[Steppes] Steppes Fighter Practice - 7-31-2005

[Mike]

Heilsa,

The subject of the Joint War practice was discussed by the those in 
attendance this day, due to a time change being announced by the Elfsea 
Knight Marshal.

The original agreement of the Joint War Practice between Steppes and Elfsea:

A. Hold the practice at each Barony every other month.
B. The start date the first Sunday of each month
C. The start time set at 2 PM
D. The location the regular fighter practice of each Barony

The result of the discussion was reached by all present (see attendance 
list):
1. Continue with the War Practice -
      main reason it has been announced far in advance concerning
        location
        start date
        start time
     with sure method to reach all the individuals who have expressed
      an interest in attending such a practice.

2. Hold to the location(s) - this month:
      Veterans Park in Arlington.

3. HOLD TO THE ORIGINAL START TIME:  2 PM
     This will allow extra fighting and if any one wishes to show up at 
5 PM as the Elfsea Knight Marshal has announced,
      then they WIll GET SOME FIGHTING IN.

Joint War Practice:
The next Joint War practice will be held in our sister barony - Elfsea.
Date: August 7th
Location: Veterans Park in Arlington.
Start time: 2 PM
    or can show up at 5 PM as the Elfsea Knight Marshal has announced.

See Elfsea website for directions.
http://www.elfsea.net/Events/fighter_practices.htm

Lady Ana, the Elfsea hospitaler, will be giving a class on running a 
list at this practice.
Start time:  4 PM for "classroom" instruction.

I believe that the Steppes loaner armor will be available at this War 
practice. So if you have some armor, but not all or none, there will be 
armor and some weapons available as well.

Summary of attendance:
People in armor: 7
Children:  3
Total in attendance: 18

Once, again people paced themselves, brought out water and gatorade, 
went out and fought, came back off the field and cooled down and
replenished their fluids with water and/or gatorade, etc.

A reminder - please bring at least 1 gallon or more of water and 
gatorade. I recommend 2 gallons of fluids and snacks to replenish your 
energy levels. There are several stores close by that carry these items 
and more.

A pop-shade pavilion was provided by the tree. 

A wide range of subjects were under discussion from heavy fighting to 
armor to combat archery to garb to camping, etc... it is not just about 
the fighting on the side lines.

At the end of practice, those who could, went and enjoyed dinner 
together at one of the local buffets. Everyone is welcome to join in - 
this after practice dinner.

Weapons used this day:
Sword
30 lb., recurve (Combat Archery training at end of message)

Shields used this day:
Heater
Round
Buckler

Weather for this past Sunday was bright and sunny. The temperature in 
the high 90's and with the humidity being more acceptable than last 
Sunday. A light breeze was refreshing.

Remember Gothic Wars are coming and just like the park , we will fight 
under the sun as it shines down upon one and all. Come out and get some 
practice in and be ready for War.

Gothic War:
Labor Day Weekend - September 2nd through 5th
Sweetwater, Texas - it is the old site
Heavy fighting melees on Saturday, with tournaments on Sunday.
Gothic War is also host to the Amazon household 25th anniversary 
celebration, the annual Crane Party.
Haflas are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday night
Gothic webpage <http://adlersruhe.ansteorra.org/Gothic.html>

Schedule:
Regular schedule fighter practice - every Sunday starting at 2 PM.
Mary Heads Carter Park in Carrollton.

The more experienced fighters, regardless of weapon style, provided 
training in various fighting disciplines of the SCA. The key areas of 
training that occurred this day involved one-on-one style for tournament 
level, which also covers the SCA battlefield in a open field environment 
after the initial contact.

The normal group that provides training from the basic level to 
Man-at-Arms, Squire entry level, and/or Centurion level was available - 
Sir Mahdi, Centurion Morgan, Lord CinaedOHosey, Lord Richard, and Lord 
Hrafn.

Several individuals stopped by during practice to asked about the SCA 
and the fighting. Information provided along with web sites. We all hope 
that we see each and everyone of you come back out. It makes no 
difference whether you fight or not. Come out and learn about the SCA 
and have fun.

In attendance this day:
Sir Baron Qadi 'Abd al-Mahdi Jamal ibn Hakim - Baron of Steppes

Clan Ross:
Centurion Morgan Buchanan (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)  - Central Region 
Knight Marshal
     and his lady, Lady Ciannait Chaimbuel
Lord Richard of Durnsford (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)
    and his lady, HL Mary Elisabeth
Lady Icia
Lord Hrafn Olafsson (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan) - Steppes Knight Marshal
     and his lady,
        Lady Elizabeta di Valore della Rosa (Apprentice to Duchess Larissa)

Friends of House Porto:
Lady Katheryn Cunningghame - Steppes Hospitaler

Condottieri:
Lord CinaedOHosey and children
   daugther - Tori
   and sons - Jon and Nikko
Lord Michael Kettering
Lord Damon Xanthns

Fray:
Bones

Lady Honour du Bois

Lord Gabriel de Valle - original from Middelford and squire to a Knight 
in that area. (My fault - could not remember the name of the Knight 
-apologies to both).

Regina

Fights witness this day:

Lord Richard with round sword vs Lord Hrafn with heater and sword
Lord Gabriel heater and sword vs Lord Hrafn with heater and sword
Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and sword vs Lord Richard with round and 
sword
Lord Richard with round and sword vs Lord Gabriel heater and sword
Centurion Morgan with heater and sword vs Lord Gabriel with heater and sword
Lord Hrafn with heater and sword vs Centurion Morgan with heater and sword
Sir Mahdi with heater and sword vs Lord Richard with round and sword
Lady Honour with buckler and sword vs Lord Richard with round and sword
Sir Mahdi with heater and sword vs Lord Gabriel with heater and sword
Lord CInaedOHosey with buckler and sword vs Lord Hrafn with heater and sword

Combat Archery - defending against:
Lord Hrafn Olafsson (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan) - Steppes Knight 
Marshal, armed with a single sword to blocked or knock down incoming 
arrows. Some might wonder why not with a sword and a shield - this would 
be pointless to do so, since a one-on-one encounter between a heavy 
fighter with a shield and sword directly facing a combat archer and 
fully aware of the archer, the result - 99% of the time the archer will 
not land a arrow upon the fighter. The object in this scenario is to be 
able to recognize the incoming threat and learn how to deal with it, if 
one can so master such training with a single sword, then whether that 
individual carries a spear or polearm or floretine or a shield and a 
sword on a SCA battlefield, then that individual is better prepare to 
meet and defend against combat archery.

vs

The Combat Archer -  Lord Damon Xanthns as a non-contact archer
Shooting a 30 lb., recurve and using 40 combat arrows.
Arrows - fiberglass shaft with both UHMW and Classical Baldar Blunts
   APD - Golf Tubes.
Distance:
  Starting at 50 feet with Lord Hrafn advancing both at a run and at a 
walking rate.
    Minimum distance is 10 feet in which Lord Damon was declared dead.
This scenario was done 6 times.



YIS,
 Lord Michael Kettering
  Combat Archer for the Condottieri
  King's Archer
  Steppes Deputy Knight Marshal
  Steppes Deputy Hospitaler