Clyde' Travels - Come Together – A Reunification Event!

Come Together – A Reunification Event!

Sharon Johnston Park
New Market, AL

Shire of Glynn Rhe

November 4, 2023

In the wee hours, prior to the light of dawn over the Cumbrian lands, 2 squires and their Earl met in a dark alley. A wagon was loaded. The horse urged forward, burdoned by men and baggage, on a journey southward through the old, earily quiet, lands of Delvingrim into the fertile fields of Glynn Rhe.

A celebration event was being held to commemorate the the reunification of two neighboring shires into one. The Shires of An Dun Theine and Glynn Rhe, with the blessing of the Kingdom, are becoming one again under a single banner. 

The day was full of festivities themed to traditions from both groups. We three, Earl Benen, Lord Ronan and I, came for the fighting. There were 4 tournaments held.

• The infamous DOOM tournament with its cloak, sword and chain of DOOM.
• The Wish List - A bridesmaid's tournament awarding a spiffy helmet made by Sir Marcus.
• The Sable Swan List - A great weapon/polearm only list.
• The Wine List - A 4v4 team tournament.

First up, to my surprise, was the DOOM tournament. I was not prepared and gave only a mediocre performance at best. No one to blame but myself, but some days are like that. The tournament ended up being nothing more than a warm up for me. I was slow and stagnant and was put out of it before I really got up to speed. Duke Caillin of Gleann Abhann won the tournament. 

In the Wish List, I was able to watch and support my squire brother, Ronan of Axebridge. Ronan fought well and won the tournament. The Earl was proud. Making it all the more special, he's been needing a new helmet. It was good to see him find success. Sir Marcus and Ronan with the prize in the following picture.

I was able to get in a couple of pickup fights with Sir John Mailer and Song Qingzhao during a break period between the tournaments. Good fights. Made me feel better about my slow start in the DOOM tournament.

For the Sable Swan list, I got silly and fought with a glaive. It is not a weapon system that I have used much, and definately not at all in the past several years. But, if you want to play sometimes you have to go out on a ledge where the comfort ends and craziness begins. I was two and done in the double elimination tournament. I fought Bjorn and Sir Legio. I found my self laughing as soon as 'lay on' was called knowing the engagements would not last long. It was fun if not shortlived. The tournament was won by Duke Caillin of Gleann Abhann. He had two signifigant challenges getting there through the likes of Giermundr and Bragg. Both showed great examples of Merdian valor in the face of the western aggressor.

Fighting glaive again was weird and awkward. I have spent so much time fighting with sword and shield lately to be consistent with it. Many other forms I am familiar with have become neglected. I used to be a pretty good two-stick fighter. It has been several years since I tried and actually fought someone with that form. Several of us were talking about how rare it is for someone in Meridies to show up in a tournament with something other than sword and shield, so much so that when it happens we tend to panic because we (collectively) see other forms so rarely in list. That idea seems to be a weakness we need to address. Im a brute of a glaive fighter that is not nimble enough to avoid much of any shot but still find fun in it. I think I need to pay some of those other styles some attention where time permits. I cannot afford to reduce my primary form for an alternate form but, a fighter in the SCA needs to be familiar with every form on the field. We never know what we might encounter from one event to the next.

In the last tournment, the Wine List, we had enough for 4 teams in total. A round robin format was the nature of things. Ronan was not able to continue, so it was Earl Benen and I with two others, Refr and Thomas, who filled out our team - 'Team 3 from Navarrone'. It was a chaotic affair. I drew a lot of attention and found my self double-teamed a lot. We fought hard, had fun, but did not pull out any wins unfortunately. Some team sponsored by Kubota won the list. Corporate sponsorship really shouldnt be allowed in amatuer sports, just saying.

That was my day. This entry is somewhat brief, but sometimes the simplicity of good day does not need a lot of words. I witnessed a brother win a worthy prize. I spent a day with my Earl and squire-brother. I enjoyed a fine Autumn day in Glynn Rhe with friends and laughter all about. It was a beautiful day.

Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!

Baron Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde'

Squire to Earl Benen MacTire

Warden of the Northern Plateau
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies