Skip to content

National Twelve-Bell Striking Contest

The DDA first entered the National Twelve-Bell Striking Contest for the Taylor Trophy in 1977 under the team name of Derby. Our best result from 3 finals was 4th place in 1979. The team continued to enter until 1986, when the rules were changed and we were not allowed to enter as we didn’t have a 12 bell tower. With the augmentation of Melbourne in 1996, the DDA could once again enter the competion the following year, under the leadership of Tim Peverett.

At the time of writing, the team has rung in 10 finals: 2003 (6th), 2004 (8th), 2005 (6th), 2009 (4th), 2010 (6th), 2011 (5th), 2012 (2nd), 2013 (7th), 2014 (6th) 2015 (4th). The only other teams that have rung in consecutive finals from 2009 – 2015 are Birmingham and York.

Results for Melbourne

Year Contest Place Test piece Venue
2016 Eliminator 2nd 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Laurence, Reading
2015 Final 6th 288 Lincolnshire Surprise Maximus St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
2015 Eliminator 1st 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Nicolas, Liverpool
2014 Final 6th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Oxford Cathedral
2014 Eliminator 2nd 250 Stedman Cinques Waltham Abbey
2013 Final 7th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (first lead is rung Primrose) Ripon Cathedral
2013 Eliminator 3rd 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Leicester Cathedral
2012 Final 2nd Stedman Cinques Melbourne
2012 Eliminator Bye Bye as hosts of the 2012 final
2011 Final 5th 288 Pudsey Surprise Maximus Leeds
2011 Eliminator 2nd 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Philips, Birmingham
2010 Final 6th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (4ths place bob before, 10ths place bob home) Crediton (Listen)
2010 Eliminator 2nd 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge
2009 Final 4th 252 Stedman Cinques St Paul’s Cathedral (Listen)
2009 Eliminator 3rd 250 Stedman Cinques All Saints, Rotherham
2008 Eliminator 7th 288 Lincolnshire Surprise Maximus Tewkesbury
2007 Eliminator 7th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Saffron Walden
2006 Eliminator 5th 269 Stedman Cinques Southwark Cathedral
2005 Final 6th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (leads 1, 7-11) Towcester
2005 Eliminator 1st 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Worcester, All Saints
2004 Final 8th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (4ths place bob before, 10ths place bob home) St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside
2004 Eliminator 3rd 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus Shrewsbury
2003 Final 6th 267 Stedman Cinques St Laurence, Surfleet
2003 Eliminator 2nd 257 Stedman Cinques Ss Michael & Mary, Melbourne
2002 Eliminator 4th 288 Cambridge S Maximus Newcastle Cathedral
2001 Eliminator 4th 264 Stedman Cinques St Woolos’ Cathedral, Newport
2000 Eliminator 5th 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Sepulchre, Holborn
1999 Eliminator 5th 240 Erin Cinques Southwark Cathedral
1998 Eliminator 3rd 288 Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Mary-le-Bow, London
1997 Eliminator 7th 250 Stedman Cinques St Thomas, Stourbridge

Results for Derby

Year Contest Place Test piece Venue
1986 Eliminator 5th Cambridge Surprise Maximus St Mary the Virgin, Cheltenham
1985 Eliminator 6th Stedman Cinques St Peter, Nottingham
1984 Eliminator 5th Stedman Cinques St Mary-le-Bow, London
1982 Eliminator 4th Stedman Cinques Southwark Cathedral
1981 Eliminator 8th ? St Peter, Wolverhampton
1980 Eliminator 7th ? St Mary, Redcliffe, Bristol
1979 Final 4th 528 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (marked Middle to Home) St Laurence, Reading
1979 Eliminator Q 528 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (marked Middle to Home) St Margaret, Leicester
1978 Final 7th 528 Cambridge Surprise Maximus (judged Middle to Home) Birmingham Cathedral
1977 Final 7th 399 Stedman Cinques (first course not marked) Southwark Cathedral

10 appearances in all contests