The MELIORIA fencing tournament turned out to be a wonderful event, and a success in terms of attendance, enjoyment, and high fencing level.

The Prince of MELIORIA had carefully prepared this feast ( with the deft and friendly help of Aria Vyper, Contessa di Mocenigo, CeeCee and Blue Revolution), adorning the lawns of the glorious Villa Vesuviana with tents and lovely blankets, where spring water, wines ,liquors and picnic baskets were at hand.

This event drew an incredible crowd, from all horizons, coming and going during the two hours and a half it lasted. Therefore, I will not be able to mention all attendants, as I usually do: please accept my apologies. it was entertaining and even enthralling, to see this fashionably elegant assembly and to hear the witty discussions and, ahemgossips.

The duellists of the day were , in no protocolar order: Capacitytodd Elswit, Prince of Melioria, our host, Marquesa Quecay Amat, Hera Poliatevska, professional fencer and Maitre dArmes in the Royal Court Fencing Group, Contessa Sophia Trefusis di Loredan, Doctor Pekel Panacek, Madame la Comtesse de Noailles, Senora Emma Streusel, Princess of Switzerland, Sir Blue Revolution, Her Grace the Duchesse de Rochefort, Conte Myron Byron di Loredan, Mademoiselle dAndelot, Joesf Fitzpatrick, Contessa Selina Vayandar di Loredan, and Monsieur de Monty-Merlin.

Four rounds were needed to reach the final, won by the irresistible Selina, Contessa di Loredan, over Hera Poliatevska. To crown this ceremony, the Prince of Melioria offered two prizes of 2000 gold coins and 1000 gold coins respectively to the winner and finalist.

The competitors gained also points for the Royal Courts fencing Group Award of Fencer of the Year, as follows:

- Maria-Antonia Barenhaut, Quecay Amat, Sophia Trefusis, Pekel Panacek, , Joesf Fitzpatrick, Monty Merlin: 1 point.

-Marie-Josette Laville, Melle DAndelot, Capacitytodd Elswit, Myron Byron: 3 points

- Emma Streusel, Blue Revolution: 5 points

-Hera Poliatevska: 8 points

- Selina Vayandar: 10 points.

(see for present rankings after 3 tournaments in my upcoming post).

And now A FEW ANECDOTES :

-As usual, a big controversy arose about fencing Ladies outfits: gowns or breeches? Well, this a far too serious matter for us, male fencers, to decide! We , who heartily endure scars and blood wounds, would NEVER take the chance of interfering between Ladies arguing about this: we are courageous, but no fools! ( with the possible exception of Blue Revolution, who suggested we could wear skirts in replyJ)

-CeeCee missed the Tournament, and we missed her : we learned (once again) that , as she was in charge of transferring the spring water bottles from the cellar to the picnic, she mistook them for the vodka bottles of the Prince, and realized too late her error ( too late meaning after sipping two bottles at least) so she overslept...

-At one moment, a little girl ran everywhere through the crowd . One of the Versailles Grandes Dames was trying to catch and keep her May I? She looks so much like my Pomeranian dog! she said.

-Extracts from the dialogues during the final duel :

-Hera Poliatevska: I must confess at this point, that I am not a part of any Court. I am from the peasantry, and I fence for a living, Mesdames.

-Duchesse de Rochefort: For a living? What do you mean? What a curious expression! ( I love learning new words and expressions)

-Selina Vayandar: For a livinglike work. A concept lost to you, perhaps.

-Duchesse de Rochefort: Oh! Work ! I learnt about work the other day, what a curious occupation!

-Gallyon Milneaux: *tries not to laugh*

-Duchesse de Rochefort: To work to earn moneyodd concept

-Hera Poliatevska: I work as a fencer, sometimes as a trainer

-Duchesse de Rochefort: Personally I think inheritance is much simpler

-Hera P. : Much simpler indeed, for those who are lucky!

-Myron Verne: tsk tsk tsk, never mind, Hera, focus on your fencing!