[r-t] New method review - part I

[Philip Earis]

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Freehold Society
Loughborough, Leics.
Bellfoundry Tower
Tuesday, 11 January 2005 in 2hr24min (6-2-13)
5184 Kettleby Surprise Major
Composed by: Gen BYROC
1 Gail L Wade
2 Paul M Mason
3 Colin Lord
4 Peter England
5 Martyn J Marriott
6 Rev Reginald J Stretton
7 Andrew A Ward
8 Andrew D Higson (C)
First peal in the method. x38x14x12.58.1236x12x1458x36x38 le12
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Whilst one step above rank bottom, this pseudo-right-place a-group method 
has little to recommend it.  Though it starts with the pleasant -3-4-2 
overwork, this offering rapidly descends into a series of pointless 
double-changes and unneccessary random notations merely to produce a new 
method name. I wasn't at all surprised to see that the composition was 
standard BYROC fare.  There were probably 60 CRUS, and worse still that was 
probably considered a good effort.

Any treble-dodging major method with 3rds made at the half-lead is on 
potentially shaky ground, and x36x38 round the half-lead seems especially 
uninspiring.  Indeed, coursing fours never properly come together on the 
front. Furthermore, the awkward BDO falseness seems pointlessly restrictive.

The band should realise that some reasonable methods have been rung before, 
and that new does not necessarily mean good.  Raunds (-3-4-2-6-34-5-4-7,2 
first rung 1938) and Weatheroak (-3-4-2-3-4-5-34-5,2 first rung 1955) are 
two better alternative surpise major methods on a similar plan which both 
spring to mind.