Essex Trophy competition Results

Essex Trophy 2024

The Essex Trophy was conceived and launched by Frank Lufkin, a distinguished member and past master of the Association, in 1979. Over the years it has evolved into a collaborative and friendly 10 bell striking competition between territorial associations from the South East of England.

This year the competition was held in Epsom, at St Martin of Tours, hosted by the Guildford Diocesan Guild. The hosts were generous with their hospitality - tea/coffee and cakes were running all day, as were bacon rolls on arrival and the church was helpfully situated across the road from the pub, which had an unexpected spike in its sales that day.

The band from Essex comprised Hazel Steed, Vicki Chapman, Gill Sparling, Theo Johnson, John Steed, Sarah Robbins, Christina Brewster, David Sparling, Steve Nash and Colin Chapman (C). In the context of some excellent ringing of the test piece of Spliced Plain and Little Bob Royal, Essex did what they did best – rang purposefully, didn’t make any method mistakes, enjoyed themselves and won!

In recent years I’ve worked hard to include new ringers into striking competition bands, particularly from the younger end of our membership. I think that we probably had the youngest ringer in the competition ringing with us, and the future of good 10 bell striking in Essex is safe with excellent ringers like Sarah and Theo to lead the way. And some of the older ones weren’t too bad either.

Next year the competition is hosted by the Winchester and Portsmouth Diocesan Guild, and the word on the street is that it might be on the Isle of Wight! Watch this space…

The band were: