Coursing Order in Stedman Triples

by Derek Butterworth (reproduced from The Ringing World 1966/227)

Many ringers believe that Stedman Triples is one of the easiest standard methods to ring but one of the most difficult to con­duct. Unfortunately, Stedman Triples has the peculiarity that even so-called experts tend to be easily displaced in the method when a trip occurs, particularly in the slow work. This has meant that many peals have been lost because the conductor has been unable to correct mistakes when they have occurred. Thus only those conductors who have exceptional memories, or exceptional bands, have been able to cope with this method. The following description of a “coursing order” technique should open the held of conducting Stedman Triples to many con­ductors who would normally avoid this method because of its lack of coursing order.

Derivation and use of the Coursing Order

The principle of Stedman is the combined effect of ringing alternate quick and slow three-bell sixes with the remaining bells dodging above thirds place. This results in the breaking up of the natural coursing order within each course. Nevertheless, a cyclic order exists in which the bells follow each other into the quick or the slow work. This order, which I have called “the coursing order for Stedman Triples” is 7165234, using the 7th as the starting point in the cycle in the plain course.

Examples:

(a) If 6 goes in quick, 5 is the next quick bell
(b) If 4 goes in slow, 7 is the next slow bell

If a fixed bell is now chosen (I have chosen the 7th as this is usually the fixed bell in compositions of the method) and the “coursing order” written without it, then the following may be derived from the plain course and extended to apply to any course. The “coursing order" with the 7th as fixed bell is 165234. Let these six numbers be divided into three pairs and name them “First” pair, “Quick" pair and “Last” pair respectively, viz:

 16     52     34
First  Quick  Last

Now in any course of Stedman Triples, without calls, the following facts apply. (In each case given below, the bells which refer to the plain course are given in parentheses I suggest that a copy of the plain course is used to help comprehension.)

1. Order of Dodging

The 7th dodges with the other bells in the order: First, Quick after quick work (1652); and Quick, Last after slow work (5234).

2. Order of Passing Bells

The 7th passes the other bells (i.e. 3-4 up, 5-6 up, 5-6 down, 3-4 down* in the order: Last, First (3416).

3. Quick Work

When the 7th goes in quick, the two bells in the slow work are the Quick pair (52).

4. Slow Work

When the 7th goes in slow, the slow bells on the front are the Last pair (34). The quick bells which enter during the 7th’s slow work are the Quick pair (52), and the slow bells which enter are the First pair (16).

From the above it will be realised that a ringer who knows the coursing order of any particular course of Stedman Triples which is being rung is potentially capable of checking the ringing and correcting, if neces­sary, any trips that may occur. This is of course assuming the ringer is capable of ap­plying the information given. It now remains to describe how trans­position of the coursing order may be carried out when bobs or singles are used.