Gyldenholt Unbelted 2009

Highlights

• Agrippa was the winner of the armored combat lists, and became the Unbelted Champion of Gyldenholt.
• Ragnar of Sandcastle, Andrew Baird, Alexander Baird, Ciar ingen Daire, Christian von Eiland were admitted to the Vanguard of Honor.
• Blaine de Navarre and Lorccan hua Conchobair were both given a Grant of Arms.
• Kurt von Raet and Alithia de Rouen were both given an Award of Arms.
• Giuseppe Francesco da Borgia and Ceara ingen Chonaill were made Companions of the Order of the Crescent
• Ciaran Blackrune was given a Gauntlet.
• Harp Argents were presented to Betsabea de Venezia (Cooking) and Stephania von Graz (illumination)
• Dolphin presented to Conchobhar MacCionaoith and Jethro de Calce des Excurtynyx
• The day dawned wet and cold, and there was some concern that the tournament would have to be cancelled. Happily, it was not, and more than 250 people enjoyed the hospitality of Gyldenholt. Court began and ended with slightly silly poetry (below) by Giles Hill, who served as both court and field herald.

Court Poetry by Court Herald Giles Hill

Opening Court

One day a sloth came out to play

And to his people Sven did say

Draw nigh, an aisle be pleased to mark

And seat yourselves, for Court now starts.

Kolfinna likewise greets you here

And wishes you great joy and cheer

Unbelted champions will her please

And children draw about her knees.

Fair Gyldenholt bids you be seated

Hospitably you shall be treated

Though storm-clouds threaten and mists do play

Our tourney shall proceed this day.

Assembled is this royal court,

And soon shall we begin disport

So set you down, and have a peach

And listen to Sven’s opening speech!

Closing Court

We've finished the business of Caidan Court,

And closings, I think, should be cute and be short.

Let's cheer for Ursul--he's big and he's hairy;

All Gyldenholt's foes should of him be wary!

Her stature is low, but her heart it is braw;

For Collette and Ursul, now hip, hip, huzzah!

Sven is a Viking, and of us the king--

Throughout all the realm his praise do we sing!

Kolfinna's the Queen, and a fierce one, to boot--

And her staff is in charge of selecting the loot!

Our monarchs are splendid, and so we do say,

With our hearts and our voices, hip, hip, hurray!

Caid is the kingdom that we love the best

We're west of the Atens, and south of the West.

Our shores are washed in the blue of the sea,

And no kingdom's people are happy as we.

For the Crown and our people, for our customs and law:

Hip, hip, Hurrah! Hip, hip, Hurrah! Hip, hip, Hurrah!