Late Winter Shoot 2008

 By Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton

Just as Winter War is the traditional opening of the Melee Season, archers look to Late Winter Shoot to knock the rust off of their arrows and prepare for the upcoming archery season.  The event always attracts many archers from around Ealdormere as well as visitors from AEthelmearc. This year was no exception, with over 40 archers taking the line.  This year also saw the addition of a new activity, with thrown weapons enthusiasts bearing the chilly temperatures and the melting snow to toss a few knives and axes.

The tournament results had a distinctly southern flavour to them. The morning’s Winter Shot was won by Baron Caleb (the new Baron of the Rhydderich Hael) with 158 points, followed by Lord Robert Guerin with 135 points and Sir Evander with 118 points.  The afternoon Winter Shoot was won by Baron Connor Bowsplitter, also of the Rhydderich Hael, with 164 points, followed by Baron Caleb (despite a spectacular crossbow failure near the end of the shoot) with 147 points, and Lord Aodhan with 138 points.   Baron Connor also won the Novelty Shoot.

After the tournaments ended, a short Baronial Court was held on the range.  Prizes of leather satchels and pouches were awarded to the tourney winners.  Bohemond from Caer Draeth was awarded a Bear’s Heart for his efforts in securing an  archery site for regular practices.  Lady Mahhilde de Valonges was awarded a Golden Bear for her many skills. A brass arrowhead to recognize archery promotion in Petrea Thule was passed on to THL Dafydd ap Sion.  TE Percival and Christiana noted this was the first anniversary of the announcement of their succession as Baron and Baroness of Septentria and thanked all for a wonderful first year.

Time to Pluck Some Yew (Late Winter Shoot 2002)

Iolanda de Albornóz

Ah, for the sweet sound of bow strings! How happy I was to see the arrows fly after so many months of inactivity.

With their annual Late Winter Shoot event, our neighbouring Canton of Petrea Thule offered us a wonderful opportunity to flex those old muscles in preparation for the busy months of summer, and for Pennsic War.

About twenty-seven gentles of the Kingdom showed up to this event, twenty-one of which participated in the practises, winter rounds and a very nice fun shoot that Daffyd Ap Sion and other gentles of his canton organized.  Among the names your humble writer could recall were Her gracious Majesty, Queen Rustique; Their Highnesses, the Barons of Septentria; Sir Evander, Lord Sigrfrid Brandbeorn, Lord William of Swelfingham and his lady, Ulvar Das Nedeerlander and many other esteemed gentles whose name escape my memory.

Ardchreag’s name was mentioned several times, asking why didn’t more of our archers make it to this assembly.  I certainly wished for more of my fellow Chreaggers at that time, for I felt that only one person would be inadequate to represent a canton founded by its many renowned archers.

Luck was with me during the day, however.  After the first Winter Shoot, my string started to unravel, and I feared it would snap at the decisive moment.  However, Lord Daffyd instructed me to go to the nearest local bowyers, that happened to have their shop open at the time, and my problem was fixed in good time.  I was able to score 48 for the first shoot, and 63 for the second, which amazed me to no end!  Her Majesty, Queen Rustique, learned to use her bow for the first time in this occasion, and made us
proud by scoring 40 points!  Very well done indeed!

Activities continued after this round, but I made my farewells and packed my belongings for a long trip back home, for it was getting rainy and dark. However, I am very pleased to say that as the weather improves, more bow music will be heard in Septentria, and in Ardchreag.  Get ready to pluck
some yew!

Falling Prey to Archers (Late Winter Shoot, March 13, 2004)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

From the journals of Cap'n Bloodfox, written while incarcerated in the Illi Gaol, Petrea Thule.

So it would appear that me famous luck has run out at last.

For ya see, me and my crew had planned one more daring raid against them Thuligans what live up in the 'rocky north'. Our plan was simple, and simple plans often work the best, or so me parrot always told me. We were to sail the Interceptor and the Clever Wife--the ship of me woman, Cap'n Widow--into a channel close by a barracks, and sally to the barracks on foot. We had heard that them Thuligans stored provisions and weapons at this barracks, but that they only manned the place for one day of the week. We split up into two teams, one led by meself and Mister Andrews, the other by Widow and Mister Tibs. We reckoned we'd just sidle up to the barracks from two sides, slip in the doors, and help ourselves to some booty.

'Twas a good plan. Except for one small detail that somehow eluded us all, and has led to our current sorry state of imprisonment.

For you see, them Thuligans had gone and sent out invitations to archers from across the land to come to the barracks that day and participate in several types of shootin'. By the time we got close enough to see that the barracks was crawling with over sixty archers, they had seen us too!

Well that constable from Bastille du Lac was there, as were them Iron Companions, AND the Thuligan Guard! Well, me and me mates scampered for it. Arrows were coming in at us from all directions and me men were dropping all around me. Finally we was cornered, and a team of six archers came and captured us. And I swear by all the gods of the deep that one of them archers was Widow her own self! Captured by me own woman, posin' as a Yeoman of the White Arrow from Ardchreag way!

I tell you truth, if Ol' Barney, whose plan this was, hadn't taken an arrow in the eye and saved me the trouble, I woulda slit his gizzard for this here debacle! As for Widow, well, I been talking to the guards o' this here gaol, tellin' 'em where they is likely to find the Clever Wife. Soon me woman will be sitting here beside me in this cell, and her feet will be swinging beside mine when I go.

If I go.

For there has not yet been a prison that can hold Cap'n Bloodfox.

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On March 13, the canton of Petrea Thule held the sixth annual Late Winter Shoot. Archers and crossbowmen from across Ealdormere came to participate in several types of shoots, including Winter rounds. Many good gentles won prizes for their skill with bow or crossbow, and everyone was stuffed with food thanks to the legendary generosity and hospitality of the Thule. The highlight of the day for many (based on the giggles, grins and enthusiasm I witnessed in the participants) was the novelty shoot. The archers were split into six teams of six to compete. Each team was shooting at a board with sixteen balloons set in a grid. Behind each balloon was a picture of a pirate. Fourteen of the pictures were generic pirates. One was of a captain (either Bloodfox or Widow) while the last was a first mate (Mister Andersen or Mister Tibs). The game was much like bingo. The object was to get a completed line of four pirates that included the captain and the first mate. It was possible to get them in the same line, or you could get a separate line for each (your strategy would of course depend on what balloons you had so far managed to pop before uncovering a captain or first mate). Each member of each team shot one arrow, then they would all scamper to the targets to see what pirate they had caught. Even after the first, second and third place prizes had been handed out for the shoot, archers kept at it until every balloon one very target had been popped! It was a most enjoyable day.

The following day Thule hosted a Septentrian Baronial Fight Practice which attracted fighters from Ben Dunfirth and Skraeling Althing (including three knights). Approximately fourteen fighters met on the field in one on one challenges, and many participated in the spear class taught by Sir Nigel MacFarlane and Baroness Adrielle Kerrec.