La Prova Dura AS45

From Friday the 24th to Saturday the 26th of September 2010, the Barony of Innilgard hosted Lochac’s first La Prova Dura tournament weekend at Crystal Lake Camp, Devereux Street, Macclesfield, SA. The steward of the event was Lady Eva von Danzig, and the event attracted international heavy combatants from the West Kingdom – Duchess Sir Mari Alexander and Duke Sir Hauoc Bender. Mina Wynter and Baron Jehan von der Murre from the West Kingdom were also in attendance.

Master Giles Leabrook doing his heralding thing at La Prova Dura I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.
Master Giles Leabrook doing his heralding thing at La Prova Dura I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.

The event drew 30 heavy combatants to the major tournament on the Saturday, competing in a 6 hour long round robin. It is not just a tournament of skill, but also of endurance – many people were not able to continue throughout the entire round robin.

Heavy combatants at La Prova Dura I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.
Heavy combatants at La Prova Dura I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.

The prize for the Prova del Valor was a ring made by Lord Felix Arnett, which was given to Duke Hauoc after he won the tournament. Duke Hauoc then gave the ring to Mistress Nicolette Dufay as recognition of the work she did as List Mistress for the event, thus starting a tradition of recognising that those who support the tourney also have their own test of endurance.

The full results from this tournament, as published on RenaissanceItaly.net, were as follows:

RANK COMBATANT WINS NUMBER OF BOUTS
1 Duke Sir Havoc of House Bender 27 27
2 Duke Sir Cornelius von Becke 27 28
3 Adam the Renegade 23 28
4 Count Sir Beringer of Nancy 21 26
5 Sir Guillaume d’Oze 19 28
5 Wulfgar Jarnsida 19 28
7 Duchess Sir Mari Alexander 18 28
7 Felix Arnett 18 28
7 John the Hessian 18 27
10 Viscount Sir Kane Greymane 17 27
11 Kitan von Falkenberg 16 28
11 Nathan Blacktower 16 27
13 Iarla Bran na torc dubh mac Brucle 15 25
14 Hrothgar Aet Gutingbroce 13 27
14 Semyon Alexasindrovitch Drakon 13 28
16 Niall inn Orkneyski 12 26
17 Duke Sir Alfar of Attica 11 13
17 Don Everard Sefar 11 26
19 Yevan de Leeds 10 27
20 Fagan the Butcher 9 27
21 Eva von Danzig 8 28
21 Tristan 8 26
23 His Royal Majesty Edmond 7 18
24 Collette de Harcourt 4 26
25 Alesia de Cheval Blanc 3 14
25 Lothar the well travelled 3 28
25 Lucas Maxwell 3 26
25 Tim of Newton 3 28
29 Gawain the Unseen 2 15
30 Ceara inghean Ui Sionnach 0 28

Video footage of many of the bouts of Lochac’s 2010 La Prova Dura event are publicly available for viewing on YouTube (via the Modern Medievalist username).

La Prova Dura attracts much pagaentry - this is Master Hrothgar aet Gytingbroce's seawolf helmet crest from La Prova Dura I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.
La Prova Dura attracts much pagaentry – this is Master Hrothgar aet Gytingbroce’s seawolf helmet crest from La Prova Dura I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.

On the Sunday, La Prova di Amore was held amongst the combatants chosen to participate. Lord Kitan von Falkenberg was victorious on behalf of his consort Lady Alesia au Cheval Blanc, defeating Viscount Sir Kane Greymane in the finals.

Their Majesties Edmund and Leonore present the finalists and their consorts for La Prova di Amore I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.
Their Majesties Edmund and Leonore present the finalists and their consorts for La Prova di Amore I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.

The prize for winning this tournament was a rose made from metal that was made locally by Lord Felix Arnett.

Lady Alesia holding the roses that Lord Kitan won for her in La Prova di Amore I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach.
Lady Alesia holding the roses that Lord Kitan won for her in La Prova di Amore I. Photo by Lady Ceara Shionnach, September 2010.