Tailteann Games, 2010
Last weekend was our 4th chance to host a large SCA event at our place. For the second year in a row, championship tournaments were held for all 4 marshall arts for which we seek champions every year: Archery, Equestrian, Heavy Fighting and Rapier fighting. It's worked out as a really symbiotic relationship since we think it's fun to have these events here, and our property is one of the few available that is suitable for all 4 activities.
I don't have alot to say -- so let the picturs begin!
The day's setup on the hill.
The day begins with Archery - because not only is the sun at their backs, but the wind is minimal in the morning as well.
These particular targets were verticle pipes covered with foam. You can just about see in this picture, by Baron William's hand, the arrow that bisected the pipe!
Dave again shot in the archery competition, and I heard soon after they concluded that he had shot very well. Well, we were surprised and thrilled, later in the afternoon, when the Baron came looking for him because he needed to conduct a shoot-off between Dave and Liam to break their first place tie! That was very exciting - Liam has been Captain of Archers for long time - longer than we've been around, and the whole family (3 generations) are accomplished archers. So it was an honor, indeed, to have a shoot off against him. Unfortunately, Liam won the shoot off in one shot so... But it was fun while it lasted!
Cecelia, doing as she does best -- having a great time on her horse, affectionately known as Tiny.
Tiny and Cecelia excel at the Quintain. They definitely give it their all. (With this shot she actually dismantled the quintain! The weight bag went flying off)
I'm so excited to say that Dave rode in his first tournament. His run was non competitive, but he showed up and rode in any case. He introduced himself to the crowd as Lord Faolan, impersonating Lady Wystl (me -- because he and Jordan are wearing my colors...)
As he was riding without weapons, the Quintain was just a touch.
Lady Anne made her usual well competitive showing - thorowing javeline here.
Garin's usual Sun Pony mount, Rio, has been struggling with being lame for a very long time now. So he rode Jack - and they just looked great together.
So great, in fact, that Garin was the Champion of the day! He will stand as the Barony's Equerry for the next year.
Earlier this year the SCA revised it's age limits for riders, from 10 to 5. That made one 8 year old boy in our barony, Mistress Rossilin's son Brendan, very happy!
Brendan riding his new horse around his first equestrian course
Way to go Brendan!
Leonora, too, was riding in her first tournament in a long time. It really felt great to have several 'first timers' in our field this year - we had 11 contestants even with 2 of our riders organizing from the ground.
Love that Grin!
And this one!
Great to see new and experienced equestrians alike.
Tracker is an amazing Mounted Archer, and he performed a demo after the tournament. I didn't get many pictures, but I'm convinced these are two views of a partilarly good shot.
Mine
Laura H's Husband's
We had the extra pleasure in that our neice Laura, who just moved to Denver, came up for the afternoon to hang out with us.
Picnicing under our pavillion top.
Unfortunately -- things were hopping, I was tired, and while we did watch some of the Heavy tournament and the Rapier tournament as well, we didn't get ANY pictures. :-( Here are two stand ins from Laura's Husband again:
Heavies
Rapier
One of the more amusing tales of the day was at the end of the Rapier tournament, last year's champion, Martine, invited three contestants to challenge him at once. Someone commented that our forces didn't look like they fought as a team very well, which prompted Lord Arion to stand on the side lines and start issuing fighting directions to the trio. Lord Arion, let it be known, has a very loud voice when he chooses to use it.
If you look in the background of the Heavy photo above, you can see the kennel yard fences. The dogs were out - but they were borred of us by that time and hanging out in the shade. Well -- NOT once Arion started bellowing! All the dogs showed up at once and started barking at the fighters!
The day ended with court, in which the past champions were congratulated and new champions were presented with their prizes and installed into their positions. Garin, the new Equerry, had crafted a really amazing sword as the prize for the tournament winner. As champion - he was poised to keep his own handicraft. But instead he did a really generous thing -- he said he didn't intent to keep the prize as he'd created it to give it away. As as such he offered the sword to me as a consolation prize since I was unable to compete this year due to my accident.
Thanks so much, Garin -- I was really touched.
I don't have alot to say -- so let the picturs begin!
The day's setup on the hill.
The day begins with Archery - because not only is the sun at their backs, but the wind is minimal in the morning as well.
These particular targets were verticle pipes covered with foam. You can just about see in this picture, by Baron William's hand, the arrow that bisected the pipe!
Dave again shot in the archery competition, and I heard soon after they concluded that he had shot very well. Well, we were surprised and thrilled, later in the afternoon, when the Baron came looking for him because he needed to conduct a shoot-off between Dave and Liam to break their first place tie! That was very exciting - Liam has been Captain of Archers for long time - longer than we've been around, and the whole family (3 generations) are accomplished archers. So it was an honor, indeed, to have a shoot off against him. Unfortunately, Liam won the shoot off in one shot so... But it was fun while it lasted!
Cecelia, doing as she does best -- having a great time on her horse, affectionately known as Tiny.
Tiny and Cecelia excel at the Quintain. They definitely give it their all. (With this shot she actually dismantled the quintain! The weight bag went flying off)
I'm so excited to say that Dave rode in his first tournament. His run was non competitive, but he showed up and rode in any case. He introduced himself to the crowd as Lord Faolan, impersonating Lady Wystl (me -- because he and Jordan are wearing my colors...)
As he was riding without weapons, the Quintain was just a touch.
Lady Anne made her usual well competitive showing - thorowing javeline here.
Garin's usual Sun Pony mount, Rio, has been struggling with being lame for a very long time now. So he rode Jack - and they just looked great together.
So great, in fact, that Garin was the Champion of the day! He will stand as the Barony's Equerry for the next year.
Earlier this year the SCA revised it's age limits for riders, from 10 to 5. That made one 8 year old boy in our barony, Mistress Rossilin's son Brendan, very happy!
Brendan riding his new horse around his first equestrian course
Way to go Brendan!
Leonora, too, was riding in her first tournament in a long time. It really felt great to have several 'first timers' in our field this year - we had 11 contestants even with 2 of our riders organizing from the ground.
Love that Grin!
And this one!
Great to see new and experienced equestrians alike.
Tracker is an amazing Mounted Archer, and he performed a demo after the tournament. I didn't get many pictures, but I'm convinced these are two views of a partilarly good shot.
Mine
Laura H's Husband's
We had the extra pleasure in that our neice Laura, who just moved to Denver, came up for the afternoon to hang out with us.
Picnicing under our pavillion top.
Unfortunately -- things were hopping, I was tired, and while we did watch some of the Heavy tournament and the Rapier tournament as well, we didn't get ANY pictures. :-( Here are two stand ins from Laura's Husband again:
Heavies
Rapier
One of the more amusing tales of the day was at the end of the Rapier tournament, last year's champion, Martine, invited three contestants to challenge him at once. Someone commented that our forces didn't look like they fought as a team very well, which prompted Lord Arion to stand on the side lines and start issuing fighting directions to the trio. Lord Arion, let it be known, has a very loud voice when he chooses to use it.
If you look in the background of the Heavy photo above, you can see the kennel yard fences. The dogs were out - but they were borred of us by that time and hanging out in the shade. Well -- NOT once Arion started bellowing! All the dogs showed up at once and started barking at the fighters!
The day ended with court, in which the past champions were congratulated and new champions were presented with their prizes and installed into their positions. Garin, the new Equerry, had crafted a really amazing sword as the prize for the tournament winner. As champion - he was poised to keep his own handicraft. But instead he did a really generous thing -- he said he didn't intent to keep the prize as he'd created it to give it away. As as such he offered the sword to me as a consolation prize since I was unable to compete this year due to my accident.
Thanks so much, Garin -- I was really touched.
Labels: SCA
posted by Monica |
11:07 PM
3 Comments:
Amazing pictures! Thanks so much for sharing.
Love
Roby
Hi Roby -- Thanks for visiting!
Monica
This is just fascinating to learn about. You do a great job of telling us newbies what's going on. The sword in the bottom pic is gorgeous, but then so much of the pageantry is.
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