Winchester & Portsmouth DG | |
| 1987 | West Ham, London | Essex Assn | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Surrey Assn | |
| 1986 | Horsham, West Sussex | Sussex CA | 300 Stedman Caters | Sussex CA | |
| 1985 | Quex Park, Birchington, Kent | Kent CA | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Kent CA | |
| 1984 | Southwark Cathedral, London | Surrey Assn | 310 Stedman Caters | Surrey Assn | |
| 1983 | Saffron Walden, Essex | Essex Assn | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Guildford DG | |
| 1982 | Horsham, West Sussex | Sussex CA | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Sussex CA | |
| 1981 | Leeds, Kent | Kent CA | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | SRCY | |
| 1980 | Croydon (St John), Surrey | Surrey Assn | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | ASCY | |
| 1979 | Prittlewell, Essex | Essex Assn | Yorkshire S Royal (Plain Course) | Sussex CA | |
342 Grandsire Caters (2023)
23456789
1,4,5 23456978
s1,2,4 32497568
s1,2,s3 73254968
2,3,s4 23456789
327 Stedman Caters (2019)
231456789
1s.2.7s.9s.16 235164978
4.5.11.12 234165798
1.4s.8s.11s 214365879
287 Grandsire Caters (2016)
123456789
2s, 4s 165324978
2s, 4s 142563798
1,2s, 3s (132547698)
298 Stedman Caters (2014)
231456789
1,s3,6,s8,14 314652978
s12,16 312456798
s1,3,4,6,8,9,10,11,12,13 312456789
315 Stedman Caters (2012)
231456789
1,s6,s8,15 314265978
4,6,7,s8,10,11,12,13 214365978
s12, 19 214365798
324 Erin Caters (2009)
123456789
1,s5,6 412356978
s5,6 341256978
1,5,6 214356897
1,s5,6 321456789
s5,6 432156789
5,6 123456789
346 Stedman Caters (2007)
231456789
s1,2,4,5,s11,18 345127698
1,2,4,5,s11,13,14,18 312546978
2,9,s12 312456789
317 Stedman Caters (2004)
231456789
1, 231456978
1,2,5,7,8,12,14 135792468
s1,s3,4,6,s8,9,s11 134265879
288 Little Bob Royal (2000)
23456
W H 45236
W SH 32456
Repeated
339 Stedman Caters (1999)
231456789
1,3,s4,6,s8,9,10,12,16,17,18,19 412365978
5,16 214365978
2,9s 214365879
305 Double Norwich Caters (1997)
123456789
1,2,4,5 135264978
1,3s,4,5,6s 132547698
ESSEX TROPHY STRIKING COMPETITION RULES
1. The competition shall be known as the Essex Trophy and was first competed for in 1979 as part of the Essex Association of Change Ringers’ Centenary celebrations.
2. Entry shall be by invitation only. The Essex Association will issue the invitations to territorial associations in the south-east of England, approximately six months before the competition is due to be held. The invitation will include details of the host association, the tower, method and time of the draw.
3. The Essex Association will ensure that the arrangements for the competition are sent to invited associations at least 2 months in advance of the competition; this will include the composition for the test piece if applicable.
4. 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, which associations shall be invited to participate, and any changes to these rules. The committee will normally meet during the competition, after the ringing completes. 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.
5. No person may ring for more than one team. The team for each territorial association shall consist of full resident members of that association.
6. Each team will be allocated a 30-minute slot. The changes of the test piece must be commenced no earlier than 10 minutes after the start of each team’s slot, and no later than 15 minutes after the start of the slot. Subject to these limitations no restriction is placed on the rounds or any changes rung before the test piece. Bands are asked to minimise the rounds rung at the completion of the test piece. Teams must complete their test piece within the allocated slot.
7. When the team is ready, the judges shall be alerted by the ringing of two whole pulls on the treble and second.
8. 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 steward shall remain in the ringing chamber during the practice and shall leave the ringing chamber before the start of the test piece.
9. The whole of the test piece shall be judged, but not the rounds at the beginning and end.
10. If a team should fire out they may retire or start again, in which case the faults already incurred shall be added to those subsequently incurred.
11. The decision of the judges on all matters pertaining to the performance shall be final.
12. The winners of the competition shall be awarded the Essex Trophy, which they shall hold for one year. The Trophy remains the property of the Essex Association.
Essex Trophy Rules revised 14th September 2019
You can also download these rules here.
