Baroness’ Inspiration Tournament

 

Hosted in-person by

The Barony of Lions Gate (Vancouver, BC )

Baroness’ Inspiration Tournament

Event Summary

Event Main Contact (Event Steward): Bridget Kilkenny
Event Date(s): November 15 , 2025
Site opens at: 8:30 AM on November 15th 2025
Site closes at: 11:00 PM

Event site:
Cloverdale Fairgrounds – Shannon Hall
6050A 176th Street Surrey, BC

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Hear ye, hear ye! Come bear witness to her excellency Baroness Brynja Kortsdottir choosing those worthy individuals who inspire her at this year’s annual Baroness’ Inspiration Tournament on November 15th. There will be prize tourneys for both unbelted Heavy and uncollared Rapier, as well the Iron Rose and Steel Rose tourneys for female-identifying fighters. There will also be a tourney to determine the Cut and Thrust Champion for Lions Gate. Merchants will be tempting you with their wares and there will be tables for Games and Children’s activities. TUTR classes are being planned so you’ll have an opportunity to learn something new! There will be an Arts & Sciences Largesse competition as well.

Attention, largesse makers!
Behold, the Tremendous Triple Largesse Contest!

Please create three similar (do not have to be identical) items that are individually labelled with:
your name
your branch
a short description of the item
a point of contact (FB name or email)

The theme for this contest is “Black and White”. These are the colours of our fair Barony, but don’t feel limited by Lions Gate imagery — AND — because we are asking for three items, that automatically gives you entry in the reign-long Tir Righ Triple Largesse Tournament!

Lunch is soup and a bun by donation (suggested $5), and in the evening we will be having a potluck, so bring an item to share, along with your feast gear. Dame Anika and Dirty Sally are running the Tavern of Lost Souls selling alcoholic beverages and pop in the evening as well (so absolutely no outside alcohol is permitted on site!)

Let there be BARDIC!

At this year’s Baroness’ Inspiration Tournament, on November 15th, we’re looking for a few brave and talented bards to share their gifts during the Potluck Dinner!

Songs, stories, poems, all are welcome! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or trying the bardic path for the first time, this is a wonderful chance to add some joy and inspiration to the evening.

If you’re interested in performing, please send Tasha Zimmerman a message or email her at:
tovatolisdottir@gmail.com

Let’s fill the hall with laughter, song, and good company! 🎶

This event includes the following activities and/or services:
Royal Presence - Heirs
Royal Presence - Tir Righ
Has Merchants
Has Classes
Offers Youth & Family activities
Has Heavy Fighting activities
Has Rapier and/or Cut & Thrust activities
Has Bardic activities
Has Arts & Sciences activities
Offers a feast or meal

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Add all events from Lions Gate to your personal calendar (ical format)

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Site Fees

Event Schedule

Meal Information

LUNCH
Chez Jaqueline and Friends present the lunch repast at Baroness’ Inspiration. Lunch runs from 11 am to 1 pm.

All lunch items by donation (suggested is $5 for the whole lunch.)

Two Scoops Soup and a Bun+

* Hamburger Soup – ground beef, tomatoes, vegetables
* Mulligatawny Soup – chicken, curry, apples, lemon, rice
* Creamy Carrot Soup – carrots, potatoes, milk (no meat; wheat free)
* Roasted Butternut Squash Soup – squash, coconut milk, ginger (vegan – dairy free, gluten free, no onion or garlic)

Worchestershire sauce, chili sauce, sour cream on the side

Sourdough bread
Potato buns or baps
Gluten free bread

Dill pickles

And if you’re really lucky, Coin of the Realm!

POTLUCK DINNER
In the evening we will be having a potluck, so bring an item to share, along with your feast gear.

If your modern first name falls between the letters:

A-G please bring a main dish
H-N please bring an appie
O-T please bring a veggie/bread and dip
U-Z please bring a dessert

If you would like to bring something not in your alphabet section find somone that is and trade

There will be a fridge and a microwave

Potluck organizer Katharina Rein (Dana Lamarche on Facebook)

Tournament Information

Baroness’ Inspiration Armoured Tournaments

Steel Tournaments
• Uncollared Rapier Prize Tournament
• Steel Rose Tournament
• Cut & Thrust Championship

Uncollared Rapier Prize Tournament:
Open prize tournament for all rapier fighters. Masters of Defense (MOD) are encouraged to enter but can not win. Uncollared fighters must bring a prize for the table to enter. All fighters (except MODs) will win a prize.
The tournament will be a round robin format, run in 2 or 4 list fields, depending on the participant numbers. Each rapier fighter must fight at least one MOD in addition to the round robin challengers in their list field.

Steel Rose Tournament:
Rapier tournament intended for female and gender minority fighters.
Format: will be single or double round robin tournament, depending on participant numbers.
The Steel Rose tournament will be sponsored by the Companions of the Valorous Estate.

Baronial Cut & Thrust championship:
The annual Lions Gate Baronial Cut & Thrust tournament to determine the next Lions Gate Cut & Thrust champion! Invocation of the lists will take place on the Rapier list field, immediately before the tournament begins. (Hopefully this will give our neighbours from the North and across the waters time to join in the fun.)
Format: Round robin, matched weapons. Finals will be best of 5 bouts.

Gerhard’s Riposte:
This year Gerhard’s Riposte will be rolled into the Uncollared Rapier Prize Tournament instead of running as a separate tournament.

Rattan Tournaments
• Iron Rose tournament
• Unbelted Armored prize tournament

Iron Rose Tournament:
Heavy armoured tournament intended for female and gender minority fighters.
Format: Round robin with top four fighters competing in single elimination.
The Iron Rose tournament will be sponsored by the Companions of the Valorous Estate.

Unbelted Armoured prize tournament:
Open prize tournament for all heavy fighters. Knights are encouraged to enter, but cannot win.
Format: will be four round robin fields from which the top two fighters on each field will enter an eight-person, single elimination, best of three finals. The final two fighters will meet in a best of five final.
In order to qualify for entry into the tournament each fighter must provide a suitable prize and challenge and fight at least one knight, of course you are welcome (and encouraged) to fight as many knights as possible. Prizes will be distributed to all participants based on how well they did in the tournament, lowest ranked selecting first.

Volunteer Information

Decor, set-up/take down and gate all need volunteers.

Merchant Information

Here’s an update from our merchant coordinator
Merchants at Baroness’ Inspiration:
1. Purple Pervayor, Roshin – miscellaneous goods
2. Black’s Market, Ian & Shine – blades, jewelry, hats, oddities
3. Artisan’s Consortium, Stephanie – hand-crafted goods
4. Argent Mouse glass, Catrina – glass
5. Sandhu Cloth House, Surinder – fabrics & trim
6. Shepherd’s pillow, Michelle, hats
7. Mersha – a variety of goods
8. Willfulle Creations, Alicia- pewter dress accessories, buttons, belt fittings, veil pins, brooches.

Classes Offered

TUTR Class Information
Baroness’s Inspiration – November 15, 2025
All classes are scheduled for 2 hours.
All classes are limited to 8 students due to space restrictions.

10 am to noon
Track 1
Don’t Panic, It’s Only Silk
Cost: $3 Instructor: Ra’isa Marie bint Yussuf
Want to make a garment out of silk, but don’t know what kind to use? What about seam treatments? Or washing it? Based on Marie’s personal experience working with and wearing silk, this class will cover these questions and more. Handout provided.
Track 2
Collecting artifacts to match your persona
Cost: $0 Instructor: Kevinus Bubonis
Learn about ethical and legal methods for finding and obtaining authentic artifacts, and how to match them to your persona and period. Attendees will have the opportunity to view and possibly handle some of those artifacts.
Track 3
Hat Blocking
NOTE: You must pre-register for this class no later than 9:00 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Cost: $25 Instructor: HL Rosalind MacAllistair
A hat can be the final touch for any period costume. In this hands-on class, we’ll learn how to turn a thrift store wool hat into a beautiful period hat, using tools most people already have in their homes. At the end of the class, students will take their hat home!
Track 4 – Hosted Salons
Textile Salon
Cost: $0 Host: Darbari Shahar Mulji
If your hobby involves fabric, thread, or textiles of any kind come and spend some time with other enthusiasts. Beginner, curious, or expert, it doesn’t matter. Share tips and tricks, get help with knotty problems, or just enjoy a casual hang out.
1 pm to 3 pm
Track 1
SCA Etiquette & Traditions
Cost: $2 Instructor: HL Rosalind MacAllistair
The SCA is a unique subculture, with its own values, customs and traditions. Successfully navigating these can help you avoid embarrassment and can contribute to your success and achievements in our Society. We will discuss: A brief history of the SCA; SCA core values ; Basic rules of etiquette; Titles: what they mean, how to recognize them, what to call them; What to do when you’re called up to Court; Combat etiquette; How to interact with Royals; Personas in the SCA; DEI in the Society; and more! Handout provided.
Track 2
Dead (Wo)men Do Tell Tales: Case Studies in Death
NOTE: Pre-registration is highly recommended for this class.
Cost: $1 Instructor: Viscountess Nadezhda Toranova
Death is an inevitable part of life. By examining archeological evidence from three Medieval graves, we can gain insights into the beliefs and funerary practices of past communities. The case studies are based on academic peer-reviewed literature, and will be presented in plain language by an archeologist specializing in Medieval funerary practices. Handout provided.
Track 3
Epic Sleeves for 12th Century Gentlefolk: The History and Design of the Bliaut
Cost: $1 Instructor: HL Millicent of Eaglescliff
A bliaut is a long dress or tunic that reached its peak of popularity in the 12th century in most of Europe. It is an upper-class garment, characterized by embellishments such as large sleeves and bands of trim, usually at the neckline, biceps, wrists, and hem. It can be made in masculine or feminine styles. This class will cover design options for the bliaut based on period artwork, textile archaeology, and wearing experience in the SCA.
Track 4 – Hosted Salons
Bardic for Beginners
Cost: $0 Host: Tova Tolisdottir, Bardic Champion
This salon is intended for beginner and novice bards or bard wanna-bes. Hosted by Tova, our current Bardic Champion, this salon offers one-on-one advice on choosing, preparing, and performing a bardic piece. Tips on “stage presence”, voice projection, dealing with performance jitters, are just some of the things you can learn.

Emergency Preparedness Information

This page for event id 8714 was last updated: November 11, 2025
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