New Fencing Champion & Baronial Keystone holder are named!

Fuego - New Baronial Fencing Champion

New Fencing Champion Named!

On July 25th 2018 Her Excellency and I held a tournament to determine our new Baronial Fencing Champion. The tournament was run by Don Behrend von Elmendorf in memory of our departed Champion Lord Wolfgang Starcke. In true tradition of the Hael the tournament was a grand display of skill and chivalry. In the end, due to her dedication to our fencing community and her prowess in the tournament, Her Excellency and I named Fuego our new Baronial Fencing champion. Fittingly her peers also named Fuego "Most Improved Fencer" on the same day. We look forward to watching Fuego at Seven Pearls and know she will do us proud!

Our thanks to the fencers who turned out for the tournament, the MOLs, and marshals. It should also be mentioned that in addition to the Champion spot, there was also an overall tournament winner. This honor went to Baron Caleb Reynolds.



New Baronial Keystone holder also named!

Lady Thalia - New Baronial Keystone holder

In 1999 The Barony was awarded a  Keystone for service to the Kingdom. Each year the Baron and Baroness are tasked to pick a new member of the populace to carry the Baronial Keystone. Traditionally the person does not have a Keystone of their own, but exemplifies the qualities of a member of the order. This year it was our honor (and the honor of our Heirs) to pick Lady Thalia Papillon to carry the Keystone for the coming year. Lady Thalia has severed the Barony as Baronial MOL, assisting at events, working on and donating largess projects, and in September will Autocrat her first event.

Her Excellency and I would also like to thank Lady Artemisia da Manarola for carrying the Keystone last year and for her continuing service to the Barony. As a credit to her continuing service Lady Artemisia made a new cord and carrying bag for the Keystone (along with making us think she lost the keystone as a lead in). Fittingly enough Their Majesties Sven and Siobhán saw fit to award Lady Artemisia her own Keystone and Her Excellency and I had the privilege to deliver the scroll to her on this day.

Fencing Champion Regalia

Fencing Champion Regalia

Groups in Focus - Hael Cats!

Today's Group in Focus is the barony's new rapier unit known as the "Hael Cats". His Excellency and I have enjoyed fighting as a part of the group for the last two Pennsic's and we are really happy for people to get a chance to learn more about the unit and how it is growing!

Does the group have a device or heraldry?

Not yet, hoping too soon!

Who is the head/leader of your group?

No one officially. I (Miriel du Lac) have been guiding the Main base of the fighting unit for the last 2 years, while Wolfgang Starke had been leading the Cats harrier group.

When was the group started?

About two years ago.

Is the group still active?

Oh yeah and we are hoping to grow even more.

Approximately how many members are in your group?

We have about six primary members and a group of floating fighters from the barony and other areas who join us on the field at times.

What type of group is it (fighting household, A&S, mixed)?

Baronial Rapier Unit

Is the group primarily in the Rhydderich Hael?

Yes. Who do have some fighters from other areas who like to line up with us when they can though.

Please provide a brief history of your group.

The Rapier Warlord for Æthelmearc was asking fencing groups to sound off so they could have a count for Pennsic. After discussing it with the Hael fencers we decided that we wanted to make an actual unit and name for the Rhydderich Hael Rapier fighters on the field. And the Hael Cats were born.

Is your group accepting new members?

Yes! We hope to grow even larger and already have more fighters this year!

Who should interested people contact?

Baroness Miriel du Lac: Sara Joy Herringshaw on Facebook or lertia@yahoo.com 

Announcing the New Hael Rapier Champion!

Lord Wolfgang Starcke

On a warm July night the rapier fighters of the Hael gathered on the list field to determine a new champion! Nine fighters entered the list, with seven competing for the spot as Rhyderrich Hael rapier champion. The format was round robin with each fighter fighting a best-of-three bout against each other fighter. At the end of the fighting the result was a tie between Lord Wolfgang Starcke and Lord Abdullah al-Rashid. This is the second time this year Lord Wolfgang has made it to the finals of one our tournaments, facing off in the heavy finals against Lord Tadhg Mag Uidhir only a short time ago. The final bout was best of five with alternating matching weapon forms. Both fighters made a great showing, but in the end Lord Wolfgang Starcke stood victorious. Her Excellency and I offered, and he graciously accepted his rightful position as our new Rapier Champion. Her Excellency and I would once again like to thank Lady Brigette de Sainte Mere-Église for acting as our MOL, Lady Logan Lotta da Kent and Lord Robert l'Etourdi for acting as our marshals, the gathered fencers, and last but not least our outgoing champion THL Minamoto Roku-i Sakurako.

Lady Thalia Papillon

In addition to our new champion, Lady Thalia Papillon was declared "most improved fencer" in recognition of her steadily improving skill over the past year. Recently authorized at Adult Swim in February, Lady Thalia has gone on to enter several tournaments (performing well in all) and gained additional authorizations not only in fencing, but also in combat archery and siege.  



Finally Her Excellency and I sought to add an additional piece of regalia for the Hael fencing champion. This new regalia came in the form of a buckler built and hand painted by Lady Malleen Fenella Menzies (AKA Rivin). The new shield was presented  to the new champion for the first time and there is no doubt this beautiful piece of art will become a part of Hael history. 

Lady Malleen Fenella Menzies (AKA Rivin) and her fine work!

Thanks again to everyone who came out to support and represent the Barony! What a wonderful night. 

Our Baronial Champs So Far!

Last month on May 28th our barony held Palfreys and Polearms which was when His excellency and I named some of our baronial Champions and Award winners, a few of these chosen will represent our barony at the 7 Pearls Competitions coming up August 16th, 2016 in St. Swithin's Bog in Summerhill PA. 

Our Fencing Champion

Minamoto Roku-i Sakurako

Our Thrown Weapons Champion

THL Eleanore Godwin 

Our Arts & Sciences Champion

Lord Wolfgang Starcke

Our First Equestrian Champion

Lord Rhiannon Elandris of Glyndrvdwy

Our Chivalry Champion and Most Improved Fighter of the Year

Lord Tadhg Mag Uidhir

Our Baronial Keystone Holder

Lord Rhys Penbras ap Daffyd

Our Iron Man Champion

Fionnbhar (the horse)

Then because there are were many members of the Barony who could not be present at the event but had declared for Champion positions, we decided that the Titles of Baronial Champions of Heavy Weapons, Bardic and Archery would be announced at a later date.

At Hornwood Scarlet Guard Inn on June 11th, 2016 we had the chance to name our Archery Champion.

Our Archery Champion

Lady Siobhan Readnait 

There will be more info to come on Our Heavy and Bardic Champions, keep your eyes open!!

The deadline reached...one final hopeful draws her blade!

Please hear the words of our final hopeful, Lady Katerin Starcke.

...and it was totally not peer pressure!

Another Champion hopeful vying for all but two Champion positions!

A man of many talents Lord Wolfgang Starcke throws his hat into the ring!

"Greetings from Lord Wolfgang Starcke, once and future Iron Man of the Rhydderich Hael. Disturbing word has reached me of a great shortage of contenders for various champion positions in our fine barony. To help remedy this, I offer my services to your Excellencies as rattan champion, rapier champion, thrown weapons champion, archery champion and Arts & Sciences champion. I would add equestrian champion, but the horses are all plotting against me. I consider my absence from the bardic competition a service to the entire Kingdom, not just the barony.  

With all that said, I will happily serve in whatever capacity you desire."

Now we need that bardic hopeful.....?

Seven Pearls Championships

This year the Kingdom's Seven Pearls Championships will be happening all at one event!! This weekend long event will be held August 19-21, 2016 in the wonderful Barony of Saint Swithin's Bog.

All the assorted Barony's of the Kingdom will be bringing their champions to this event to compete to see who will hold the title of Kingdom Baronial Champion in their field. Heavy, Rapier, Thrown, Archery, A&S, and Bardic. (and maybe more..)

So if you are looking to become our Baronial Champion this year, you need to save this date because you will be required to attend and represent our Barony.

So stay tuned for more information, His Excellency and I will be posting more about the Baronial Championship as it draws closer, and we can't wait!

Link to Kingdom Calendar Event Page

A New Youth Fencer in the Barony!

This past weekend at the Passing of the Ice Dragon 2016 there was a chance for youth fencers to authorize and fight. 

One of the fencers who authorized was also our newest baronial youth fencer, my very own daughter Wentliana verch Meuric (Mina). 


Wentliana started fencing with the barony this past October and has been working hard to get ready to authorize at Ice Dragon. 







Not only did she authorize, she had the chance to compete in her very first fencing tourney against two other talented youth fencers from the barony and outside of it. She had a good showing and is now even more motivated to keep fighting and advance her skills in fencing. 






As her mother and the Baroness I am so proud of her! I hope to see her grow and become a bigger part of the fencing community and the society in general.

So when you see her at future events please congratulate her and if you know of a youth fighter in need of a eager opponent, point them her way.