Grandsire Calls

How to call some Grandsire Touches.

If you have been put off by some of the reading material about calling a touch, then read this and I hope it gets you going.

    Calls are always made when the treble is hunting down and in 3rd's place.

But if your just starting out you properly only just know where you are, let alone where any other bell is...

Grandsire Calling Positions.

First off, you have to know where a call can be made. If you have rung a touch of Grandsire you will know these positions.

There are 4

  • Last blow in 5th place

  •  4th place hunting up

  •  First blow leading

  •  2nd place

 

The Rules

Sorry, but there has to be rules but only 4, and 2 of these, the first 2 you will know instinctively anyway.

            If you’re the hunt bell you can only call a SINGLE or BOB on your 4/5 down.

            Only one call can be made below 3rd place at any one time, the same applies for above 3rd place.

            Hunting down, always leave a Grandsire call gap. (More on that later).

            Hunting up, don’t leave a Grandsire call gap. (Call as soon as you can).

And that’s all you need to call anything on any working bell. It really is that simple.

The Detail

Rules 1 and 2  are self explanatory. Rule 1 - If you’re the hunt bell the next call will only ever be to take you out of the hunt. And that will always be a 4/5 down double dodge.

Rule 2 calls are only made once when you are below 3rd place and once when you're above third place.

There's lots of touches for Grandsire and you will have seen them in this format

  1. BSBS
  2. SBS. SBS. SBS.
  3. SBS.

Its just the order at which you call a BOB or SINGLE.

So the first example

    BOB    SINGLE    BOB    SINGLE

The second,

    SINGLE BOB  SINGLE  LEAD  SINGLE  BOB  SINGLE  LEAD  SINGLE  BOB  SINGLE  LEAD

Lead

What on earth is a lead? Well, just see it as a callers break time where he/she just rings a plain course until a lead has been rung. Keep ringing until you do any of the three grandsire work places.

4/5 down --  4/5 up -- 3rds

Once done apply the rules. If you are the hunt bell, run out to the back, come back to lead again and apply the rules. (Call on your 4/5 down).

Let's do the first example BSBS

It really doesn’t matter which bell you're ringing from, that’s the good thing about this. (Apart from the treble or the tenor!)

Ok, let’s be No2 bell…  and you're in the hunt. 

Rule 1 applies, you can only call yourself out of the hunt. So the first call is a BOB 4/5 down.

You have now done this, and your next call is a SINGLE. But where do you call it?

You're hunting down so Rule 3 applies, leave a Grandsire call gap.

That gap will be a call at lead.

So you're next call will be a SINGLE at 2nd place

This makes you do 4 blows in 3rd place.

Can’t do any more calls until you're above 3rd place. You're hunting up so as soon as you can call the next BOB.

So call a BOB at your 4/5 up calling position.

This makes you double dodge.

Can’t call any more while at the back but you do pass a Grandsire call position at 4/5 down.

So your next call will be a SINGLE at lead.

And hey presto, you're back in the hunt and calling that’s all.

 

Let 's go for the 120.

SBS. SBS. SBS.

Chose a bell, any bell...OK No 4 bell.

Your doing your 4/5 down.

Rule 3 applies so you need to leave a Grandsire call gap. The first one you pass will be the lead call. So ignore that one, and call a SINGLE at 2nd place

Do your long 3rd etc and you're on your way to the back.

So call as soon as you can. That will be a BOB at the 4/5 up calling position.

Do that double dodge which leaves you at 5th place at the back.

You pass the 4/5 down call position on your way down so that's Rule 3 meet.

So your next call will be a SINGLE at the lead position.

This puts you in the hunt.

And now for the well earned rest.

You have to do a full lead. For the hunt that’s easy, just hunt all the way up and down and you're back to where you are now.

And apply Rule 1 and call a SINGLE at 4/5 down.

Now you're on your way down and Rule 3 applies, so leave a Grandsire gap. The first call position you pass is the lead position so call a BOB at the next call position in 2nd place

You get the idea!

Of course the theory is fine, ringing and calling is something else!!!!!!!!!