The National Twelve-Bell Striking Contest is the principal change ringing striking competition in the United Kingdom. It has been held annually since 1975, and is open to any tower where 12-bell ringing is practised regularly. The winners of the competition are awarded the Taylor Trophy.
In recent years the competition has become more regimented; it is now common practice that eliminators are held in good time before each year's final, and that all teams must qualify in the eliminators to compete in the final (with the occasional exception of teams representing host towers). The eliminators are usually held in March, all on the same day, and the final is usually held on the fourth Saturday in June.
The 2006 competition was featured in the Marcus Brigstocke BBC television programme Trophy People.
Past Results 2026 competition The final of the 2026 contest was held at York Minster and was won by York.
2025 competition The final of the 2025 contest was held at St Mary, Redcliffe and was won by Bristol.
2024 competition The final of the 2024 contest was held at St John the Baptist, Chilcompton and was won by SRCY.
2023 competition The final of the 2023 contest was held at Sheffield Cathedral and was won by Birmingham.
2022 competition The final of the 2022 contest was held at Guildford Cathedral and was won by Birmingham.
2020/21 competition There was no contest in 2020 and 2021.
2019 competition The final of the 2019 contest was held at Exeter Cathedral and was won by Exeter.
2018 competition The final of the 2018 contest was held at Great St Mary, Cambridge and was won by Birmingham.
2017 competition The final of the 2017 contest was held at Southwark Cathedral and was won by Birmingham.
2016 competition The final of the 2016 contest was held at Ss Peter & Paul, Aston and was won by Birmingham.
2015 competition The final of the 2015 contest was held at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich on 27 June 2015. The results of the final are listed below: Position Team Score Peal speed Ringing order 1st ASCY 91% 3h39 2nd 2nd Birmingham 89% 3h32 9th 3rd Bristol 84% 3h34 4th 4th Exeter 82% 3h31 7th 5th SRCY 77% 3h41 3rd 6th Melbourne 75% 3h37 6th 7th Cambridge 73% 3h34 10th 8th Norwich 72% 3h35 8th 9th Leeds 54% 3h41 1st 10th Towcester 49% 3h45 5th
2014 competition The final of the 2014 contest was held at Christ Church, Oxford and was won by Birmingham.
2013 competition
The final of the 2013 National Twelve-Bell Striking Contest was held at Ripon Cathedral, North Yorkshire on Saturday 22 June. The results of the final are listed below: Position Team Score Peal speed Ringing order 1st Birmingham 91% 3h27 5th 2nd Cambridge 84% 3h24 7th 3rd Bristol 83% 3h28 3rd 4th SRCY 82% 3h22 4th 5th Leeds 81% 3h26 8th 6th ASCY 80% 3h27 9th 7th Melbourne 77% 3h19 6th 8th York 71% 3h30 2nd 9th Towcester 65% 3h33 1st
The test piece for the 2013 final was six leads of Cambridge Surprise Maximus.
In a landmark move, the 2013 competition marked the first time that a live broadcast of the competition, including interviews with teams and judges, was streamed online for ringers around the world. It was hosted by the presenter and bellringer Matthew Tosh.
Previous winners Year Winning Band Host Tower2012 Birmingham St Michael, Melbourne2011 Birmingham St Peter, Leeds2010 Birmingham Holy Cross, Crediton2009 St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral, London2008 Birmingham Lincoln Cathedral2007 Birmingham St Stephen, Bristol2006 St Paul's Cathedral Worcester Cathedral2005 Birmingham St Lawrence, Towcester2004 Birmingham St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside2003 Birmingham St Laurence, Surfleet2002 York Winchester Cathedral2001 Birmingham Ss Peter and Paul, South Petherton2000 Birmingham Birmingham Cathedral1999 York York Minster1998 ASCY St Peter Mancroft, Norwich1997 SRCY St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster1996 St Paul's Cathedral Sheffield Cathedral1995 Cambridge Coventry Cathedral1994 Birmingham Exeter Cathedral1993 SRCY St Lawrence, Towcester1992 ASCY Newcastle Cathedral1991 Cambridge St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich1990 Cambridge St Nicholas, Liverpool1989 SRCY St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol1988 Birmingham Guildford Cathedral1987 Cambridge Great St Mary, Cambridge1986 ASCY Leicester Cathedral1985 Birmingham Canterbury Cathedral1984 St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral, London1983 Birmingham The Bell Tower, Evesham1982 Birmingham Manchester Town Hall1981 Birmingham All Saints, High Wycombe1980 ASCY York Minster1979 Birmingham St Laurence, Reading1978 Birmingham Birmingham Cathedral1977 Birmingham Southwark Cathedral1976 Leicester St Margaret, Leicester1975 Leicester St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
References