I did not think to capture images from the earlier blossfechten bouts, but Sir James kindly found something for me to do other than stand like a lump so, here are some photos- they are unaltered, taken with a 5MP camera phone so the quality's not great, but you'll get the idea of what's going on. Enjoy!
In this bout, the first combatants are Sirs James and Nathan, knights of the Order of the Marshal.
As you may surmise from this photo, both combatants performed with spirit and resolve.
In this picture, it appears that Sir James has captured Sir Nathan's sword but it was a ruse and though you cannot see it (because I missed the shot) Sir Nathan performed a sweet grappling move that resulted in Sir James' primary sword arm being taken out of play.
Gauntlet malfunction; a couple of gauntlets had met their respective failures that day as the shots came hard and fast. In this picture, which is included just because it's a great candid shot, Sir Nathan noticed that one of the finger lames on his gaunts have come undone.
With the hand temporarily seen to (read that as ignored), the two knights prepare to do battle anew.
This time, they close rather quickly - Sir James thrusts for the armpit as Sir Nathan works to foil the attempt.
Here, Sir Nathan goes for Sir James' leg.
I like this shot- not so much what the two fighters are doing, but what you can see of the crowd, they are into it!
Eventually, the match concluded with Sir Nathan as the victor. Sir Brian, after having refereed the previous match, decided that he too wanted to challenge Sir Nathan.
Sir Nathan, just prior to the start of the bout w/Sir Brian.
They close, both utilizing half-swording stances.
Grappling.
Sir Nathan goes for the hook manuever.
Sir Brian nimbly steps away.
The Clash, you can see where Sir Brian is attempting to bind Sir Nathan's sword.
The Struggle, for supremacy continues in the next three shots.
Sir Brian appears to have delivered the Dolorous Stroke via pommel.
However, Sir Nathan has recovered and enters into the breach anew.
And, in amazing display of the laws of physics, Sir Nathan upends Sir Brian- upon which he had the good sense to flee the scene before meeting Sir Brian's wrath! All you see is the dust trail- Sir Nathan was gone!
Actually, it was a beautiful move and my cameraphone's half-second lag was just long enough to miss the actual move and only capture the denouement. Apologies to all.
Sir Brian actually rose rather quickly, and then graciously conceded the bout to Sir Nathan who with that announcement became the Champion of the Day! Well done, Sirs James, Brian and Nathan, huzzah!!!
And here are a couple of snaps of the Order's encampment at VARF.
And a shot of the photographer w/Sir James.
