WED 8 SEP 2004
Medieval enthusiasts celebrate chivalrous tradition
By Nate PoppinoArgonaut Staff
Four knights watched as several blocks were laid on the ground.
“This is a bridge,”the fight marshal said, waving at the sides. “If you step here, you fall off and drown.”
Daniel Bickley / ARGONAUT - Sir Phaelan (right) and Olwen (left) battle it out in the Live Steel competition Saturday as part of the Realms of Avalon festival at Robinson County Park. Live Steel is the highest level of combat competition practiced by the Realms of Avalon.
“What do we do with a double kill? We do it again!”one of the knights said shouting.
This scene of medieval fighting prowess didn’t take place in some faraway kingdom.
It happened at Robinson County Park, east of Moscow. The battle was part of the Golden Harvest medieval re-creation put on this weekend by the Realms of Avalon, a local medieval education organization.
The four-day event started Friday and featured melee combat, archery and a host of other competitions with 91 seats reserved for a Saturday night feast. Many more people came to look around during the day.
“The time we cover dates from A.D. 500 to 1603,” harvest attendee Jeff Kline said. “It’s called the Arthur to Elizabeth years: Arthur was believed to have ruled around 500 and Elizabeth died in 1603. From then on people’s mindsets were about the same as us modern people.”
The harvest events provide a fun diversion from real life for people like Frances-Anne Hiemstra.
“I like it (the harvest) for the fellowship and hanging out with people with common interests,” Hiemstra said. “It’s definitely an escape from real life.”
Hiemstra, who went by the name “Mistress Juliana” for the re-creation, joined Avalon last year and ended up starting a chapter for the Tri-Cities area. Her chapter celebrated its first anniversary two weeks ago.
“My husband and I always loved history,” Hiemstra said. “We tried some societies and just didn’t click, but then last year we met up with Avalon and went to a camp-out with them.”
Her husband, Michael Hiemstra, was one of the knights fighting on the bridge. Though he ended up facing three other knights by himself, he said he loves getting to fight.
“It teaches you a little bit about how they did this in medieval days, plus it’s a heck of a lot of fun,” Michael said.
There are three different types of melee battles, event organizer Sherri Kopel-Hamburg said.
Today
Reading: “The Art of Absence”Joy Passanante, English professor
College of Law Courtroom
7:30 p.m.
Dance Performance Henning Rubsam
Admission is $5 at the door
Physical Education Building, Studio 110
8 p.m.
Thursday
Biodiesel WorkshopBoise Centre on the Grove
7 a.m.
Dissertation
Ana C. Gonzalez Franco, MMBB
Morrill Hall, Room 202
9 a.m.
Study Abroad Fair
Idaho Commons Courtyard
10 a.m.
Women’s Center Open House
Memorial Gym, Room 109
Noon-5 p.m.
Athena Fall Reception
J.A. Albertson Building
Third Floor, Gary Michael Boardroom
4:30 p.m.
News Editor: Jessie Bonner
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