SEECON 2026: New Alresford, Hampshire Sat 18th April
Glorious weather the whole day! The Hampshire countryside basked in sunshine and blossom.
An early start for the bleary-eyed Kent Team, arriving in Basingstoke just before 08:30 for breakfast which Orange Oscar certainly enjoyed!
This was followed by ringing on the very pleasant bells at All Saints Basingstoke where we were able to greet young ringers from other teams. Off we then scooted to ring at Cheriton and Old Alresford where we dashed up to the church to request a ring just as the bells were lowered… but Roger kindly allowed us to ring the bells back up and have a quick practice of our test piece.
Finding a parking place in New Alresford took a few minutes: for some reason it was very busy that Saturday…. And not just with transport for 9 teams of 70- 80 youngsters and their supporters…. We just didn’t have time to go and investigate the Watercress Railway as we were too busy enjoying the sunshine, stocking up on some lunch, testing out the flowerpot mini-ring inside the church and the mini-ring in the churchyard, being interviewed on camera (Lexie and Lottie) for a new ringing centre in Winchester …and ringing our test piece! … oh, yes… and we were treated to a few cartwheel demonstrations on the grass (not the ringing kind!)
The less said about the ringing during our practice session the better….(!!!!) BUT……. Our youngsters rang a very creditable 120 of P B Doubles…on bells that were a little heavier and trickier than we expected. In the event we were placed 5th with 70%:
1st Berks & Bucks, 6 bell method, 85%
2nd W & P, 8 bell method, 80%
3rd Essex, 6 bell method, 75%
4th Herts, 6 bell call changes, 74%
5th Kent, 6 bell method, 70%
6th W& P, 6 bell method, 68%
7th Essex, 6 bell call changes, 65%
=8th Sussex, 8 bell call changes, 55%
=8th Berks & Bucks, 6 bell call changes, 55%
The highlight of the day followed the contest: Ringing on the lovely bells at Winchester Cathedral with Rounds and Call Changes on 14 bells as well as Plain Hunt x11 and Grandsire Cinques…. Great opportunities for all young ringers: a big thank you to those who hosted, ran the ringing and made all the arrangements.
Our final tower was another beautiful country church at Easton before making our way northbound on the A31 to Farnham for a very delicious pizza supper which set us up for the journey back to Kent.
Quotes of the day:
⦁ I liked the mini-rings
⦁ I’m already fed up with L….. 🤣
⦁ No…. I can’t fly 😭(Jen had to pull into a “lucky layby” to compose herself after this one!!)
⦁ Pretty solid 70%
⦁ Was that on the Risk Assessment (several times…… and cartwheels definitely weren’t!!!!)
⦁ Cloud formation-watching: Dancing hippos, bearded dragons with goatees, cows, Dublin???
⦁ O’s shaving skills are better than that “wispy-bearded boy at…”