On the Calgary Stampede grounds, nestled under big cottonwood poplar trees just starting to show their leaves, is the faux Western village called Weadickville. Typically home to displays of Western gun fighting, on the Sunday of the Calgary Comic Expo it was to host a far more elegant kind of duelling.
Madame Saffron Hemlock's Parasol Duelling League and the Steampunk Arts and Sciences Society, in conjunction with the 2015 Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, hosted the Spring Regional Parasol Duelling Competition. This was the first formal competition held in Calgary since the World Championships last September.
The 10th Anniversary CCEE was the biggest yet with over 100 thousand attendees! We had two outside demos and one panel on Parasol Duelling and had attracted a lot of attention amongst the attendees.
It was fun to demonstrate Parasol Duelling right after the exciting gun play of the Guns of the Golden West
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| A dangerous gang! Parasol Duelists and Western Gunfighters Photo by Phi Vernon |
When Sunday arrived it was a beautiful sunny spring day and there was quite a crowd gathered expectantly waiting to watch the Ladies duel in their finery.
We had one hour so there was only time to run the duels. There were no Compulsory Figures or Flirtation Trials at this competition.
Madame Saffron Taxus-Hemlock and Baroness Daniela Fawkes were the Judges and Record keepers for the event.
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| Chief Judge and Black Sash, Madame Saffron Taxus-Hemlock (aka Jayne Barnard) and Baroness Daniela Fawkes (aka Dana Teh) Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Dr. Johann Portsmouth Adler (aka Stewart MacPhee) and Maxwell MacDonald-Smythe ( me ) Photo by Phi Vernon |
Eight ladies signed up for the competition.
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| The competitors L to R: Raven Hawthorne, Audra Balion, Katherine Eleanor Lingwood, Josanna Justine, Sarafina Kain, Cali Brewer, Kyra McDonald Missing: Laura McKay Photo by Phi Vernon |
The experience level of the competitors ranged from two of the World Champions from 2014 to Ladies who had never competed formally before!
The format of the duelling was a modified Round Robin where everyone got to duel with at least two other competitors.
The duelling was fast and furious. The speed of transition between the figures was striking. There has been a significant increase in speed and confidence since the Worlds. The Ladies have been practicing hard!
Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what these first rounds were like!
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| Katherine Eleanor Lingwood vs Raven Hawthorne Photo by Karlo Keet |
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| Kyra McDonald vs Laura Mckay Photo by Karlo Keet |
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| Cali Brewer vs Audra Balion Photo by Karlo Keet |
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| Raven Hawthorne vs Audra Balion Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Katherine Eleanor Lingwood vs Cali Brewer Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Cali Brewer Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Sarafina Kain vs Josanna Justine Photo by Phi Vernon |
The last duel of the first round was an interesting situation. The duel was between the 2014 Dueling Champion, Sarafina Kain, and a newcomer, Laura McKay. For the first time ever there were three draws in a row!
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| A Draw! Sarafina Kain vs Laura McKay Photo by Phi Vernon |
Madame Saffron halted the proceedings and conferred with the Baroness and decided to break the tie by conducting a best of three Compulsory Figures.
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| Breaking the Tie Laura McKay and Sarafina Kain Photo by Phi Vernon |
The third round was won by Sarafina Kain.
We look forward to seeing great things from Laura McKay in the future.
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| Laura McKay Photo by Lindsay Dunlop |
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| Doctor Adler Photo by Phi Vernon |
After conferring, the Judges announced the Semi-Finalists to the excited crowd of spectators.
The Semi Finalists:
Raven Hawthorne
Sarafina Kain
Cali Brewer
Kyra McDonald
Again the speed and precision displayed by all the competitors was amazing!
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| Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Cali Brewer vs Kyra McDonald Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Kyra McDonald vs Raven Hawthorne Photo by Phi Vernon |
After two rounds the duel for Third place was fought between Raven Hawthorne and Cali Brewer.
With Raven Hawthorne emerging victorious!
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| Raven Hawthorne vs Cali Brewer Photo by Phi Vernon |
The final round was between Kyra McDonald and Sarafina Kain.
A lightning two duels were both won by Sarafina Kain!
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| The final duel! Sarafina Kain vs Kyra McDonald Photo by Phi Vernon |
First Place: Sarafina Kain
Second Place: Kyra McDonald
Third Place: Raven Hawthorne
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| The prize ribbons created by Raven Hawthorne |
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| Madame Saffron presents the third place ribbon to Raven Hawthorne Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Madame Saffron presents the second place ribbon to Kyra McDonald Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| Madam Saffron congratulates the first place winner Sarafina Kain Photo by Phi Vernon |
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| The winners of the 2015 Regional Parasol Duelling Competition L to R: Second Place Kyra McDonald First Place Sarafina Kain Seated: Third Place Raven Hawthorne Photo by Karlo Keet |
Thanks to all the Ladies who came out to duel!
It is great to see how the competition is improving.
Looking forward to seeing more Ladies competing in the World Championships in September this year.
Thank you to the photographers who do their best to make us look good.
Phi Vernon and Lindsay Dunlop of Third Eye Arts, and Karlo Keet.
Check out their awesome work!
There are lots more photographs of the demos and competition posted at Madame Saffron Hemlock’s Parasol Duelling League for Steampunk Ladies
Keep your sightglass full, your firebox trimmed and your parasol up!
KJ
To find out more about this great sport go to:
Madame Saffron Hemlock’s Parasol Duelling League for Steampunk Ladies
Click here for information on the history and development of Parasol Duelling
or click the Parasol Duelling tag.
The Rules for Parasol Duelling are here.
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