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

The Essex Young Eagles gave a very commendable performance in the National Youth Contest at Oxford. With three enforced changes due to the age restriction and a new conductor it was a year of re-grouping and the test ringing on the day was better than in any of their practices! Hopefully we can build on this next year.

Nineteen teams from all over the country took part including, for the first time, a team from Scotland with three teams ringing methods and sixteen teams ringing call changes. The performances were graded C-, C, B, and A. 3 teams were graded C-. Ringing call changes, Essex Young Eagles were graded C along with 3 others. 6 teams were awarded B and 3 grade A. The overall winners were Bedfordshire, for the third year running. They received the Whitechapel Trophy. Full results are here .

Through the course of the day the EYE party in Oxford numbered around 23 and full advantage was taken of the opportunity to ring at 6 towers which were open for general ringing which included the 31cwt 12 at Christ Church. The organisers and helpers (Oxford itself provided over 60 helpers) did an absolutely fantastic job.

The chief judge, David Pipe, described the bells at St Thomas' Church, Oxford, as "easy to ring, but hard to ring well". The judges comments on the EYE test piece were: "A slow piece with some very nice rows". Peal speed 3h12 (one of the slower ones).

Congratulations to Ellanor, Mollie (Conductor), Samuel, Thomas, Francesca, Joe, Rachel, Daniel and Nicholas (Reserve). Essex towers represented were Danbury, North Ockendon, Sandon, Springfield, Willingale and Writtle. Thank you to the parents and other supporters who came to cheer us on and to our team coach Christina Brewster and row counter Andrew Brewster.

Finally thank you to all of you in the Essex Association who have supported us this year - especially those towers who have made their bells available to the Youth team for practices: Writtle, Little Baddow, Stanford le Hope, Fobbing and Basildon. Next year's contest will be held in London on 2nd July.

Christina Brewster
Youth Coordinator
(Tuesday 14 July 2015)