thegirlsclub

[himiltrude_fan_austrasia]

I've heard the tale. There is a woman who won a Crown Tourney and became queen by her own hand. COOL! But is that really the only time? If so, why? I'm seeing people on the board say that they've fought in champion tournies and other battles. I'm not seeing much in the way of Crown Tournies. This has been inspired by the whole women and knighthood issue. Now before anyone can tell me to quiet down about sexism, I'm not saying that. I'm just asking if women do fight in Crown, how they fare, or why they don't fight. My whole experience has been Drachenwald so far, where if we have 10 fighters for Crown, that's a good number. I'm not sure how it is elsewhere.

Himiltrude

[robyn]

I want to fight crown.
If I ever get into the danger of being good enough to win though- we need a rulechange (see other topic)
Till now the stupid thing is that I do not find a consort. Preferably I want someone that fights crown himself. It feels odd to fight for a guy that just stands on the sidelines and watches (at least I THINK it feels odd. I never fought for a guy before, just for women....)
As you maybe know my persona is a boy. If I WIN crown I wanna win for a purrdie grrrl. Robyn is not a gay boy....
Yeah I wanna start fighting crown tourneys.
Darn consort problems....

Robyn
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I'm just a person trapped inside a woman's body.
-Elayne Boosler-

[Wrenn]

I fight in Crowns, Coronets and whatever else I can get to. I come from a kingdom with an open list and normally between 50- 100 in the lists.

I've been fighting for about 4 years, I train every week all year and in the summer we usually fight twice a week (Tues & Thurs) plus any tourneys, I also do cardio and slow work as well as some strength and physio.

My consort and I both fight- which works well for us, he had some injuries last year which prevented him from fighting- or training even and he was really involved in my game- which worked for me. (He'sback fighting now which rocks)

I'd love to win a Crown or Coronet- I look at it this way- I've held some pretty tough bear pits from time to time and to win a coronet I'm looking at say a dozen fights- and I could even loose two and still win... not impossible, especially if I keep on the way I am.

The best I've made it in crown is four rounds... I've faired a bit better in smaller tourneys (I've made quarter & semi finals) but have never won one yet, but I'm working on developing my skills, so when luck comes my way I won't waste it
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Adwen Wrenn, Squire to Sir Hrothgar Thorvaldsson

[Aelfwynn]

There have been a couple of Princesses by right of arms, too, if I recall correctly.

[Isabella E]

Well, I think it's a complicated situation that you have to look at from several angles.

Here in Atenveldt the list can average from 20 to 40 participants. The number of female fighters compared to male fighters actively fighting in the kingdom is pretty healthy here, but still fairly small. In a crown tournament here I usually see maybe three women competing. Of the small number competing in the tournament, only one of them in my years of playing is a knight. (Countess Ismenia) So really, by the numbers a man is much more likely to win. There's a lot more of them, and the skill level required to win a Crown Tournament is pretty high. Your average participant, male or female, is down at the bottom of that pyramid.

I also think there's a lot of mental factors that go into why fewer women participate in the tourney. It's an intimidating list, with the highest prize in the SCA going to the victor.

Here's the list of women who have won crown tourney from the Swordmaiden site.

Queen by Right of Arms

January 1991
Rowan Beatrice von Kampfer
Queen of Ansteorra
Princess by Right of Arms

May 1981
Maythen Gervaise
Princess of the Mists

January 1988
Gwenllian Rhiannon of Dragon Keep
Princess of Drachenwald

September 1996
Elizabeth Mortimer
Princess of Ealdormere

January 1997
Viressé de Lighthaven
Princess of Oertha

July 1998
Richenza von Schlagen
Princess of Oertha

May 2003
Bryne McClellan
Princess of the Mists

July 2003
Richenza von Schlagen
Princess of Oertha

[Wrenn]

[Isabella E]

That's pretty awesome. I am guessing, but I think that there's a lot more female fighters here who are more into war fighting than tourney fighting. I don't know for sure though.

[Wrenn]

In An Tir too- a lot more who are into wars!
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Adwen Wrenn, Squire to Sir Hrothgar Thorvaldsson

[Welshdane]

[himiltrude_fan_austrasia]

Well, it's been a while since I last wrote on the board. Life changes have prevented me from practicing like I want and need to. I found that out last weekend when someone I used to be able to hold my own with suddenly clobbered me after a year of training. I felt horried. But I digress.

With these life changes, I also met a nice man. He's mentioned fighting in Crown. I asked my friends and it turns out he has a DAMNED good chance of winning. I've also talked with my Knight and while his wife disagrees, he doesn't think I'm quite ready to be a Queen. I need to better learn the dynamics of our Kingdom and get to know more people outside our immediate area. Since we are Drachenwald, we have many different nationalities that I need to better learn how to deal with. So I'm not too worried for the moment about becoming Queen.

But how do I handle it? For the past 2+ years, I've told myself that the only way I would ever become Queen, was if I won it. Granted the chances were next to nill, but that would be the only way. So I could picture myself someday crowning my consort and since I'd been the one to win, I was the "upper" monarch. I would take charge, not the consort-King. Now I picture myself kneeling before my love and having him crown me. And I cringe. I like to think that I could possibly help people as Queen, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around being the subordinate. I have already decided that I would fight in any Crown that he does, just to feel a little less "weak".

How do other women fighters with strong opinions get over it? Thanks.

[freiman the minstrel]

Himiltrude,

I am not a woman, but I am a fighter, and I have been one for about twenty years. I was a veteran fighter many years ago when Sir Alfred of Carlyle dropped out of the finals and gave (then) Lord Gerhardt a chance to win, and make Lady Aurelia Queen of Drachenwald.

I have fought many more crown lists than your knight, and in more kingdoms.

You would make a fine queen. If anybody tells you different, they are incorrect.

f
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Surf less, fight more

[Cunian]

It's a way big, all-consuming job either way. The moment you get crowned seems like the only time there is a huge difference. I think - if it happens - you probably won't have the time or energy to worry about it. Lots of good consorts fight well and are respected for their fighting ability. I believe the only woman to win Crown had already sat the throne as Consort.

[ratslayer]

I guess its all in how you approach it. Most couples who reign here do not have the subservient position. It's a true equality with the responsibility of the crown. I've been to more then one coronation where the Queen was crowned first and then crowned the King or both King and Queen were crowned at the same time.

Kelwin
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The GOOFY way is the TRUE way!!!!!

[Jesmond]

[audax]

Subordinate?!
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Martel le Hardi
squire to Meser Lyonel Oliver Grace, fostered to Sir Gaston de Clermont
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The Minstrel's Champion