Great Northern War XVI

Great Northern War XVI (GNW 16) was held at BP Park – 68 Cash Avenue, Samford, Queensland over the June long weekend (Friday 6^th – Monday 9^th June 2014, AS49). It was a fully catered event with dorms for interstate visitors and on site camping available. The event is run alternatively between the Northern Reaches baronies – this year it was hosted by the Barony of River Haven. More information is published about the event in general is available on the Great Northern War event page.

The event timetable can be downloaded here: GNW XVI Event Timetable

 

Event team

Stewarding team

• Event Steward: Countess Beatrice Maria Malatesta
• Deputy Stewards: Master Sir Steffan Glaube and Baron Master William Castille
• Bookings Officer: Branwen vercg Lewis ap Thomas
• Feast Stewards: Baroness Mistress Acacia de Navarra, Countess Beatrice Maria Malatesta and TH Lady Antoinette Travaillie
• Procurement Officer: Mistress Glynhyvar of River Haven
• Officer Coordinator: TH Baroness Hrodny Aradottir
• Infrastructure Coordinator – Facilities: Sir Lorcan of River Haven
• Marketing Officer: Sir Bain of Stornaway

Event officers

• Heavy Marshal in Charge: Count Sir Henri de Montferrant
• Rapier Marshal in Charge: TH Baron Dimitrii Borodinskii
• Archery Marshal in Charge: Lady Kathalyn Berghart
• Arts and Sciences Coordinator: TH Baroness Katherine Alicia of Sarum
• Herald: Lord Robin of Twyford
• List Mistress: Lady Gabriella Borromei
• Constable: Count Sir Niall in Orkneyskii
• Chirurgeon: Master Hrothgar Breaksword
• Youth Coordinator: TH Baroness Josseline de la Cour
• Hospitaller: Lady Ringwar Northwood
• Entertainment Coordinator: TH Lady Christine Bess Duvant
• Hygiene: Lady Kara of Kirriemuir
• Pageantry Officer: TH Lady Christine Bess Duvant
• Merchant Coordinators: TH Baroness Josseline de la Cour and Lady Ringwar Northwood
• Bunkhouse Coordinator: Lady Carpathia
• Transport Coordinator: Lord Robin of Twyford

Heavy Fighting

The traditional Flame Tourney was held on Friday night in the ring of fire – a double roped, large-sized list field with gas-fuelled fire, cross bars and braziers. Before the tournament began, Christopher Longstaff successfully authorised and was then squired to Count Sir Edmund of Shotley.

The tournament is an eight round grand melee (single engagement at a time) with the winner of each round gaining admission to the single kill, single elimination semi finals. The final two fighters compete in a single kill, triple elimination.

At GNW XVI, there were 30 heavy combatants in the list. The eight combatants who progressed to the finals were:

1. Duke Sir Alaric of Bangor
2. TH Sir Lucas von Aych
3. Sir Rufus Adycote of Mynheniot
4. TH Lord Rowland Bridgeford
5. Sir Bain of Stornaway
6. Sir Leofric Willoughby de Broke
7. Countess Liadan ingen Fheradaig (nominated by the victor, TH Sir Lucas von Aych)
8. Lord Tristan

The quarter final results were:

• Duke Sir Alaric of Bangor defeated TH Sir Lucas von Aych
• Sir Rufus Adycote of Mynheniot defeated TH Lord Rowland Bridgeford
• Sir Leofric Willoughby de Broke defeated Sir Bain of Stornaway
• Lord Tristan defeated Countess Liadan ingen Fheradaig

The semi final results were:

• Duke Sir Alaric of Bangor defeated Sir Rufus Adycote of Mynheniot
• Sir Leofric Willoughby de Broke defeated Lord Tristan

The grand finalists this year were Duke Sir Alaric of Bangor and Sir Leofric Willoughby de Broke, with Duke Sir Alaric victorious.

Saturday saw the return of Knights School (heavy training) and the heavy fighter soccer game.

On Saturday and Sunday there was war held, with scenarios run by Count Sir Henri de Montferrant.

The Fighter Auction Tournament, a single kill and double elimination style, had 17 heavy combatants compete.

The semi final results were:

1. TH Sir Lucas von Aych defeated Sir Agro Agwesi
2. Count Sir Niall in Orkneyskii defeated TH Lord Rowland Bridgeford

The tournament was won by TH Sir Lucas von Aych, giving him the title of Powerful Owl.

Rapier

Saturday was a casual fighting/training day and saw Finnr Magnusson from Stegby successfully authorise for fencing.

On Sunday, TH Lady Ceara Shionnach ran four rounds of a six person Valhalla style tournament. Don Alessandro von Florenz won two rounds, and Sir Somerled of Redcliffe and TH Lady Ceara Shionnach won one round each. However, as Alessandro forfeited after the fourth round, a best of three (mixed weapons each time) was fought as the final between the latter two. Sir Somerled of Redcliffe was victorious.

On Monday, Countess Liadan ingen Fheradaig ran the rapier Fighter Auction Tournament. Eight fighters entered the round robin format, with Don Alessandro von Florenz and Sir Somerled of Redcliffe making the triple elimination, mixed-weapons finals. Don Alessandro was victorious.

Entertainment

During the evenings of Great Northern War there are often various games or other activities to entertain the populace. This year, one such entertainment was a play called ‘Shakespeare’s Sisters’, which included scenes from Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Merry Wives of Windsor and Midsummer Nights Dream. The performers included Baroness Mistress Acacia de Navarra, Lucia Littlefaire, Lady Elaine Wentworth and Lady Charyse the Shy and the play was conceived and directed by Lucia Littlefaire.

Two owls visited the event for a short time on Friday night – Jasper the barn owl and Jessie the barking owl. These friendly birds were able to be petted by the populace as they perched upon their carers arms.

A sheep-stealing boffer game was played Saturday and Sunday evenings between adults and children alike. There were three sheep and two teams – the objective was for one team to steal all the sheep from the other team. It was three hits for a kill, and unlimited resurrections (by tapping an owl post at the entrance to the list field).

On Saturday and Sunday nights, the flaming trebuchets were fired to the delight and amazement of the onlookers.

On Saturday night, there were many chariot races held on the list field. In one of the most notable races, His Majesty Alfar and Her Majesty Angharat raced one another, with the Queen victorious.

On Sunday night, there were several chariot jousting competitions held. The first was between His Majesty Alfar and Viscount Sir Brusi Anderson of the Shetlands. The Baron and Baroness of River Haven, Baron Master William Castille and TH Baroness Katherine Alicia of Sarum, also competed with the Baroness victorious.

Arts and Sciences

There were over 25 classes on offer over the weekend, some for adults and some kids focussed. Topics ranged from sewing/embroidery, illumination, silk painting, book making, and drawing to dancing and heraldic display.

There were also bardic circles run in the evenings.

Archery

The archery field saw much action over the event, including and IKAC shoot, a Royal Round competition, and archery hunt, a clout shoot and a childrens novelty shoot.

The victors were as follows:

• IKAC under 10 years: Evan of Stornaway
• IKAC under 10-12 years: Sean
• IKAC under 13-16 years: Layla
• IKAC adults: Wintherus Alban (period division) and TH Lord Madog Llwyd ap Madog (open division)
• The Hunt: TH Lord Madog Llwyd ap Madog
• Royal Round: Wintherus Alban (period division) and TH Lord Madog Llwyd ap Madog (open division)
• Clout Shoot: 1st place tie between Ben and Sean. Caleb came second.

Equestrian Activities

There were four horses on site for various equestrian activities across the weekend.

Kids Activities

Kinder Keep was an exciting area for the children at the event to play. The Keep included various childrens A&S activities (including colouring in, blackboard-painted shields and table, and classes such as pottery), a boffer field painted like a castle, a giant chess game and a puppet show.

Kingdom Raffle II

The second Kingdom Raffle, as run by Countess Mistress Leylii bint Hizir, was early Anglo-Saxon themed. 200 tickets were sold, and the winner of the raffle was TH Lady Ceara Shionnach. It was announced that there would be a forthcoming, fourth Kingdom Raffle held with a late period themed.