Best Tourney You Have Ever Fought In?

[Murdock]

Long ago at Border Raids there was a tourchlight Pas

I met Vitus there over the Barrier for the first time

Bob Hurley

Ustad

it was majic


I remember the 04 MGT it was very special.

Asbjorn's first HCS were also special

The Rose tourney just past here in Northshield had a spcial feeling to it as well.

[Dante di Pietro]

One of my favorites was at a baronial investiture a few years back now. You had teams of 3, and before each round a coin toss would decide who had to put forth a combatant first. It was like a mini-champions bout, with each pairing fighting best 2 of 3.

This added a very cool level of strategy to everything, and made for a lot of good stories afterward. I've won "bigger" tournaments, but that one was probably the most fun (and really challenging; I think I had a good 24 bouts that day since we fought all 3 bouts regardless) since that was when my two teammates and I were still the relatively unknown up and comers.

Thank you, Thank you very much!

Someone should do that again. I would, but since I'm not in Caer Mear anymore....

[SirCathal]

Sorry JP ... didnt know you had that brainstorm. I just remember standing at the barrier and telling myself i wasnt going to let go. No matter how many times i got hit

[Diglach Mac Cein]

Bump because this should have more posts than the "worst tourney" thread....

One of my favorites....

I was in a small shire round robin tournament a few years ago. Maybe 2 dozen guys in the list. But you looked around, and everyone was relaxed and just happy to be there. Fought all afternoon - you fought everyone once, then could challenge anyone after that.

End of the day, a local Knight who was MiC gave a stave of rattan to a fighter that impressed him. Then the local Baron presented a prize to another fighter. Then the Baroness gave a token to a fighter that impressed her.

Then everyone had dinner, joked and talked and told tales of the bouts they witnessed that day.


Lots of fun!

[HauoctheWild]

My best tourney to date was, hands down, the crown tournament when I lost to Duke Malcolm (it was for his first reign) in the finals. Everything went nearly perfectly. We fought our bouts and there was absolutely no extraneous discussion following them. After I had acknowledged the final blow, his (now) Grace asked me something about my feelings about my blow. I simply replied, "There's nothing to discuss...this day has been to perfect for discussion...Congratulations Your Highness."

I've been trying to get back there since. Given the right day, it'll happen again.

Havoc

[Baron Alejandro]

SCA Rapier, triple (that's right, I said triple) elimination.

Round one - all single weapons.
First loss - You get one defensive item (buckler, cloak, etc)
Second loss - You get another sword (case) or dagger.
Third loss - You're out.

So are you that hot piece of steel who walks through the tournament with a single sword, only to face someone in the finals who has a case? Or are you that arrogant prick who deliberately throws his first two fights to get an advantage early, gambling on ABSOLUTELY not losing another bout?

SCA Armored, Spear hastiludes. More fun (to me) than a sackful of strippers slathered in sawbucks.

[Dante di Pietro]

So are you that hot piece of steel who walks through the tournament with a single sword, only to face someone in the finals who has a case?

Who says single rapier is at a disadvantage against case?

[Proxus]

This weekend's Pas de Armmes at GWW hosted by the Company of St. George is the fighting highlight of my short SCA career. While not a tourney per se one was held within the pas.

First a grand melee between the Tennens and Vennens was held, with each side fighting great weapons. Blows were to the count of 3 accepted, in an engagement meaning if you took two and were able to block and then disengage you could reset. After 3 blows you must appeal to the gallery for mercy, and resurrection. If found worthy of being ressurected one could re-enter the fray. After your second death you returned to your side of the field and combat would continue until one side was victorious.

Then a combat among individuals with the vennens challenging indivdidual members of the company at the barrier. First of greatsword, then mace, and finally poleaxe, each to a different number of counted blows.

After my first combat at the barrier it was determined that I had abused the barrier excessively and was given pennance by the gallery. I was given roughly 5 minutes to compose a 2 or more line poem. I am not the greatest composer by far, and after sweating out 1/2 my time I grabbed some charcoal, and began drafting said poetry on a granite slab near the firepit. After much scratching and feverous scribbling I was able to scribble out a tribute to my lady on how her presence in the gallery did greatly inspire me and warm my heart. (don't ask me to repeat it as I was so nervous I couldn't even follow the written poem at my feet and it changed from written to spoken word)

After the barrier fight we fought a "meat grinder" style timed tourney where the winner who held the field the longest was given the "Shield of Galahad" so that all might know of their skill at arms. I was pleased beyond measure that my good friend and companion Lord Adam MacAndrew did hold the field against I believe 6 opponents with Sir Luther's squire (forgive me for not remembering his name I met him that afternoon and can't pull it to mind) right on his heels.

This tourney made my year! I am still all a glow and were I able to follow in the steps of men of noble coutre of old and spend the rest of my days living on this earth "atourneying" with such noble gentles and inspiring ladies as were present that day I would count myself the luckiest among men.

[Baron Alejandro]

Who says single rapier is at a disadvantage against case?

The one who fails to realize that gloating is bad form.

[Alex Baird]

SCA Rapier, triple (that's right, I said triple) elimination.

Round one - all single weapons.
First loss - You get one defensive item (buckler, cloak, etc)
Second loss - You get another sword (case) or dagger.
Third loss - You're out.

We do these fairly often out here. We call them "progressive tourneys".

[Jan]

- my first tournament, just because it was very "new". I even had a good day fighting
- the first Pas that Rhys ran in the East...VERY different from other tournaments, but a ton of fun
- the Michaelmas tournament that ran for a number of years. It was after Pennsic and far enough before Crown that it brought out a good, tough, crowd; it always had beautiful weather, and I almost always managed to do well
- the KW Squires Tourney at Pennsic

[Eyvandr]

La Prova Dura - 2008

[Donal Mac Ruiseart]

Because I've been around so long, I've probably forgotten some of the best and some of the worst.

That said, however; the best one I recall in anything like recent memory was the Pas du Forêt Mystérieux, in Windmaster's Hill last June.

It was the first true Pas d'Armes in which I had had the chance to participate. The site was beautiful, the weather also though rather hot, fights were with matched weapons with or without a barrier, and various of those participating and attending were asked to judge the participants in various categories.

The fights were all challenges, with different weapons forms encouraged. A rack of weapons was made available so that matched weapons could be used.

When the time came to confer the prizes, I received two silk scarves, one embroidered Prouesse and the other Chevalerie. But winning those prizes is not why I liked it that much . . . that was icing on the cake. It was just a grand and glorious tourney on a grand and glorious day and I had a grand and glorious time!

[Seth of Newcastle]

Meridian Grand Tournament – Five 50+ fighter qualifying tourneys then the finals. Awesome time!

Midrealm Rose Tournament - Team tourney with individual fights. Most honored I have ever been to fight for someone other than my Lady.


Seth