1. The competition will be open to any band from each tower in the Rochester District.

2. The ringers taking part shall be members of The Kent County Association of Change Ringers and regular Sunday service ringers at the tower they represent.

3. The test piece shall be 240 changes of Doubles or Minor in any method.

4. Up to 2 minutes of trial ringing shall be allowed and the bells shall then be set before the test piece is rung.

5. A maximum of 20 whole pulls of rounds may be rung in the competitive ringing before going into changes, and these rounds will not be judged. Any excess rounds at the start, the 240 and the rounds at the end will be judged.

6. If the test piece fires out, the band may decide to withdraw, but they may if they wish start again.  In that event, the faults incurred in the first attempt will be added to any which occur in the second attempt.

7. Two competent ringers not members at Rochester District towers shall be appointed as judges, and their decision shall be final.

8. Any question of doubt concerning the competition shall be settled by the Chairman of the Association or his appointed deputy.

9. The winning band will go on to represent the Rochester District at the County 6-Bell Striking Competition

1. The competition will be held annually for regular Sunday service bands ‑ the date and venue to be decided at the preceding ADM.

2. The winners of the competition will receive the trophy donated by Mrs A Fether of Shorne, and all teams entering will receive a certificate with their final placing.

3. Each tower represented shall be ‘in union' with the Association.

4. Each band shall comprise of at least one non-peal ringer [rule as amended in 2006].

5. A tower shall be allowed to enter any number of bands.

6. Any tower wishing to enter, finding itself short of up to three ringers may either combine with another band or notify the District Secretary who will endeavour to supply these ringers.

7. A person may only ring for one team.

8. A team, if they so wish may use a non-ringing conductor.

9. The conductor shall call the changes from memory - no visual aids will be allowed.

10. Each team must ring call‑changes, no method will be permitted.

11. Call changes may be preceded by up to 15 whole pulls of rounds, which will not be judged; thereafter call changes are to be made at least every fifth hand stroke with the change made at the following hand stroke.

12. Each team will be allowed one minute of practice ringing (this will not be judged) and the bells will be stood at the end of this ringing.

13. Each team will be judged on 150 rows of call changes - a hand stroke and backstroke counting as two rows.  A steward remaining in the tower shall count the rows and, if requested by the conductor, inform him when the required number has been reached.  The conductor should then call 'stand' as soon as possible.  The opening rounds and changes after 150 rows will not be judged.

14. All ringing is to be carried out with open hand stroke leads.

15. The ringing will be judged by two people, whose decision is final.

16. The entry forms detailing the names of ringers for each team and any requests for extra ringers must be received by the District Secretary at least 14 clear days before the date of the competition.

17. Any dispute or difficulty should be referred to the Committee present, whose decision is final.

1. The competition will be open to one band from one tower in each district.

2. The tower to represent a district shall normally be that winning their district striking competition.  If no district striking competition is held, or if the winning tower is not able to compete in the County Competition, the district may nominate a tower to represent it.

3. The ringers taking part shall be members of The Kent County Association of Change Ringers and regular Sunday service ringers at the tower they represent.

4. The test piece shall be 240 changes of Doubles or Minor in any method.

5. Up to 2 minutes of trial ringing shall be allowed and the bells shall then be set before the test piece is rung.

6. A maximum of 20 whole pulls of rounds may be rung in the competitive ringing before going into changes, and these rounds will not be judged. Any excess rounds at the start, the 240 and the rounds at the end will be judged.

7. If the test piece fires out, the band may decide to withdraw, but they may if they wish start again.  In that event, the faults incurred in the first attempt will be added to any which occur in the second attempt.

8. Two competent ringers, preferably not resident in Kent, shall be appointed as judges, and their decision shall be final.

9. Any question of doubt concerning the competition shall be settled by the Chairman of the Association or his appointed deputy.

COUNTY 8‑BELL STRIKING COMPETITION

1. The competition will be open to one band from each district.
2. The ringers taking part shall be Practising Members of The Kent County Association of Change Ringers.
3. The test piece shall be determined each year by the General Committee at the November committee meeting preceding the competition.
4. Up to two minutes of trial ringing shall be allowed and the bells shall then be set before the test piece is rung.
5. A maximum of 20 whole pulls of rounds may be ring in the competitive ringing before going into changes, and these rounds will not be judged.
6. There shall be two judges (competent ringers who are not Practising Members of the Association) whose decision in case of doubt will be final.

All rules correct as of January 2007.  Click here to print.