Hook Norton’s Hat-Trick!

Two years ago, the inaugural ODG Raising and Lowering Competition was held at Wigginton. As it was one of our benefice towers, the Hook Norton band felt we really ought to enter. Knowing the bells well we hoped we wouldn’t disgrace ourselves — and to our delight, we won! Granted, we did have home advantage and only two other bands entered, but a win’s a win.

Last year, we decided to enter again to prove it wasn’t a fluke. No home advantage this time — yet we won again! Still only a couple of other bands, but we were definitely more pleased with ourselves than the first time.

By this year, an element of pressure (and expectation) was beginning to build. So, with a mix of excitement and trepidation, we set out for Garsington on the first Saturday in October to defend the beautiful carved wooden trophy. The bells there were harder to ring than we expected, and we weren’t entirely satisfied with our performance — but it turned out everyone else found them tricky too. With four other bands competing this time, we were thrilled to win again! For the first time, we felt genuinely satisfied that we could not only win on unfamiliar bells, but also hold our own against some very good competition. Of course, that means the pressure is really on for 2026…

The Raising and Lowering Competition runs alongside the Guild Six-Bell Striking Competition — some might say the more prestigious of the two! By default (though we’d love another branch tower to challenge us next year!), Hook Norton have represented the Chipping Norton Branch for the past three years. Two years ago, at Shipton-under-Wychwood, we didn’t do particularly well. Last year, with expectations low, we surprised ourselves by finishing a very satisfying third — beaten only by High Wycombe and Reading Branch.

This year, our public aim was simply not to come last — though secretly, we hoped to match our 2024 result. With tight timings between Garsington and Cuddesdon, we just made it to our slot and enjoyed hearing the band before us as we arrived. The Cuddesdon bells were a joy to ring — beautifully toned and easy to handle, if a touch loud in the chamber. Dan conducted us flawlessly, and we completed our 240 of Plain Bob feeling we’d done ourselves justice: not a winning performance, but a fair reflection of what we can achieve.

The village hall was a short (and rather blowy) walk from the church, but the promise of tea and cakes was irresistible. While we didn’t hear much of the remaining ringing, the cakes were excellent and the company even better — a lovely chance to catch up with old friends from around the Guild.

Our main focus, if we’re honest, was on the Raising and Lowering results — anything else would be a bonus. So we were genuinely shocked and delighted to come second in the Striking Competition, just half a fault behind Reading Minster! To come so close to such a strong band was well beyond our expectations.

But then we couldn’t help thinking… half a fault… what if…?