Æthelmearc-Sponsored Archery Tourney at SCA 50 Year

05 Tuesday Jul 2016

Posted by aethgazette in 50 Year, Archery

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Master Urho teaching a young archer.

Thanks to Master Urho Waltterinen for this account of the archery tourney he ran at the SCA 50 Year Celebration.

On Tuesday, June 21^st, despite the heat, the Kingdom of Æthelmearc sponsored an archery tournament created by Master Urho Waltterinen. Their Majesties of Æthelmearc, Byron and Ariella, attended and oversaw the entire tournament. Twenty-five archers, including Their Majesties’ son, Ian, participated.

In the first of three rounds, archers shot at a quartered section of the usual 60 cm target at twenty yards. They had to make a decision whether to aim at the center of this new target and risk not scoring enough points to advance or go for the gold and risk missing the target completely. In the end twelve scored high enough to advance to the next round. The high scorer was presented with a gift certificate for his achievement.

In the second, twelve archers were challenged to shoot at an unspecified target in the distance. THL Luceta di Cosimo painted a fantastical beast for them to aim at. The task to advance was to hit this target twice and the first eight to do so would advance to the final round. Archers began at about seventy yards away, fired two arrows in a coordinated mass launch and then advanced five paces forward for the next flight. The first seven archers were easily found, but three archers tied for the eighth position. His Majesty heard a suggestion from one of the archers that these three would fire two more arrows and the closest to a small escarbuncle on the target would advance and ruled that this would be the tiebreaker. The last archer advanced.

In the third and last, these elite archers returned to twenty yards and competed in a double-elimination round skillfully managed by Baroness Elizabeth Arrowsmyth as Mistress of the List. The target for this was a yin-yang in black and white merely eight inches across where each archer was assigned their color. After the pairings were determined by random draw, the rounds were shot. His Majesty was so caught up in the excitement shown by the skills of these archers that he personally assisted in the scoring of each match. At the level of prowess reached by these final competitors, mere millimeters determined success or failure.

In the last and final round, Cullen of the East and Treutvin of Calontir were matched. Cullen hit his color five of six times while Treutvin hit his color on six of six and so was declared the winner. Both finalists were awarded gift certificates and Treutvin was further presented with a scroll created by Mistress Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen and read to the populace by Baroness Gwendolyn the Graceful.

All archers were then invited to join us again on the archery range at Pennsic.

The archers thank Their Majesties for Their attendance and for Their attention to our sport.

More SCA 50 Year News!

24 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by aethgazette in 50 Year

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#SCA50Year, Equestrian, Metalsmithing, scribal

The SCA 50 Year Celebration continues in the Middle Kingdom with a variety of activities. Thanks to Viscountess Hodierna Miriglee of Lincludin, who was the second Princess of Æthelmearc, and to THLady Rachel Dalicieux for their reports and photos!

Alas, rain on Tuesday and Wednesday caused the closure of some venues including archery and siege, but participants enjoyed many other activities in the many buildings and arenas available on the fairground site. There were crafts in the arts building including pottery, fiber arts, and block printing, as well as numerous children’s activities.

One record already set by the 50 Year Celebration is that it currently holds the largest gathering of equestrians in the history of the Known World. There were mounted combat tournaments and other competitions over the course of the week.

Equestrians at SCA 50 Year. Photo by THLady Maeve ni Siurtain.

Mounted combat. Photo by THLady Maeve ni Siurtain.

The Queens of the Known World participated in one particularly unusual equestrian competition. They were driven in horse-drawn chariots and had to complete tasks much as in normal equestrian competitions, knocking over artificial “enemies” with beanbags. So of course the Æthelmearc contingent in the stands took the opportunity to cheer Queen Ariella on with chants of “Oh, No, Rock to the Face!” each time she struck a target. While our queen acquitted herself well, the winner of the competition was Queen Adrielle of Ealdormere.

Queen Ariella in the chariot tournament. Photo by Mistress Hilderun Hugelmann.

One of the marvels on site was the “Great Machine.” Powered by dogs, it can do a variety of work. One of its creators, Master Sylard of Eagleshaven from Ealdormere, demonstrated using it to drive a Da Vinci Hammer and transform a bog iron bloom to iron that can be worked.

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Sir Stefan Ulfkelsson of Æthelmearc also spent some time working bog iron at 50 Year, though without the benefit of the machine. Instead, he had assistants working a bellows to heat a charcoal fire so he could smelt the bog ore into iron using a Viking-era bloom forge. He reports that he was able to achieve about 25% efficiency of product in to iron out, which is very good for this technique.

Assistants working the bellows at the forge. Photo by Master Fridrikr Tomasson.

Sir Stefan Ulfkelsson at the forge. Photo by Master Fridrikr Tomasson.

Photos by Master Fridrikr Tomasson.

Other indoor activities have included a Boat Battle, a Squire’s Tournament, a Known World Hafla, and Children’s A&S Day.

Of interest to both scribes and bards, SCA 50 Year marked the unveiling of a book that was created by a group of over 50 Midrealm artisans in a project called “Calf to Codex.” Spearheaded by Master Johannes von Narrenstein, they began five years ago with deer that were butchered by hand and their hides processed into parchment. The parchment was then distributed to numerous scribes who painted and calligraphed the text using handmade oak gall ink and period pigments, and in some cases even handmade paint brushes and of course, quill pens. The text includes Midrealm history, stories, and songs written by a score of bards of the Middle, including such luminaries as Mistress Marian of Heatherdale, Duke Finvarr de Taahe, and Duke Laurelen Darksbane. Once complete, the parchment pages were gathered into quires, sewn together to form a book, and bound using hand-planed quarter-sawn oak panels and a tooled leather cover with handmade metal reinforcements and clasps. The threads used to sew the book together were made from flax grown, harvested, combed, and spun by members of the Society. Even the tools used to line the leather cover were hand-made. At SCA 50 Year, Master Johannes presented the 112-page book at a performance area where bards performed music and stories from it.

Master Johannes says of the book’s purpose: “It will be used like a book should be – read from, to us, at events and gatherings. We will have a custodian to take care of it, and invite readers to read to us from it.”

The photos below, by Viscountess Elashava bas Riva, are stunning. Gentles interested in a closer look at the project can learn more on the group’s Facebook page.

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One of the more popular events of 50 Year was the “Founders Meet and Greet.” A group of five gentles who were present at the first tournament, including its hostess, Countess Diana Listmaker, told stories of the Society’s founding and early days and answered questions. They are undoubtedly the celebrities of the event and have graciously had their pictures taken with scores of people from all over the Known World.

Some of the Society’s Founders at SCA 50 Year. Back Row: Countess Diana Listmaker, Duke Henrik of Havn, Count Stefan de Lorraine, and Baroness Marianna of Silversea. Front row: Viscountess Hodierna and Duke Frederick of Holland. Photo courtesy of Viscountess Hodierna.

SCA 50 Year Opening Ceremonies

22 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by aethgazette in 50 Year

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#SCA50Year, 50 Year

Thanks to Mistress Hilderun Hugelmann and THLady Rachel Dalicieux for continued photos and commentary on the SCA 50 Year Celebration.

The SCA 50 Year Celebration opened on Sunday with Countess Diana Listmaker, who hosted the first SCA event, telling the tale of the first event.

Countess Diana Listmaker tells the tale of the first tournament. Photo by Viscountess Elashava bas Riva.

Diana Listmaker and Astrid at first tourney

Countess Diana and Astrid at the first event.

Duke Siegfried von Hoflichskeit and Fulk at the first event.

A group of founders joined Countess Diana on the dais. One of them, Duke Master Frederick of Holland (known as Flieg), heralded in the royalty of the Known World, reciting each Kingdom’s lineage in turn.

Duke Frederick of Holland (Flieg) heralds the Kingdoms in with the lineage of each realm. Other founders sit on the dais. Photo by Viscountess Elashava.

There were then demonstrations of heavy fighting and fencing, as well as a procession of people in clothing from many times and places.

Countess Diana Listmaker tells the tale of the first tournament. Photo by Viscountess Elashava bas Riva.

The processional also included the first same-sex couple to rule a Barony, recently retired Barons of the Barony of Gyldenholt in Caid, Master Giles Hill and Master Giuseppe Francesco de Borgia. Musical entertainment was provided by Wolgemut.

Wolgemut performing at SCA 50 Year. Photo by Viscountess Elashava.

There was also a demonstration of jousting, using lances with balsa wood ends.

Video by Lena Erickson

On Monday, June 20, the Æthelmearc Pas d’Arms was held. This tournament was jointly sponsored by King Byron and Queen Ariella, with Their Royal Majesties of Ansteorra, Gabriel and Sonja. It was originally the brainchild of Duke Timothy of Arindale, who was unfortunately detained by llamas somewhere near Machu Picchu and could not attend.

Our King and Queen proudly held the field for four hours in the hottest part of the day, challenging the entire Known World to test their mettle against Their steely resolve. 30 fighters, some from as far away as Drachenwald and the West, met together in the list. At last, Thervald, squire to Sir Devon of the Midrealm, emerged victorious.

Our own Lady Cynewyn Æthelweardsdohter received a Token of Inspiration from King Gabriel for her enthusiasm during the combat.

King Byron at the Pas d’Armes. Photo by Mistress Hilderun Hugelmann.

Queen Ariella at the Pas d’Armes. Photo by Viscountess Elashava bas Riva.

A support group from Æthelmearc assisted with organizing the Pas d’Armes.

Countess Genevieve, THLady Hara, and Baroness Elizabeth helping run the Pas d’Armes. Photo by Mistress Hilderun Hugelmann..

The Gode Bakery, run by Master Alastar Scott MacCrummin and Maistres Myfanwy ferch Rhiannon with assistance from Maistir Brandubh o Donnghaile, serves meals to hungry gentles.