Tag Archives: Equestrian Championships

Still Time to Pre-Reg for Iris Festival & Kingdom Equestrian Champs!

29 Sunday May 2022

Posted by in A&S Competition and Display, Competitions, Equestrian, Event Announcements & Updates, Fencing, Heavy List, Rapier, Thrown Weapons

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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!!
See you there!

New Kingdom Equestrian Champions Chosen

22 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by in Equestrian

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photo by Jennifer Jenkins Benke

Sunny skies, balmy weather and a huge arena made for a wonderful day for the Æthelmearc Kingdom Equestrian Championships, held at Melee Madness in Endless Hills on June 3.

Lady Gesa von Wellenstein on Freya. Photo by Jinx.

Outgoing King’s Champion and Kingdom Equestrian Officer, THL Aaliz de Gant, ran a fierce competition for the riders, including the new Ride Before a Prince portion.

To Ride Before a Prince, which debuted as a War Point at Gulf Wars this year, incorporates historic research into period riding techniques to put together a performance to show off both rider and horse to the best of their abilities. The name comes from Grisone and Markham, two of the late 16th century riding masters, who included in their riding manuals instructions on how to perform before a prince. Modern day dressage stems from this art form, which began to supersede jousts and melees during the 1500s.

The driving force behind this new activity was THL Bridget Rede of Dunvegan, who was just given a writ of summons for a Laurel in Ansteorra for her historic equestrian research. Just as the fencing community is delving more into historic research and combat manuals, the equestrian community is starting to move beyond the normal “games” seen at most horse events.

THL Maeve ni Siurtain on Lexi, and AE Head Groundsman THL Rhiannon Elandris of Glyndyfrdwy. Photo by Jinx.

We had many new riders this year from Endless Hills thanks to outreach by Master TTigernach mac Cathail and Lady Rhiannon le Meke from Endless Hills – the local group fielded six feisty Paso Fino horses, including the stallion ridden by Master Tigernach.

The first part of the competition was the Ride Before a Prince. The rides were performed to period music. and emphasis was placed on pageantry and the comportment and unity of horse and rider.

The second half of the competition was a traditional games course with reeds, Saracen heads, quintain, a “water” hazard, and several maneuvers to show command of the horse, such as turn on the haunches and backing through an obstacle.

Scores were tallied and the new King’s and Queen’s Champions were announced in court, much to the surprise of Mistress Ysabeau Tiercelin, who was named King’s Champion. Her score of 142 bested Master Tigernach in a close race with his score of 132.75, and he was named Queen’s Champion.

Mistress Tiercelin on Freya. Photo by Jinx.

“Although our son was an active rider in the modern world,” says Tiercelin, “I decided to start riding because of the chance to do equestrian within an SCA context. It has taken 8 years of practice, and I’m just now starting to feel confident on my horse. I challenged myself to a Spark goal (and His Majesty Timothy, that he would ride in the procession if I met it) of cantering this year in the Championships, and we did it – it was a truly wonderful feeling! Plus, who can say no to getting to make cool barding!”

The Champions serve the Kingdom through two reigns due to weather constraints in our Kingdom. Everyone is looking forward to next year!