Rules for the Shining Lakes Grove Championship Competition, Lughnasadh 2000

Once again the wheel has turned, and once again it's time for our annual Championship Games. According to our lore, the god Lugh (our tribal father) held funeral games at this time of year in honor of his foster-mother Tailtiu. We honor Lugh by continuing this tradition.

If you are interested in participating in the Games, please check in with the Games Referee, Rob Henderson, by 2 PM on Saturday. We ask that each competitor select a standard bearer, someone who will walk with the competitor and carry a staff displaying the prize ribbons that they have won. On Saturday afternoon, after the Pilgrimage has ended, we will gather at the Ritual Tree to bless the competitors and their standard bearers. The events will then begin.

The competitors will actually be vying for two different titles. The Champion of the Day will be the competitor who earns the most points in the overall competition. The Grove Champion will be the Shining Lakes Grove member who earns the most points. (Ties will be decided by the number of first place ribbons won, then the number of second place ribbons won, and so on.) Both titles may be won by the same person - indeed, every year since we began in 1995, our overall winner has also been a Grove member. But that may change! The winner(s) will be honored at the Feast on Saturday evening.

The five ribbon colors, and point values, for placing in each event:

• 1st - blue - 5 points
• 2nd - red - 4 points
• 3rd - white - 3 points
• 4th - yellow - 2 points
• 5th - green - 1 point

The six events for this year's games will be, in this order:

• Hunker Hauser - You may have seen this one at a Renaissance Festival or a Celtic fair. Two competitors stand on a small log, each holding one end of a rope. At the referee's signal, both competitors attempt to force the other off of their log by pulling or releasing the rope. The competitor who first touches the ground or lets go of the rope loses. Seeded tournament, best two out of three for each match.
• Competitive Poetry - Just before this event begins, the referee will announce a subject. (e.g. "the Sun") Each competitor will then have ten minutes to write a short poem on the subject. The competitors will then read their poems, which will be rated both by three judges and the general acclaim of the audience.
• Circle Challenge - A circle twenty feet in diameter will be drawn on the ground. Two competitors at a time will enter the circle. The first one to touch ground outside the circle loses. No hitting, biting, gouging, or kicking. Seeded tournament, best two out of three for each match.
• Vorpa - A small post is planted in the ground. Each competitor is given three rocks to throw. The object is to get a rock as close to the post as possible - without touching the post. Any rock which touches the post is disqualified. The competitor with the shortest distance from the post wins.
• Haggis Hurl - Each competitor gets three attempts to throw a heavy rock as far as possible. The longest throw wins.
• Foot Race - A half mile run on Teahen Road, 1/4 mile out and 1/4 mile back. The competitor with the fastest time wins. (I didn't need to tell you that, did I?)

Finally, please remember that you don't have to be in the Championship Competition to honor Lugh this weekend. We will have many opportunities for everyone at the festival to be competitors in some way. There will be athletic games for children, held at the same time as the main games. The Fools' Competition on Saturday morning will challenge our wittiest jesters. Game Night on Thursday night will provide many challenges, and we will have various board and card games available at Hospitality throughout the weekend. Even our Auction offers a form of competition. Throughout the weekend, remember Lugh and Tailtiu, and honor them as you compete, in whatever way that may be.

Brightest blessings, and may Lugh's light fill your head and your heart,
Rob Henderson
Referee for the SLG 2000 Championship Competition

Web Hosting · Blog · Guestbooks · Message Forums · Mailing Lists
Allwebco Web Templates · Build your own toolbar · Free Talking Character · Audio, Fonts, Clipart
powered by bravenet.com