[Ansteorra] best of the best

[James Crouchet]

Queens Champion has, I think, come up with a nice solution for this delema. 
Admittedly, there is no Crown at stake and that changes the character of 
the activity.

It is common practice for the Queen, once the list gets down to about a 
dozen people, to call the remaining fighters together and ask any who 
cannot fulfill the duties of the Queen's Champion to withdraw. This gives 
the fighters a chance to do so without losing face, lets them express 
their well wishes and regrets at having to withdraw and can provide a 
venue for a nice bit of theater.

This is about more than just giving a fighter the opportunity to fight some 
hot fencers. It gives any authorized fencer the ability to participate in 
something that is dedicated to the Queen. At the beginning of the day all 
rapier fighters are invited to come forward and take the "Oath Of The 
Legion Of Swashbucklers" and so be bound to the Queen (most do). And since 
our queens typically greets each fighter in their list individually, it 
gives even the newest a chance to share in the honor of the day.

Without the ability to participate in the list many would not come to QC so 
by keeping the list open it becomes much more of a coming together of the 
rapier community.

I will add that there are some rapier fighters who disagree with this 
practice and wish only the few who were both serious and believed they 
could win would enter. I think the benefits far outweigh any disadvantages 
but that is just my opinion. I am not suggesting this is the One True 
Way(tm) nor that it would be appropriate if a crown was at stake.

Doré

On Saturday 01 November 2003 07:06 am, David Hughes wrote:
> Don and Monica wrote:
> > As far as In know only those of duch rank actually have the right to
> > withdraw from Crown Tourney at any time for any reason. This is
> > actually garanteed them in Ansteorra's Kingdom Law. Any others should
> > not take the sword oath lightly. any thing can happen on any given
> > day. in a nut shell unless you are a Duke, don't enter unless you have
> > the ability to fufill the duties of the crown should you win.
> >
> > Darius
>
> Anyone can withdraw from any tournament at any time for any reason.
> That's a basic safety rule.
>
> The rule you mention was created to address the political issue of
> high level fighters appearing to entering Crown simply to insure that
> a certain person or group of persons did not make it to the finals.
>
> David Gallowglass
>
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