Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 06/21/2006 11:56 PM |
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Greetings all
A quick and hopefully simple question about SCA rapier in Alberta
Is there anyone active in or around Peace River?
And if not there where would the closest SCA group who does rapier?
Edmund the Lame (Paul Sawtell in the mundane world)
Ancient Guildmaster (and Grumpy Old Fencing Fart)
Kingdom of Lochac (Queensland, Australia)
PS I may have met some of you all at 25th and 30th Year Celebrations |
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Gemma~
Provost
Posts:97
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| 06/22/2006 6:20 AM |
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There are active groups in Grande Prairie (Finn, Sadb, Ambrose, John etc), and a lone fighter (Arterious) in Rocky Mountain house. The biggest active group up there is in Edmonton.
Hope that helps,
Gemma~
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Dormouse
Provost
Posts:113
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| 06/22/2006 6:05 PM |
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Edmund!
Hola!
Good to see you're still alive and kickin'!
Met you at 25 year.
If you get down SW Washington give me a shout.
Dormouse |
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I humble myself before God, and there the list ends.
--- Maj. Gen. Sam Houston (The Alamo 2004) |
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Castra
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 06/22/2006 7:01 PM |
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| dude if yer gonna go to rocky mountain, might as well call the jasper crew of traitors, they are still kikin bout and are practicing three times a week. |
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to the pain... |
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 06/25/2006 9:22 AM |
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Greetings Dormouse
Indeed I remember you from 25th - seems such a long time ago. Had a blast and what you guys showed me really helped kick rapier along in Lochac. The same thing happened after 30th when I brought schlagers back.
Am still playing SCA rapier (not as much as I would like with 2 farms, a financial planning business, a wife and two young children) but am 110km away from my group.
Where abouts are you in SW Washington and do you travel? We may well be in Peace River either later this year or early 2007 hence my post on rapier activity around there.
Kind regards
Edmund the Lame
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Sadb
Novice
Posts:7
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| 08/26/2006 9:02 AM |
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| If you plan on coming down to Grande Prairie, drop us a note. I'm always looking for someone to fight with! |
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 08/28/2006 7:59 PM |
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Greetings Sadb
Given GP is only 200km away from Peace River I imagine that is a distinct probability
How many other fencers in GP (and what do you use?)
Edmund |
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Sadb
Novice
Posts:7
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| 08/28/2006 8:21 PM |
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Greetings Edmund,
There are 8 authorized fighters and usually 3-4 show up at any point for our practice. Since most of us are newer fighters, we are currently just playing with sword. (I've borrowed Gemma's for the time being.) John and Ambrose would be our most experienced fighters in the Shire. Practice is usually Wednesday nights but if you plan on visiting some weekend, I'm sure we can work something out. I'm currently leaving for holidays and will be returning October 6th. Vinfest is September 29-Oct. 1st if you are interested there will be a rapier tourney. |
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 08/28/2006 9:37 PM |
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Thanks Sadb
8 authorised fighters is a good group to have fun with. I look forward to coming down to practice with you all - but probably on weekends. I would be happy to teach what I have learnt over the years. I have a lot of fun with rapier & dagger but a real love of rapier and cane (walking stick) - which I hope is actually legal in An Tir
Not yet though. Assuming our government applications go through in reasonable time we expect to arrive around late Feb 2007.
May make a trip before then if we find the right property to buy.
Here comes a question that may seem kind of dumb - where do you fence in the depths of winter? (we don't have snow to worry about here but I gather minus 40 is not out of the question in Peace River/GP)
Enjoy your holidays and perhaps contact me off list at rapier@dodo.com.au when you return
Regards
Edmund the Lame |
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Sadb
Novice
Posts:7
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| 08/28/2006 9:51 PM |
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Cane/walking stick - now that would be fun!! I can imagine the possibilities. Your offer to teach is most appreciated. Up until this year we have only had 2 rapier fighters. The fun has begun!!
Summer we practice at our place, 121 acres of fun! During the cold months, we practice at the Sexsmith Secondary School gym. We'll be in touch!! |
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 02/02/2007 5:41 AM |
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Process of getting over to Canada taking a lot longer than we anticipated
Must say that Canadian bureacracy is stunning - was told by the Doctor who did our immigration medicals that it is second only to Indian bureacracy.
Assuming all goes well it looks like a late April arrival now - I gather the snow should be gone by then
We have bought a place near the Peace River airport on acreage so there would be room to practice in PR if you cared to come up. Otherwise I will be glad to come down to Sexsmith for practice when we get settled in
Regards
Edmund
BTW Does anyone have suggestions for driving from Vancouver to Peace River. Will have wife and two young children Either scenic route or best time route?
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Sadb
Novice
Posts:7
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| 02/02/2007 6:27 AM |
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Canadian bureacracy is stunning!! I went through the entire process to move up here not once, but TWICE! yikes! I'm sure you are happy that the "light is nearing the end of the tunnel" in your move. April you say... well, I hate to tell you this but there may still be snow in April. Actually, there may be snow storms still in April. One never knows what the winter weather will do in the Great White North.
There are many SCA interested parties in Peace River. Once you have moved, I'll try to hook you up with them. I'm sure we can get people to come to a practice at your place from time to time and it would great to have you at ours too!
As for an appropriate route, I'll ask my Lord as he is better with that type of thing. ;O) Happy moving! |
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 04/07/2007 6:49 AM |
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Greetings All
Finally a date for arriving in Canada - 15th May fly into Vancouver and then driving up to Peace River probably after a couple of days at the airport Holiday Inn. Looks like we have to buy a car/SUV in Vancouver as the rental companies have decided not to cooperate.
Am keen to start SCA fencing soon after I arrive. Who do I have to see etc to have a transfer effected under 5.7.2? given we are coming in under Permanent Resident visa. (SCA membership address will stay with Lochac until expiry and we have 3 months to get an Alberta drivers licence)
Have looked at the new An Tir Rules and the approved blade list.
Can't see the Scottie Schalgers I still use (bought them at 30th) on the list - though at least one of the blades has WeDileich Germany stamped on it. Another has a 2 stamped on it. These are the oval pattern practice schlagers that have been legal and in use in Lochac since 1996 (when I imported them from Scottie Armoury)
Does this mean I'm up for a pile of new blades or can they be considered on a case by case basis?
If I am up for new blades is there somewhere I can source them on arrival (and perhaps a pommel if the thread is different to what I have already)
I will need a new dagger (or two) as I see that fibreglass has been outlawed in the new rules - so that sees my favourite dagger relegated to historical interest only (and perhaps teaching my kids outside the SCA).
No doubt more questions will be forthcoming
Yours in service
Edmund the Lame (Paul Sawtell)
Ancient Guildmaster & GOFF
Kingdom of Lochac (Queensland Australia)
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TdB
Free Scholar
Posts:58
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| 04/09/2007 10:18 AM |
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Your Scottie oval schlagers from 30th year are still An Tir legal. There was some discussion about banning oval schlagers for the last set of rules, but they were not banned this time around.
I'm in Calgary, which is a long way from the Peace country, but close enough that if you come out to "local" events (in Edmonton, say), I'll likely be there. I think I'm the only one around who'll remember you from 30th year, but it's a friendly set of people up there.
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OK, fine, I'm unapproachable. Keep your distance or I'll pez you. |
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Sadb
Novice
Posts:7
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| 04/09/2007 5:30 PM |
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Glad to hear you have gotten through the beaurocracy and have a move date.
Like I said, Vinjar would be the closest for you. We have practice on Wednesdays, but we can work something out for weekends if that would work better in your schedule. (I'm always looking for practice these days).
After you arrive and get settled give me a shout - vfoster (at) xplornet (dot) com. I can also give you some contact information on SCA members living in the Peace River area. They don't have a group there yet, but with more of you moving up that way, I can see that may be in the near future.
Slan,
Sadb ingen Thauthail
Shire of Vinjar, Principality of Avacal, Kingdom of An Tir
(Beaverlodge, Alberta)
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 04/10/2007 8:35 AM |
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Greetings TdB
Very glad to hear my oval Scotties are still legal - will probably get a new blade in time but they have done well so far
Out of interest why consider banning them?
TdB - my memory is terrible (and my spelling worse) but I'd guess the B is for Bethune - am I right or just having an early seniors moment - fill me in
Calgary would seem to be a bit of hike from Peace River but my wife looks like having to spend some time in Edmonton for work assessment so this may be a place to catch up and cross blades
Am really stoked by the idea of having a group of fencers around Grande Prairie to play with - only 200km away - OK to do in a full day.
Any thoughts as to dagger suppliers?
Kind Regards
Edmund the Lame
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TdB
Free Scholar
Posts:58
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| 04/10/2007 1:33 PM |
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Sorry, TdB = Thoré de Bethune. No reason for you to remember me - we only crossed blades a couple of times. You were easy to remember because of the distance you travelled.
The oval scotties are on the chopping block because they're poor simulators compared to the more recent blades. They have too much flex and not enough weight.
As to daggers - you could try http://www.wmasupply.com/ or Darkwood Armoury (http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/). Both carry good daggers.
Grande Prairie's a 7-8 hour drive from Calgary (and I've become lazy in my travel habits as I get older), but Edmonton's only a 3 hour drive for me, so I tend to show up at their rapier events on occasion. Hopefully I'll see you at one of them.
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OK, fine, I'm unapproachable. Keep your distance or I'll pez you. |
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Edmund the Lame
Scholar
Posts:18
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| 04/30/2007 8:28 AM |
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Greetings Thore
Don't sell yourself short - I do remember fencing with you at 30th - that's how I remembered at least part of the name.
Glad to see my oval scotties are still legal - will eventually upgrade but can't see fashion as a valid reason to ban a safe blade. I still do pretty well against fencers with the newer blades. If it was uncompetetive then I would have switched to a newer style blade - no need to ban when improving technology will encourage those with older weapons to "trade up" or lose their edge (no pun intended)
As for too much flex - I would rather have too much flex and a safe blade than a blade that is too stiff and hits like a freight train - like the TO3 Triplette's - bloody awful blades that hit way too hard. I had a mask destroyed by one and my face didn't much care for it either.
My wife needs to go to Edmonton for a work assessment so I imagine it is a good possibility that we will catch up there - I will come down with the kids to visit her on some weekends
Where are An Tir Kingdom events usually held?
Only two weeks to go until we fly out - looks like we need to buy a car in Vancouver so we can drive up to Peace River
Kinds regards
Edmund the Lame
(Paul Sawtell) |
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TdB
Free Scholar
Posts:58
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| 06/22/2007 11:37 AM |
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An Tir kingdom level events are generally held on the west coast, along the I-5 corridor, because that's where the vast majority of the population lives. It'd be a 20ish hour drive for you to most kingdom level events. That said, Avacal principality events are a lot of fun, and somewhat closer for you. Avacal's still a big area, but Quad War's less than 3 hours east of Edmonton, for instance.
Sadb tells me you've arrived safely - glad to hear it. Hopefully we'll get to see you at an event sometime in the next few months. You can see the Avacal calendar of events at avacal.antir.sca.org/events.htm
The schlager thing is more of a push for the use of the most authentic simulator than a fashion thing. Schlagers are unrealistic for rapier play in the same way that foils and epees are - they produce more lateral flex than is appropriate and lend themselves to non-period techniques like flicks. In any case, I think your blades are safe for a while yet - we try to avoid continual rule changes, and they're still allowed in the current ruleset.
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OK, fine, I'm unapproachable. Keep your distance or I'll pez you. |
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