[Archers] Known World Archery Championship - was: Re: E.Gads and Pennsic

[Denise McMahon]

Well.  That was depressing.

-Countess Rowan


On Oct 26, 2010, at 9:25 AM, Siegfried wrote:

>> I would love to see changes in Pennsic archery and I know I am in  
>> good
>> and plentiful company. Can Atlantia call for and sponsor such a known
>> world champioship? (I love the idea of everyone bringing a target.)  
>> If
>> we do not push for change it will not happen. So I would gladly  
>> work for
>> this and I would love a dialogue about the possibilities with those  
>> many
>> archers (yes, you) who are far wiser and more experienced than I am  
>> in
>> the ways of Pennsic and interkingdom politics, because I haven't a  
>> clue
>> of where to start.
>
> Let me state, that I would love the idea of a true Known World
> Championship at Pennsic.  Be it the ability for any Kingdom/group/ 
> etc to
> furnish their own 'team' to send through a course ... or be it an
> individual competition, or ... well, whatever it takes.
>
> Let me say; however, that this is not the first time said concept has
> been brought up, nor is it the first time that it's been 'attempted'  
> at
> Pennsic.  (Gulf Wars, in fact, has a similar thing).
>
> In practice tho, it's failed to come to fruition at Pennsic.   
> Primarily
> because of history/politics/etc.
>
> Realize that Pennsic, is in fact not a 'known world' event, even if  
> it's
> "seen as such" in the eyes of the world.  It is in fact, a Midrealm/ 
> East
> jointly hosted event, that happens to be on AEthelmearc grounds.  It's
> up to the Mid/East to decide what happens.
>
> And every year, the 'decision making process' (read: politics with big
> nasty teeth) come out, things get changed/moved/mangled ... even  
> slight
> changes to 'how things are done' get discussed to death, etc.
>
> Some of it is based upon "That's what we've always done" ... Some of  
> it
> is based upon the politics of the various sides (Royalty) trying to  
> 'win
> the war', etc.
>
> The problem in running such an event therefore, is that, IMO, the
> 'status quo' of Pennsic staff/setup, will not be doing it.  Because  
> it's
> not part of the Mid/East war.
>
> The flip-problem then, if someone wants to completely run it as a
> 'novelty shoot', is that for the size/nature of this, you will need to
> shut down the range for an entire day ... which needs to get past the
> Mid/East who are running it, and onto the schedule.
>
> Secondly, you are going to need to provide all the targets yourself,  
> you
> are going to need to provide all the marshals (though you can  
> certainly
> put out a call for help), you are going to need to provide setup  
> crews,
> (and re-setup crews to rebuild the range afterwards).
>
> Basically, one's Pennsic is going to be: "Planning, running,  
> executing"
> that shoot.   I know a number of the Head Mid/East marshals well, and
> their entire Pennsic is given up just to running the range/event that
> they have now (including weeks of prep beforehand) ... Heck, even as
> Kingdom TA Marshal of Atlantia, most of your war becomes helping
> run/prepare for the populace & championship shoot.  So adding any  
> extra
> 'thing' to that, doesn't fit.
>
> Heck, even 'cool things' we managed to do in some years.  Like the  
> year
> we had 4 teams for the Championship.  East, Mid, East Allies, Mid  
> Allies
> ... only lasted the one year, because next year's negotiations between
> Mid/East Royalty, removed it.
>
> In any case, Do not let me completely discourage you.  I would love to
> see this happen.  I think it's a great idea.  But there are some major
> hurdles to overcome, in order to affect this.  Earl Mika actually  
> before
> he left Atlantia, tried to start a tradition of the 'Atlantian  
> Longship
> shoot', a novelty shoot to be held there at Pennsic, and after 1 (or  
> 2?)
> years, it died off due to logistics.
>
> All that being said.  The 'real' solution here, coming from a non
> Mid/East person, would be for Pennsic to finally get over the Mid/East
> mindset, and just become an 'awesome event for everyone who  
> attends', in
> heavy/rapier/archery/etc ...
>
> But I do not see that happening, at least, I do not see that happening
> anytime soon.   We've had 39 years of tradition of it being a  
> cutthroat
> war.  And even the couple times recently, when there have been  
> attempts
> to remove that aspect - It's backfired/failed miserably.
>
> (Think back to the War, what was it, 2-3 years ago?  When the King of
> the Mid, at opening ceremonies, tried to give all war points to the  
> East
> so that the war was over and everyone could just have fun? - That  
> didn't
> go so well)
>
> In Service,
> Siegfried
>
> -- 
> Barun Siegfried Sebastian Faust - Barony of Highland Foorde - Atlantia
> http://hf.atlantia.sca.org/ - http://crossbows.biz/ - http://eliw.com/
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