Rules for the Shining Lakes Grove Championship Competition, Lughnasadh 2001

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, Rodney Cox, by 11 AM on Saturday. If you have not checked in by this time, you will not be allowed to participate! 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 four ribbon colors, and point values, for placing in each event:

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

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

• Nine Man's Morris - An favorite board game of the ancients. See the rules on the back of this sheet, or attend the pre-game preparation workshop on Friday night. The winner of each match (best of three games) advances in this single elimination event.
• Throwing for Accuracy - Each contestant will take turns throwing three stones, or golf balls, at a row of five cans. There will be one large can, two medium sized cans and two small cans. The object is to hit the cans to gain points. The contestant with the most points will win. In case of a tie, the contestants involved will each have another round, with the highest score winning. This will be repeated until there is a clear victor. The points for each can is as follows: 1 point for the large can, 2 points for each medium can and 3 points for each small can.
• 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. (We didn't need to tell you that, did we?)
• Circle Challenge - Two contestants will face each other in an approximately 9 foot radius circle. The object is for one contestant to force their opponent out of the circle. Most grappling or wrestling moves will be allowed. This includes (but not limited to) pushing, joint locks, and throws. Punching, kicking, biting, gouging, pinching, hair pulling, head butts, or choke holds are not allowed. A contestant may not pick up and carry their opponent out of the ring unless the opponent is larger than the contestant. Use of non-allowed techniques will result in a warning issued to the offending contestant. Repeated use of non-allowed techniques will result in disqualification of the offending contestant. The winner of each match advances in this single elimination event.
• Fencing - Two contestants will face each other with fencing sabers, and wearing protective face mask, fencing jacket and glove. The object is for one opponent to gain three strikes on the front of the body or head of their opponent. Arms, legs, groin, back of the head and armpit strikes do not count. The neck is a legal target. Arms or legs may not be used to parry incoming strikes. The winner of each match advances in this single elimination event.

Finally, please remember that you don't have to be in the Championship Competition to honor Lugh this weekend. Respect yourself and the other competitors, and know your body - if you don't think that you have the endurance to complete in all of the above activities, please refrain from participating. We will have many opportunities for everyone at the festival to be competitors in some way. The Ring of Steel will be providing "bunny fencing" on Saturday, stop by their tent and check it out! 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,
Rodney Cox
Referee for the SLG 2001 Championship Competition

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