On the evening of May 11th, 2001, the Schola St. George and with the kind assistance of the Adrian Empire will hold a challenge tournament for the rapier, that students of the sword representing various martial traditions might come together in comaraderie and to share enjoyment in the joi de combat.

This tournament will be run courtesy of the Adrian Empire, although it will use a set of modified AHF rules to govern the fighting proper. Our great thanks to Karl Ontis and the Adrian companions for helping to bring this tournament about!

Item: A modified version of the AHF (Association for Historica Fencing) rules will be adopted for use; however, since the purpose of this tournament will be to celebrate the whole spectrum of virtues associated with the gentleman of quality, all touches will be called by the combatants.

Item: Before the tournament, all combatants will have their arms and equipment inspected by one of the tournament marshals to ensure compliance with basic safety standards common to all AHF, Adrian & SCA standards (the specific armour and weapons standards may be found at the end of this declaration).

Item: Combatants will be divided randomly into two sides, each denoted by a ribbon of red or white.

Item: At the start of the tournament, each combatant will enter the lists, one after the other, and declare to their opponents and to the gallery their name, affiliation, and if they wish, their purpose in participating in the tournament.

Item: Each combatant will have the opportunity to challenge another member of the opposite side, declaring their preferred weapons form. The opponent has the option to accept, decline or suggest a different form. Once agreement has been reached, the director will announce the challenge to the assembled gentles and the challenger will retire with his registration card to have the challenge recorded. It will be possible that a single defender may have more than one challenge in a round or none at all. Red will challenge first, and after the all bouts in the round have commenced, white will challenge and all fights conducted one after the other. Then red will go again, then white.

Item: Each fight will consist of the best 2 out of 3 bouts to a score of three points. A thrust to the body, head or throat is worth 3 points, while a cut, thrust or draw-cut are worth 1. No wounds will be acted out.

Item: Blades may be grasped--but not twisted--in one hand.
Item: Grapples are disallowed, though incidental bodily contact is not to be considered illegal.
Item: Combatants that drop their parrying device lose its use unless they can recover it on their own. A dropped sword not caused by a successful thrust shall cost the bout.
Item: The marshals may cast out any combatant for excessive force, demeanor, or for any safety reason.

Item: Combatants should strive to achieve victory through the use of practiced technique, presenting fights that are interesting and skilful to their opponents and to those who would enjoy the fight from the gallery.

Item: Before the first pass of challenges, all combatants will present themselves within the lists for a warmup melee. Once combatants have recieved the requisite 3 points, they should remove themselves from the field.

Item: After the second pass--by argent--each side will again present themselves to the lists for a second melee

Item: After the fourth pass, Finally, each side will elect from their ranks a champion to meet that of the other side. These champions will meet in the best of 5 bouts and will be declared the tournament's victor.

Armour and Weapons Standards

Item: All combatants accept responsibility for themselves, declaring any suspected difficiencies in equipment and aknowedging the possibility of injury, and further agreeing to hold blameless their opponents, the marshals. other event officials, and the site owners from liability. Marshals shall assist the combatants in maintaining a safe environment and have the power to stop any fight for any reason, or to eject any combatant as necessary.

Head: The head shall be defended by a minimum of a 3-weapon mask with a bib stitched into place and an additional throat defense.
Body: A minimum of a fencing doublet, fencing jacket, or gambeson will be required. A reinforced garment is strongly recommended.
Hands: A heavy glove with wrist protection shall be worn as a minimum.
Swords: shall be of the cup, shell or swept-hilt variety and mounted with blades that are either double-wide epee, Del Tin practice blades or practice schlager blades, and they should be between 35 and 45 inches in length. They must be historical in design, without modern modifications for purposes of competitive advantage. All tips shall be blunted rubber, dulled and wrapped in waxed thread and covered with leather, or equivalent. Blades must be without rust and nicks and should flex sufficiently to convince the marshals and potential opponents of their safety.
Parrying Devices: Only cloaks, daggers, bucklers or a second rapier will be allowed in this tournament.

Daggers: Shall have hilts of the ring, cross or shell variety, and must  have quillions. If a dagger is to be used for thrusting, it must be sufficiently flexible to be approved by the opponent and marshal.

Cloaks must not have any weighted objects attached, and should be free from holes. Combatants may be struck with the cloak but no points are counted.

Bucklers may be used to parry or strike an opponent, but a buckler strike should only count as a point in exceptional circumstances (combatant's decision).

All equipment must be in good repair and is subject to inspection before each fight.

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