Chief Judge – Julia Cater
I learnt to ring aged 7 at Winchester Cathedral, with my first peal aged 9. I rang quite a few peals in my teens including in a few of the early young ringers’ peals; the records for some of which are being broken by the current young ringers today. A step change came when I moved to Birmingham for my first degree which exposed me to a new level of methods, striking and brought interest in ringing heavier bells. After graduating I rang with the Cumberlands, in London, as well in many record-breaking women’s peals. I continue to be an active bellringer and take pleasure in teaching bell handling locally as well as helping my own children learn. It has been a privilege to be Chief Judge of this contest for the last few years and I feel immensely proud to have contributed to the ringing careers of young people.
Assistant Judge – Luke Groom
I learned to ring in 2010 at the age of 10 at Stoke Golding in Leicestershire, I rang my first quarter peal after two years of ringing and then my first peal in 2016. I didn’t ring many peals at first but soon began to ring a lot more. I was first involved in the RWNYC in 2011 in London ringing for the Leicester Rising Ringers and then was in the team in 2017 and 2018. I am very proud to have been in the youngest band to ring a peal of Bristol Maximus last year. I have also been able to ring peals of the 41 Spliced Surprise Minor.
Assistant Judge – Alex Riley
My dad taught me to ring when I was 8, at my home tower of Selby Abbey, and I rang my first peal aged 11. I took an interest in conducting and composing several years later, and I’ve published a variety of creations since. I was very active with young ringers in Yorkshire as conductor of the Yorkshire Tykes for 4 years – including during our 2017 RWNYC victory – and I’m pleased that the team remains strong and enthusiastic. Last year, I was privileged to conduct the youngest 10 and 12 bell peals, and the youngest peal of Bristol Maximus: the three achievements of which I’m most proud. In October I started studying maths at Durham University, and I’ve really enjoyed doing too much ringing with the University Society and local bands. I’m very excited to be back at the RWNYC, and I’m looking forward to hearing some great ringing!
Assistant Judge – Anna Sherwood
I started learning to ring at Tilehurst, Reading in 2009, aged 9. Despite this, I didn’t really progress until I was a bit bigger, ringing my first peal in 2015, and was later elected to the Ancient Society of College Youths in 2016. Since then I have gone on to ring my 100th peal; a long length lasting just under six hours. I feel privileged to have been part of the recent record-breaking young ringers’ peals, including being in the youngest band to ring a peal on both 10 and 12 bells. Before moving to study at the University of Bristol last year, I ran local youth practices in Reading and participated in the RWNYC from 2015-2018, conducting two of them for the Oxford DG. Ringing in both Reading and Bristol has provided many opportunities and I now enjoy being part of a thriving and sociable university society.
