[Hartwood] 2015 Championship and War

[Howard Bevan]

I am re-posting my Facebook re-cap of this years Championship and War here.

Well what a weekend! I am sure everyone in attendance has taken away at least one memory or experience that will stay with them for some time.
I intended this to be a short note about how moved I was by the talent exhibited at the Bardic Circle... but I just could not stop. This is not an exhaustive re-cap, but just highlights some of the things that amazed, excited or moved me this weekend. Nowhere near everyone who should be thanked will be mentioned here. Rest assured you will be in the book!
Lest I forget to do it later, I want to thank those that travelled from distant lands, especially Her Excellency Baroness Letitia to share this time with us. It was your fellowship that truly made the weekend memorable.
The site was unique in my limited camping experience in the SCA. Camping in the woods, a miniature stone henge for a bardic circle, a rustic inn complete with candle lighting and a kitchen -- and can you believe a ballroom? Thats right, a camping event with a ballroom for our dancers!
The archery contest took place in the woods; an idilic setting below a canopy of leaves providing the feeling of a "Robin Hood" adventure. The opening test of skill was a Popinjay shoot made possible by Master John's strong arm and unswerving aim in tossing a rock attached to a string over a branch that had to be at least 30 feet in the air. Trust me, that little parrot was damn agile and hard to pin down; Archos Aline would have none of it and nailed the sucker 4 times with 6 arrows to win the round.
There followed a wand shoot, which Lady Miranda won, and a semi-final game of poker between Lady Miranda vs Archos Aline, and myself vs Sir Liam.
I may be wrong, but I thought I saw the beginnings of a nervous tick developing on Sir Liam's countenance when he found he would be facing his nemesis from the Seagirt Champion event in the "not so very beursault beursault" finals.
In the end it was our Lady Miranda who was serenaded down the King's Alley as this year's Queen of Archers and Hartwood Champion.
Lord Sextus, standing in for our Mater of Stables, chose a format that seemed to conjure up a continuous stream of contestants. There was never time for the spectators to catch their breath between bouts. This was a magnificent spectacle of gladiatorial combat. A special thank you should be extended to Sir Liam McBrennan who selflessly offered himself up as the sacrificial lamb, the first to the slaughter, the standard against which all other contestants had to prove their skill. And believe me, he dispensed a lessons or two to all who came against him.
The final came down to a contest between Lord Sextus of Hartwood and Lord Attius Fontanus with victory this day going to the latter.
Rapier was next. Lord Seamus MacDonald of Skye assisted by Lord Asa Martel tested, advised on, and certified equipment and ran a series of instructional scenarios. This is, compared with heavy (and even archery) a quiet, dignified contest where participants can adopt techniques as diverse as "crash and bash" and "ballerina style", or at least that is what I thought. In actual fact we almost lost a fencer down the embankment and both female competitors are today alluding to bruises that can not be shown. With four locals attending this event, could this be the start of a resurrection of rapier in the shire?
There followed the dance, music brought by Lady Athelina Grey, while Lady Juliena la Bedele stepped in to instruct, singing out the prompts. Hands up all those who have danced in a ballroom at a camping event!
Saturday was serenaded out on dulcet tones as sweet as honey (is that a song?) and Sunday boisterously welcomed in with a bardic circle the likes of which I have not previously attended. It was opened by our bardic champion Lady Gwynafel with a moving and heart felt introduction, and followed by a series of short stories about the birth and early childhood of our Shire by those that were there. The return of these veterans is a heart worming trend in the Shire, and one that reflects well on the current membership. There followed a round of singing and story telling that you just had to be there to believe. Stories, song and verse, in English, French, Icelandic, Australian, and others.
The singing was so sweet, the lyrics so melancholy, that the angles truly wept -- in fact we would all have been swimming if Lord Charles le Verdier had not rescued us with a rousing delivery of Chevaliers de la Table Ronde that had us all stamping our feet and singing along.
Sigurd performed Heima in Icelandic; a true tour de force. We english only speakers can but marvel at the oral gymnastics necessary to generate the sounds endemic in Scandinavian languages.
The tales were of such diversity, and told with such skill and conviction that we were all enraptured by them, though Sir Liam's spider face was more comical than scary and may need some more work.
And perhaps most gratifying, virtually everyone at the circle participated in some form, adding to the diversity of the evening and the enjoyment of all.
Heraldically speaking a big thank you to Lady Máel Brigte inghean Aimhirgin for providing a consultation presence while I attended to other matters. I am gratified to report that there was a groundswell of interest in name and device registration with one submission and two nearly ready, and a number of members "working on ideas". This is GREAT to hear. Send your questions and ideas to me in the strictest confidence. I can't wait to help you attain your goals.



Harold of Hartwood

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