The Obligatory.."Who's going to Birka?" post

Roibeard MacNeill · Post by **Roibeard MacNeill** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:25 pm

Due to the pending birth of our second child we will not be there...we want to stay close to home and the Hospital. Fight well and hard, all...

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:26 pm

You'll be missed Ro.
Congrats and best wishes to you and the fam!

Owyn · Post by **Owyn** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:27 am

Thanks to a few last-minute changes of plans, looks like I'll finally be able to make it this year. I've had an odd string of things that've kept me from attending for years now, so this will actually be the first time I've gotten to go to Birka. Really looking forward to it.

Thaddeus · Post by **Thaddeus** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:24 am

I will be there teaching and marshaling and fighting as time allows.

Euric Germanicus · Post by **Euric Germanicus** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:13 pm

Ugh, just caught a cold today. Let's hope it clears up by Sat.!

Ian Mac D · Post by **Ian Mac D** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:16 am

Euric Germanicus wrote:Ugh, just caught a cold today. Let's hope it clears up by Sat.!

LOTS of fighting is a good way to chase those bugs out od the body and there IS definately lots of ighting to be had at Birka!

I will be there fighting as usual. Hopefully I won't get overheated again.

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:11 am

Great day everyone!
I didn't last as long in the pits as I wanted too, but I did last longer than I thought I would!

It was a great first fighting at Birka for me!

And it was great seeing everybody there!

MJ

Thaddeus · Post by **Thaddeus** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:05 am

Birka was fantastic, The lines ran smoothly and the extra help that Tessa recruited for the MoL table seemed to really speed things up.

Many thanks to the many people who worked very hard to make it a fun day for all of us.

Lupus Argenteus · Post by **Lupus Argenteus** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:19 am

Indeed - it was a good time and I had a lot of fun, and many thanks to all involved.

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:42 am

I think that may have been my favorite Birka yet. Lots of fun, great fights, seeing friends, friends worthy of elevation being recognized!

Euric Germanicus · Post by **Euric Germanicus** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:53 pm

It was a great Birka. I was sill a little too under the weather to fight, but just seeing all my friends was worth the trip.

See you guys again soon

olaf haraldson · Post by **olaf haraldson** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:06 pm

Results are up.
http://www.northernarmy.org/results/bir ... _2009.html

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:27 pm

There's something screwy about theses results.

Syr Kenric of Warwick ranked last and he had 151 points?

Geoffrey of Blesedale · Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:17 pm

He's listed twice. He also appears in his proper ranking, one has his number as "5" and another as "05," so there's some kind of glitch.

Owyn · Post by **Owyn** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 10:10 pm

More than one person is listed twice - I notice Eydis has two numbers as well (10 and 10q). Small glitches aside though, I think the scoring seems to have worked pretty darn well.

I had a GREAT time! Was wonderful seeing so many old friends again, and meeting new people as well. Thanks to everyone I fought - I wish I could remember half the names, but you all made Birka an outstanding event for me.

Tiberius Iulius Rufus · Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:18 am

Results: Number 13 should have been Gavin von Abentrot - he's not listed anywhere, despite fighting all day!

Great to see everyone:)

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 7:19 am

Hey! I didn't come in last!! WOO HOOO!!!

Tied for 81st!

Ian Mac D · Post by **Ian Mac D** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:58 pm

The fighting was fierce as usual. I managed to have 76.3% percent win rate with 59 fights and tied for 15th place. I know I could do better if the place wasn't an inferno (or my weapons stopped falling apart lol), but I can't complain too much I did receive a bunch of positive comments about my fighting. I just wish I could have fought another 20 bouts.

Saburou · Post by **Saburou** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:10 pm

Didn't get to fight because I was major domo for the vigil of my squire brother, now Sir Federach mac Cian. But I did see a lot of AA folks, and was glad to, though I apologize that helping manage a vigil made me rather out of sorts.

A fine Birka, though.

kenrickb · Post by **kenrickb** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:12 am

I'd just like to say that I really appreciate the improvements that are made to this event every year. The system for tallying points gets more accurate and efficient, even to the point of affecting my overall strategy for the event

. It's still definitely worth getting a single digit number though. It's easier to remember in your opponent's tired brain on the way to the scorer's table...

Kenric

nkante · Post by **nkante** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:21 pm

I was # 38, but they didn't have my name. I was very excited about my performance. I had 2 goals for the day - 1. Rank in the 20's, which I met. 2. Do 60 fights, which I came close at 56. Would have made it if I didn't have to stop and cut the beads of my helm. They must have thought I was Samson. I want to thank everyone who bruised me up. The fighting was fierce, really in your face, how I like it. A special thanks to the score keepers. They were the true heroes of the day.

nkante · Post by **nkante** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:38 pm

Please tell me who this warrior is with the 2 swords. He gave me the fight of my life on several occasions.

Saburou · Post by **Saburou** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:21 pm

That looks like Sato from Loch Leven.

Nknante, where'd you get the pics? I haven't seen any up on the web yet.

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:41 pm

Yes pics!
I've been searching for them.

Sabaru... great seeing you. Your soft kit looked great!

I think a couple of people must have gotten my number wrong as well... I know I fought more than 7 bouts... and I know I won 1. Oh well. I know I did, and so does that one other guy... so I guess thats all that counts

nkante · Post by **nkante** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:07 pm

I had a few bystanders snap a few pics with my camera. It's understandable that some fights were recorded incorrectly. I got hit so hard I had trouble remembering my own name a few times, let alone some one else's #. I had to go back twice to get the # straight. There are a few videos on youtube already. I saw myself in the backround of 2.

Euric Germanicus · Post by **Euric Germanicus** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 10:16 pm

Holy shit n'Kante, that Zulu shield is amazing.

Aldwyn of Lancashire · Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:32 am

Hi All,
I will have have pics from the fighting as well as some from Stonemarche and EK Court hopefully in the next day. I will make a new post when the gallery is complete.
Brother Aldwyn
Priory of St. Colin

Duke Icefalcon · Post by **Duke Icefalcon** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:34 am

Easily one of the BEST events of the year. Tons of people and all of them having a blast! I would reccomend this event to anyone who would like to travel to our Kingdom and be at a HUGE fighting and shopping event next year.

Thanks to all of the staff for making it run smooth. Thanks to all of the fighters and participants who made it so fun!

hrolf · Post by **hrolf** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:51 am

Euric Germanicus wrote:Holy shit n'Kante, that Zulu shield is amazing.

i thought it was a madu.

Euric Germanicus · Post by **Euric Germanicus** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:43 pm

hrolf wrote:
Euric Germanicus wrote:Holy shit n'Kante, that Zulu shield is amazing.

i thought it was a madu.

It is, but based off a Zulu shield design. It's quite cool.

Tailoress · Post by **Tailoress** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:11 pm

It was an awesome event! I had a blast, though I only watched the fighting, didn't participate.

I still remember the days of the Birka Bruise and wishing I could get a thigh transplant. :shock:

Yeah, I like sitting around in my silk clothing and complicated hairdo these days and watching everyone else get their Birka Bruises.

Richard Blackmoore · Post by **Richard Blackmoore** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:05 am

I hate madus. With a passion.

That being said, it was easily one of the nicest madu's I've seen in the SCA. Nice job.

I'm still REALLY sorry about hitting you in the cup, I was going for the hip.

Richard Blackmoore

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:39 am

Richard Blackmoore wrote:I hate madus. With a passion.

That being said, it was easily one of the nicest madu's I've seen in the SCA. Nice job.

I'm still REALLY sorry about hitting you in the cup, I was going for the hip.

Richard Blackmoore

I got gakked in the cup in one of my fights too...
it was a good one.. like nausea inducing... it was my last fight...

I've still got a nice bruise on my inner thigh where the tip hit my leg...

nkante · Post by **nkante** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 11:58 pm

I'm quite sure it was not targeted, but legal none the less. Just watched a clip of our fight richard and I had no idea that offside shot was coming. I was truely bested. Now... a madu is an indian weapon. Basically a buckler with 2 metal tipped stag horns. My weapon represents a small shield with a butt spike on the bottom of the shaft. I only attack the face with the top of the shaft because it would not be able to defeat mail. And thanks to everyone for all the encouraging words.

D. Sebastian · Post by **D. Sebastian** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:36 am

Shenanagans!
Its a madu for our purposes (a "sword" is made of metal after all, right?).

Having said that, it is A DAMN PRETTY MADU [kudos], and you're the only persona I've seen that looks like he should be weilding one [double kudos]!

Why did you have to loose the coral off the helm?

I had a "wardrobe malfunction" and lost my shoulder cop toward the end.