Striking Competitions
Contents
- Branch Trophies
- Rules for the Cheltenham Branch Striking Competitions
- Past Winners
- Association Trophies
- Potluck competition
Branch Competitions
Banner & Cleeve Trophy History
The Banner Trophy was donated by Mr George Banner, once Tower Captain at Alderton, and he can be found on an old peal board there. The G&B were bequested some money on his death, which was used to pay for one of the two new trebles at Gloucester Cathedral and the trophy shown here. The Trophy is awarded to the best team in the Branch 6-bell competition, who then goes forward to represent the Branch in the Association Croome Trophy.
The Cleeve Trophy, which was introduced in 2002, was donated by Janet Covey-Crump (née Cleeve) as an award for the best novice band. 'Novice' is presently defined as 'no more than two G&B proficiency certificates within the band'.
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Cheltenham Branch Striking Competitions Rules
Banner Trophy
- Performance: 120 changes of Doubles, Minor or 120 rows of Call Changes.
- Preparation Time: Each band has 5 minutes to adjust ropes and practice as they wish.
- Starting Signal: Two whole pulls on the Treble.
- Marking: Begins from the first blow of Doubles, Minor, the first call change or after one minute of rounds. Closing rounds are marked in full.
- Call Changes: A band ringing Call Changes may have someone present to count the number of rows and advise when 120 have been rung. There should at least 10 different changes, including one of Queens, Kings or Tittums.
- Band Eligibility: Towers may enter more than one band of ringers with close associations with the tower (e.g. regular attendance on Sundays and/or practice nights).
- Croome Trophy Participation: The band that wins the Banner Trophy must ensure that they meet the G & B Association rules when competing for the Croome Trophy. The rules may differ from the Banner Trophy’s.
Cleeve Trophy
- Band Eligibility: Bands with no more than three ringers who hold G & B proficiency certificates, or who meet the proficiency certificate criteria (see the G & B Annual Report for details), may participate. All teams competing for the Cleeve Trophy also compete for the Banner Trophy.
- Performance: As per the Banner Trophy.
- Multiple Entries: You may reuse ringers to form two or more bands to compete for the Cleeve Trophy.
Running the Competition
- The Branch Ringing Master or a nominated substitute shall be in charge of the competition.
- The Ringing Master shall invite an impartial ringer or ringers, normally from another branch, to judge the competition. Judging will be entirely on the standard of striking.
- A steward shall: point out which bell is the treble; warn when 5 minutes practice is nearly up; advise as required on the number of call-change rows being rung.
- The Ringing Master and Steward may participate in the competition
If in any doubt or feel that an exception should be made for your tower, please ask the branch committee for advice. The committee wants to encourage as many teams as possible to take part.
Rules updated November 2025
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Past Competition Winners
| Year | Banner Trophy | Cleeve Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | St Mark's | Charlton Kings B team |
| 2024 | St Mark's | No team eligible |
| 2023 | St Mark's ** | Alderton/Dumbleton |
| 2022 | St Mark's | No team eligible |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
| 2019 | Stanway | Cheltenham Minster and Cheltenham, St. Mark's |
| 2018 | Cheltenham Minster | Prestbury |
| 2017 | Leckhampton | Childswickham |
| 2016 | Charlton Kings | No team eligible |
| 2015 | Cheltenham Parish | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2014 | Charlton Kings | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2013 | Charlton Kings | No eligible team completed the test piece. |
| 2012 | Charlton Kings | No team eligible |
| 2011 | Charlton Kings | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2010 | Leckhampton | Alderton |
| 2009 | Charlton Kings ** | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2008 | Cheltenham, St. Mark's | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2007 | Leckhampton | Bishops Cleeve & Woolstone Combined |
| 2006 | Badgeworth | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2005 | Charlton Kings ** | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2004 | Charlton Kings ** | Charlton Kings |
| 2003 | Charlton Kings | Cheltenham, Warden Hill |
| 2002 | Badgeworth | (1st year - no entries) |
| 2001 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 2000 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1999 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1998 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1997 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1996 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1995 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1994 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1993 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1992 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1991 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1990 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1989 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1988 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1987 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1986 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1985 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1984 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1983 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1982 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1981 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1980 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1979 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1978 | Charlton Kings | |
| 1977 | Leckhampton | |
| 1976 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1975 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1974 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1973 | Cheltenham Parish | |
| 1972 | Leckhampton | |
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Association Trophies
For a complete set of rules for the Association competitions please see the Association Annual report.
Penn Trophy
Association 8-bell striking competition. Each branch shall select a representative band containing not more than five ringers from any one tower.
Full list of Penn Trophy results
Cheltenham Branch Winners!
| Year | Venue |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Virtually on RingingRoom |
| 2006 | Wanborough, Swindon |
| 1996 | St. Mary de Crypt, Gloucester |
| 1996 | |
| 168 Grandsire Triples | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Conrad Warford |
| 2 | Stuart Tomlinson |
| 3 | Isabel Hitchings |
| 4 | Hilda Ridley |
| 5 | Terry Jones |
| 6 | Mark Davies (C) |
| 7 | John Ridley |
| 8 | Ray Talbot |
| 8 April 2006 | |
| 168 Stedman Triples | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hilda Ridley |
| 2 | Conrad Warford |
| 3 | Mark Davies |
| 4 | Stuart Tomlinson |
| 5 | Simon Ridley |
| 6 | Richard Knight |
| 7 | Philip Abbey (C) |
| 8 | John Ridley |
Conrad Warford, Stuart Tomlinson, Philip Abbey, John Ridley, Richard Knight, Hilda Ridley, Simon Ridley & Mark Davies.
Penn Trophy Winners, 8 April 2006
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Croome Trophy
Each branch holds a local competition to select a tower to represent it in the Association 6-bell competition. At least five of the band must be regular Sunday service ringers of the tower they represent. The sixth must have a genuine and regular association with the tower.
Full list of Croome Trophy results
Cheltenham Branch Winners!
| Year | Winners and Venue |
|---|---|
| 2023 | St Mark at Frenchay |
| 2022 | St Mark at Cromhall |
| 2010 | Charlton Kings at Coaley, Wotton-under-Edge |
| 2006 | Charlton Kings at Hannington, Swindon |
| 2005 | Charlton Kings at Hatherop, Cirencester |
| 9 April 2005 | |
| 240 Grandsire Doubles | |
|---|---|
| 1 | David Greenaway |
| 2 | Hilda Ridley |
| 3 | Richard Knight |
| 4 | Quentin Jackson |
| 5 | John Ridley (C) |
| 6 | Simon Ridley |
| 8 April 2006 | |
| 240 Grandsire Doubles | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Alan Smith |
| 2 | Hilda Ridley |
| 3 | Richard Knight |
| 4 | Quentin Jackson |
| 5 | John Ridley (C) |
| 6 | Simon Ridley |
| 17 April 2010 | |
| 240 Grandsire Doubles | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Hajok |
| 2 | Hilda Ridley |
| 3 | Ray Talbot |
| 4 | Quentin Jackson |
| 5 | John Ridley (C) |
| 6 | Simon Ridley |
2nd row: Simon Ridley, Quentin Jackson, Richard Knight
1st row: Hilda Ridley, John Ridley (C), David Greenaway
Croome Trophy Winners, 9 April 2005
This is the first time the Cheltenham Branch has won the Croome Trophy.
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Nibley Trophy
The Young Person's Striking Competition was started in 2004.
Full list of Nibley Trophy results
Cheltenham Branch Winners!
| Year | Venue |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Langley Burrell |
| 21 May 2005 |
| Rounds and call changes |
|---|
| (in no particular order) |
| Emma Murphy or Megan Hester? |
| Max Drinkwater |
| Jeremy Hitchings |
| Nathaniel Hitchings |
| Rachel Chadwick |
| Matthew Greenaway (Captain) |
| If anyone has fuller details of the band composition and piece, please email the website maintainer. |
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Branch Achievment of the Year Awarded
The Achievement of the Year competition seeks to recognise achievement by a group during the year. It can be a person, a tower, a group of towers or indeed a branch.
Cheltenham Winners!
| Year | Awards |
|---|---|
| 2024 - The theme was 'Anything that has happened in your branch which is worthy of recognition throughout the Association' | Cheltenham Branch (organisation of branch training) Overall Winner (Bliss Trophy) |
Best Kept Tower
Established to encourage and improve belfry maintenance. Rules and entry form for 2006. This competition is now suspended by resolution of the AGM 2010.
Cheltenham Winners!
| Year | Awards |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Cheltenham, St. Mark's - Overall Winner (Bliss Trophy, winner of the 'Eight and Over' category) |
| 2009 | Cheltenham, Warden Hill - Overall Winner (Bliss Trophy) |
| 2008 | Cheltenham, Warden Hill - Highly Commended Cheltenham, St. Mark's - Highly Commended. Awarded the Ringing Master's Baldrick (right) due to the amount of effort put in by the local band this past year towards achieving what they wanted from the restoration. |
| 2006 | Cheltenham, St. Mark's - Highly Commended |
| 2005 | Cheltenham, Warden Hill - Highly Commended Cheltenham, St. Mark's - Highly Commended. Award for improvement in the face of severe adversity! |
The Bliss Trophy.
The Chairman's Baldrick.
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