Thanks to the warm and caring welcome of His Majesty King William and Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina of Orange Nassau, our first fencing tournament has been an enjoyable and exciting event!

But no thanks to the Highwaymen and Pirates who blocked some roads and harbours, preventing many to log in on time, or to log at all! What was the Linden Police doing? )

The tournament took place in the elegant gardens of The Isle of Roy, with the background cries of seagulls and the majestuous flight of a falcon over us. Refreshements were available for fencers and spectators.

What a graceful setting! Everything was ready for the competition, on the three pistes!

In the first duel, Sir Trasgo Beaumont, the famous painter, took the lead; but her Majesty the Queen Wilhelmina(Susanah Tigerpaw), with her unremittable perseverance and consistent fencing,finally won the last points.

Captain Paco Gothly, a brilliant swordsman from the Court of Spain, defeated Dr Pekel Panacek, one of the champions of Le Duch de Coeur( no doubt Pekel missed the relentless encouragements of his Fiance... )

At the same time, Mademoiselle Hera Poliatevska was so upset and blushing: she never had met a King before! and we saw her so confused and sorry when she defeated His Majesty The King of the Netherlands ( Roy100 Allen), an excellent fencer himself! No, Hera, it was not a crime of lese-majesty:)

Finally, Tatiana, Duchesse de Provence, arrived later:She had been delayed by the unfortunate encounter of this gang of highwaymen, who prevented her to join us in time: she disbanded this mob, by herself alone, with the sole help of her sword ! (Well, so she said..). Was she tired and short of breath after these efforts? I eliminated her from the competition( though with difficulty): this Myron has no mercy !

The next round opposed Queen Wilhelmina-Susanah Tigerpaw, to Hera Poliatevska, and Captain Paco Gothly, supported by charming ladies from Spain, to myself: Both duels were long, fierce and so close...: in the end, Hera and Myron were qualified for the final duel, which was won rather easily by Mademoiselle Poliatevska, undoubtedly the best fencer of the day.

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Hera was a young girl in the vicinity, who was always around and willing to attend our fencing trainings...I asked her one day, as a joke, if she would like to fence with us? She did, and it was not a joke anymore! I am so proud I recognized very early her gifts at fencing, helped her developping them, and became her Fencing Master. She may not be " une Noble Dame de Qualit" but she certainly is a woman of many noble qualities, including her skill with a sword. I take it as my duty to encourage talent wherever it comes from, Nobility or Tiers-Etat,, men or women...I lost the tournament yesterday, but nothing could have made me happier than to see my " disciple" surpassing her Master, as Hera did, and I was more proud than if I had won myself !

She received the prize of 1500 L$, so generously awarded by the Court of Orange Nassau to the winner, from the hands of the King himself, and under the kindly eyes of the Queen. Her heart must have been beating so fast then!

But this tournament would not have been half as enjoyable, if we had not been graced by a numerous and cheerful attendance:Her Excellency La Contessa Rezzonico, who speaks so many languages so well, Her Grace the Duchesse de Rochefort, who came all the way from Versailles and is a keen observer of this fencing game she masters perfectly,the newly-wed Baronesse de Coeur Maria Louisa and her husband Captain Fletch Kidd ( next time you HAVE to fence , dears),Madame de Tancarville, Ladies Oona Riaxik ( a future fencer?) and Summer Serendipity ( a fencing beginner) from Coeur,Senoras Sevilla Abbot and Marliz Lenroy from Spain, not to forget my sweet and beloved Lady Candace, who was so helpful with organisation and welcomed our friends...A jolly and refined company , Indeed !

After the tournament, some of the guests and the Royal Couple danced the evening away in the huge and prestigious Ballroom of The Court: a peaceful and charming ending for a perfect day !

We will have more fencing events in other Courts in the future, and we will come back to the Netherlands some day. Do not be impatient In the meantime,please join the Royal courts Fencing Group, and attend its meetings: it's a good way to entertain oneself, to practice adequate baroque roleplay,to meet old friends and make new acquaintance !

In the hereunder painting,Hera Poliatevska,on the left, receives her prize from the hands of The King and Queen

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