A South Hams village is punching well above its weight when it comes to the ancient art of bellringing, after being crowned best in Devon.
In a day of high drama, excitement and emotion, South Brent took the historic Ross Shield awarded by the Devon Association of Bellringers.
The South Brent team made up of Alan Brown, Charlie Hard, Louise Hornabrook, Graham Sharland, Emma McCulloch and Neil Holloway were too strong for the other eleven sets of ringers, as 72 of Devon’s best gathered at Dunsford in the Teign Valley on Saturday, June 10.
The Ross Shield was first presented to the winners of the Devon Association Six Bell competition in 1925.
The South Brent victory capped a good day for the South Hams, with Shaugh Prior a close second, scoring 19 faults to Brent’s 16.5. The Shaugh Prior team did not leave empty handed, winning a trophy for the best sequence of changes on the day.
The Dunsford contest followed qualifying heats held in May, with the top teams from North and South Devon going straight through to the final. Lower ranked teams rung again at a minor final, with the two best teams there winning the right to ring for the Ross Shield.
A spokesman for the Devon Association of Bellringers said: "Dunsford was a beautiful venue for the competition this year and the host ringers served a fabulous tea for 90 people in the village hall.
"While not often thought of as a sport, church bell ringing requires coordination, skill and lots of teamwork and is a great social activity as well as being a service to the church. Ringing in competitions helps keep the standard of ringing high, as well as keeping this traditional art alive."