When arriving at the site for Queen’s Rapier Championship and Equestrian Games this Saturday, April 8, you will be directed as to where to park. Parking is limited, so if it’s possible to carpool, that would be optimal.
Below is a map of where parking is in relation to where you’d be entering the site.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the autocrat, Meesteres Odriana vander Brugghe (Jennifer Bahor), via email at or via Messenger.
Announcement from the current Queen’s Rapier Champion, Lord Robert MacEwin:
The Queen’s Rapier Championship is little more than two weeks away! Here are all the details:
Date: October 1st, 2022 Location: Archers to the Wald Time: Procession will begin lining up at 10:50, start at 11:00.
Tournament will begin immediately following.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
Round 1 – Participants will be evenly distributed into four Round-Robin lists. The top two fencers from each list will move on to round 2. Ties will be resolved as necessary with additional fights.
Round 2 – The 8 fencers that have advanced from the first round will fight a double elimination tournament until 2 remain. After that, all deaths will be cleared and those two will move on to the finals. All fights in Round 2 will be best-of-3.
Finals – Best-of-five, rotating forms. The finalist from the winners’ list will choose the first form. Following that, the loser of each bout will choose the form for the next bout.
DOUBLE KILLS:
Round 1 – double kills will be refought once. Further double kills will be scored as a loss for both fighters.
Round 2 – double kills will be refought until there’s a clear victor. However, if you double kill more than once, we will start taking things from each fencer (secondaries, arms, etc.)
Finals – double kills will be refought until there is a clear victor.
SPECIAL WEAPONS FORMS:
Cut and Thrust – Any pair of fencers that wishes to fight C&T is welcome to do so. When you sign in, please let the MoL know that you wish to fight C&T, and we’ll try to pool you with other C&T fighters.
Spear – Since spear is still new, we’ll allow it, but require opponent’s consent. In any fight within the tournament, if you’re authorized and your opponent is cool with it, you’re welcome to fight spear. If you are not interested in fighting against spear, that is totally fine! Due to limited list space, spears must be no more than 6 feet long.
This Saturday, June 4th, The Debatable Lands welcomes Their Majesties and Highnesses to our Japanese Iris Festival as Their Majesties hold The Kingdom Equestrian Championship! This event has something for everyone – martial activities of all types, and A&S. And yes, even jousting! Check out the event announcement.
The site is in Southwestern PA (courtesy of the Shire of Steltonwald) at Brady’s Run Park in Beaver Falls. You can pre-register online until TOMORROW, MAY 30th through SCARS: https://members.sca.org/apps/#MtgDetail/00001314 .
Cost for the event is super affordable and family-friendly: Adult registration (non-member) is $12. Adult member registration is $7. People age 17 and under are FREE.
This event also features the IRON COMET CHALLEGE (see below) and of course, Royal and Baronial Courts. Here’s the schedule for the day (tentative):
Site opens – 9 am
Part 1 Equestrian Champs – 10:30 am
Fencing tournament – 11 am
Thrown Weapons tournament – 12 noon
Arts and Sciences Competition – 1 pm
Part 2 Equestrian Champs – 1:30 pm
Heavy tournament – 2 pm
Archery tournament – 3 pm
Jousting (weather permitting) – 4 pm
Court – 5:30 pm
Tear-down after court
Have questions? Check out these FAQs:
Q. What’s the Iron Comet Challenge?
All are welcome to participate in the separate fighting, fencing, archery, and thrown weapons tournaments, as well as an A&S competition (no theme).
But for those elite few who want to test their skills as well-rounded medievalists, you can enter the Iron Comet Challenge – enter at least 3 out of the 4 martial competitions, and the A&S competition (required, all levels welcome), and be an Iron Comet Challenger competing for the highest composite score. Who will prove to be the best of the best?
You welcome to come and enjoy the competitions separately without competing in the Iron Comet Challenge, of course.
Q. Tell me more about the Arts and Sciences activities.
The competition has no theme, and all are welcome to enter it.
We are lucky enough to also have an A&S display – if you choose, there is a theme of Asian Arts and Sciences to celebrate the Japanese Iris Festival! Displays not adhering to the theme are also welcome.
There will also be a poetry competition for Japanese forms of poetry, including haiku, tanka, and if we feel brave, collaborative forms such as renga and renku.
Q. Will there be event-provided food?
Not this time, no, due to the pandemic. The event will not provide food. But please do bring your own and enjoy a picnic! (No glass bottles)
Q. What else should I know to prepare for the day?
The event is outside, but the weather forecast looks beautiful! There are a couple of shelters but you may want to bring chairs and maybe a pop-up for a place to relax.
There are three public changing tents – lords, ladies, and all gender. The all gender changing tent is next to accessible parking and accessible restrooms.
All COVID protocols will be enforced, so please remember your vaccination card (or picture of it) and ID (membership card is fine) or else your proof of negative COVID test.
Other than horses, only service animals allowed.
Q. Tell me a little about the Equestrian stuff.
The event is only open on Saturday, but those with horses are welcome to arrive Friday night. Contact THL Gesa for details.
For the Equestrian Champs, there are games and riding before prince activities hosted by Aethelmearc current Kingdom Equestrian Champion Gozen. There is also an A&S element. Contact Mistress Gozen for details, or check out the Aethelmearc Equestrian Facebook page. Activities are part of the kingdom equestrian championship, but it is open to all riders. There is also a jousting tournament!!
Feast is FULL!! Please contact me if you want to be put on the waitlist!
There will be a fire both Friday and Sat night that everyone is welcome to join.
The camp installed new soffits in the bathhouse so no more birds nest in the bathrooms and they installed on-demand hot water!! Hot showers for everyone!!
We are following Æthelmearc’s current COVID policy – found here. You must stop at COVID check in FIRST!!! you can not unload first. If you are coming on Friday evening after 10 pm you MUST notify us beforehand!
It’s time to prepare for War – plus have a handfasting! Please join the Dominion of Myrkfaelinn for our annual War practice June 3rd-5th and help celebrate Gytha Oggsdottir and Sanada Nobukatsu’s handfasting. There will be heavy fighting, fencing, thrown weapons, children’s activities and a Feast!
The site is the beautiful Camp Barton Boy Scout Camp right on the shore of Cayuga Lake 9640 S Frontenac Rd., Trumansburg NY 14886. Site opens at Friday at 5pm and closes Sunday morning at 11am. Sideboard will be prepared by THL Cristina inghean Ghriogair. Please contact her at donnamac123@hotmail.com, 607 591-0999 with any questions or dietary restrictions.
There will be an amazing feast prepared by THL Lasairfhiona inghean Aindriasa. Please contact her via Facebook Messenger (Vicki Presler) or email at ravenheart.vp@gmail.com with any question or dietary restrictions. Not only will it be tasty but is free – donations are accepted. Feast is capped at 48.
Lady Meadbh ni Clerigh is preparing a whole range of children’s activities for our youth, so please bring them with you and keep her busy!
The Co -Autocrats are Gytha Oggsdottir (Lori Drake 101 Uptown Rd. #33, Ithaca NY 14850 607-351-8433 gythaoggs@gmail.com) and Cristina inghean Ghriogair, (Donna Ankrum donnamac123@hotmail.com 607 591-0999, 107 Oak Hill Rd., Ithaca NY 14850)
Adult Event Registration is $20
Adult Member Discount Event Registration is $15
Child age 0-17 are free!!!
Feast FREE – donations are accepted. Feast is capped at 48.
Event registration includes Saturday sideboard lunch and Saturday night camping. Camping Friday night is an additional $4 per adult.
Pre-registration is always appreciated, please send reservations to Master Hrólfr á Fjárfelli (Rolf Verberg), (607) 272-2996, at 680 Sheffield Road, Ithaca NY 14850. Make checks payable to SCA NY, Inc. – Dominion of Myrkfaelinn. Please include modern name, SCAdian name and membership number for each person covered by your payment. Also, indicate if any are minors. Include contact info for confirmation of receipt and to receive last minute notifications..
Here begins the report of the Court of Gareth and Julianna, King and Queen of Æthelmearc, at Their Queen’s Rapier Championship in the Shire of Misty Highlands, 5 March AS 56, jorundr hinn rotinn, Silver Buccle Herald, reporting, with the assistance of Arias Beltran del Valle, Sigil Herald, and Alianora Bronhulle, Garnet Herald.
In the morning.
Their Majesties summoned THLady Adeliz Argenti to present herself before Them. They granted Master Sogtungui Bataar time in Their court to release Adeliz as his Protege. Their Majesties then summoned the Order of the Pelican to take Adeliz to Vigil so that she might contemplate her entry to that order.
In the afternoon.
Their Majesties called the youth of the Kingdom before Them, and bade them follow Baroness McKenna Henderson with the toy box that they might be entertained during court.
Their Majesties invited the newcomers to attend Them. They gifted the newcomers mugs made by the artisans of the Kingdom and welcomed them to the society.
Their Majesties summoned before Them the kingdom Mistress of the ListsBaroness Amelia Soteria, and Meestress Odriana vander Brugghe. They confirmed that it was still Baroness Soteria’s intention to step down after 5 years of service, and Meestress Odriana’s intent to take on that role. Their Majesties released Baroness Soteria and after hearing Meestress Odriana’s Oath of Service named her Æthelmearc’s Mistress of the Lists.
Baron Arias Beltran del Valle, the autocrat was allowed a moment in Their Majesties Court to thank his staff and the Shire of Misty Highlands for their assistance in making the event happen and being flexible through several changes of plan and dates. He wanted to especially thank Lady Birna the tollner for her help. He also wanted to make a special thank you to the site liaison, the high school custodian who was on site since 11 PM the night previous getting the site ready.
Their Majesties called before Them Her Majesty’s Queen’s Rapier Champion Master Lodovick of Grays Inn. They thanked him for his service, and presented him with a token to commemorate his time as Queen’s Rapier Champion. Her Majesty next called Don Markus Skalpr Grimsson to present himself. Don Markus had won the tournament this day, and his chivalry and courtesy greatly impressed Her Majesty, thus She named him Her Queen’s Rapier Champion. Scroll by Master Kieran MacRae. Her Majesty next called for Lord Matthais al-Thabbai, she presented Lord Matthais with a token as the runner up in Her tournament and for displaying great honor and grace on the field.
Their Majesties summoned Ian of Sharrow to present himself before Them. Ian has been improving his skills on both the fencing field and the heavy combat field, which impressed Their Majesties greatly, thus They Awarded him Arms. Scroll by Gesa von Wellenstein.
Their Majesties next inducted Lord Orn Thorinson into the Order of the Golden Alce in absentia for his skills in fencing and his work in spreading fencing in the Shire of Ballachlagan through Stab a Professor. Scroll by Gesa von Wellenstein.
Their Majesties next summoned the parents of Betty. Otherwise known as Baroness Adelyn Idesborn and Baron Christian Goldenlok. Baroness Adelyn is known for many things, among those are her service as event staff, feeding people, and creating largesse. For these and more they made her a Companion of the Keystone. scroll by Katherine Kiersey. Baron Christian is also known for doing service. He assists with set up and tear down of events, and he is consistently helping with retaining and guarding, including when he lived outside of Æthelmearc. For this he was also inducted into the Order of the Keystone. Owl scroll by Biarna of Blackstone Mountainm, words by Mistress Grainhe.
Their Majesties once again summoned Lord Matthais al-Thabbai. His skill with a rapier has grown much, and his service to the fencing community has made some large impacts. For this Their Majesties inducted him into the Order of the White Scarf. Scroll by Alianora Bronhulle with words by Cyrus Augur and Po Silvertop the Rogue.
Their Majesties called for Comtesse Elena d’Artois le Tailleur to present herself before Them. Her Majesty thanked Elena for volunteering to coordinate the marshals for the tournament, and named Comtesse Elena her inspiration for the day and awarded her a Golden Escarbuncle.
Their Majesties had further words for Comtesse Elena, and called before Them the Order of Defense to discuss Comtesse Elena’s skill in fencing and her service to the community. They presented Elena a writ of summons to contemplate entry into the Order of Defense to be answered at the Special Practice in the Debatable Lands on April 2. Scroll by Alianora Bronhulle with words by Po Silvertop the Rogue.
Their Majesties invited Baroness Aine and Baron Arias to air a grienvance that the two of them had. They had formerly served as the arms of Their Majesties when they last sat upon the Sylvan thrones, but it had been noted that Their Majesties had a new left arm. Their Majesties agreed that this situation had occurred and that all Their arms should be on equal footing. They thus demanded that Baroness Aine and Baron Arias bring before Them THLord Rhys of Miles End. Their Majesties noted how They were pleased by the work Rhys has done for Them, thus they named him a Baron of Their Court. Scroll by Nichola Beese.
THLady Adeliz Argenti was called into court that she might answer the question from her writ to the Order of the Pelican. Their Majesties confirmed that it was Adeliz’s intend to proceed, and heard words from Countess Alys Katharine, a Pelican from the Midrealm, Sir Arden Scott of Clan Scott, a member of the Order of the Chivalry, Viscountess Rosalinde Ashworth, a member of the Order of the Laurel, Duchess Dagmar Halvdan, a Royal Peer, Viscountess Judith of Kirtland, a Lady of the Garnet, and Viscount Bear the Wallsbane, a Jewel of Æthelmearc in support of Adeliz’s induction into the Order of the Pelican. Their Majesties heard these words and found it right to continue so They invested Adeliz with a hood, by the hand of Anastasie de Lamoure, the Ancestral Pelican Medallion of Æthelmearc, a personal medallion that she might keep, and Baroness Anna Eisenkopf presented a medallion that was passed through 3 other female Pelicans that lived and did service in the Midrealm. After hearing Adeliz’ oath of service they declared her a member of the Order of the Pelican and granted her the title Dame. Scroll by Nikolai Malkovitch.
Their Majesties invited all the scribes and wordsmiths who worked on the scrolls for this court to attend Them so that They could present tokens of appreciation in the form of Their Majesties’ reign coins.
Their Majesties thanked everyone for attending and thanked the staff for hosting the event and invited all to attend the events coming up leading to the Coronation of Their Heirs, as we all continue looking forward to a more normal summer.
When arriving at the site for Queen’s Rapier Championship and Equestrian Games this Saturday, April 8, you will be directed as to where to park. Parking is limited, so if it’s possible to carpool, that would be optimal.
