SLTA Begins 8th Season, Announces New Awards

The SL TOURNAMENT ASSOCIATION (SLTA) in association with the JOUSTING LEAGUE held its 7th annual awards celebrations June 15th, at 5pm to honor those who received the most points in the Second Life competitive jousting.

DDA Headmaster Forester Lowenhart welcomed all attendees and awards were presented by various SLTA stewards. Here are a few excerpts from the ceremonies:

“All of you spend considerable time and expense in SL, and it is all together fitting we take a moment each year to honor those who have given a full measure of devotion to the sport of Kings and earned our praise and the humble accolades for the feats they accomplished this past season."

"Although the names we shall hear tonight may be familiar to our ears, we cannot honor them…We cannot herald their achievements …Without honoring all those who placed their names on the tournament boards in our Realms!

We owe whatever success they have achieved this year to the participation and the hard work each competitor and Realm has done to build a strong jousting program for the community.

Last year, I showed charts at the end of Season VI which showed a downward trend in the numbers of those participating in Jousts and appealed to UNITE in your efforts to support our programs and institutions, to reverse this trend.

I stand here today, to proudly say… The State of that Union is Strong!”

“This year we saw a sharp decline in the number of Realms offering jousts. So we might expect to see a greater decline this year in the number of jousters, joust events and contributions. Thanks to your dedication and hard work on behalf of the jousting community, the opposite was true.

Joust events were UP 8% this year! Suggesting even with fewer Realms, those that remain have developed strong and solid programs for the jousting community.

The community’s response to your programs is also reflected in a substantial increase in attendance. UP almost 20% over last year! Suggesting there is robust support growing from an enthusiastic jousting community.

On par with this increase are contributions to the Jousting Purse. UP over 18% this year. Suggesting the community is generous in rewarding the efforts of our jousters.

Certainly there can be no better evidence of the success of your efforts.

So please give your selves a big round of applause for a season well done!"

HONORING THE HOSTS

Sir Nephilim Ventris of Dragons Lair thanked all participating Realms who provide the jousting opportunities and presented Host Trophies to SLTA Stewards hosting the weekly Intersim.

Double Dragon Academy, Duchy Of Schleswig, Westeros, Dragons Lair, Duskwalker Lands and Darlecia (not pictured)

“As I look out to everyone, I reflect back on the past year we've spent together in camaraderie both on and off the field. Through these sports and gatherings we have come closer together in the community as friends, as family, as a whole. And I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continuing dedication and contribution in making this one of the most exciting adventures Second Life has to offer.”

BEST OF HELM AWARD

Dame Stormy Summerwind, elite Knight of Dragon’s Lair presened the awards to the Lord and Lady who received the most Best Of Helm Awards in the season.

“As knights and combatants we each take great pride in the way we present ourselves during the league's Intersim tournaments, grand medieval events where each competitor is dressed in their finest armors and their steeds spectacular barding and dressage.

The decision is most often a very difficult one indeed as the hosts take into consideration how much time, effort and purses won have contributed to one's overall representation. The pageantry is a grand sight indeed to behold.”

QUEENS OF HELM: KaliVRahu and Alexarya (tied)

KING OF HELM: Brett Keller (not pictured)

NEW AWARD HONORS

Forester Lowenhart announced several new BEST OF (SEASON) awards:

BEST OF HITS will track the highest degree of accuracy in matches using the Dragon Lance Jousting System.

BEST OF SERVICE will honor an individual each season who provides the highest level of service to the Jousting Community.

KaliVRahu (Dragon Lair elite Knight and Dean of Admissions of the Double Dragon Academy) was the first year’s recipient for tireless efforts to report each joust to the website, and Brett Kjeller (Dragon Lair elite Knight and Chief Joust Instructor of the Double Dragon Academy) was singled out as first runner up for his officiation at the most jousts in the year. Kali offered these words of thanks:

“As I stand here I cannot help reminiscing on when i first started jousting. It was a matter of discussion whether the points earned belonged to the hosts or the jousters placing in these events. I strongly feel that you... the participants deserve EVERY point you earn. So I took it upon myself to make sure every point i earned was tracked. As my participation became harder due to RL I still embraced that belief that the points are OURS!!!

SO I BASICALLY BECAME THE "OFFICIAL REPORTER"

And although I may fall behind at times I do my best to make sure EVERY tournament & EVERY point is tracked. And I do it for 1 reason.This moment right here is my reward and my thanks. So I would like to take this moment to thank each & every one of you.”

DOUBLE DRAGON ACADEMY FINAL FOUR

Another new award introduced this year was the DDA Final Four, to honor those who place in Double Dragon Academy (DDA) jousts that begin and end each June and are tracked separately on the Jousting League (JL) website. Headmaster Forester Lowenhart had this to say about the awards unique significance in the SLTA & JL Anniversary celebration…

“The DDA Tournaments hold a unique place in the history of virtual jousting as the longest, continuously running jousts in SL.

The Wednesday Joust (aka Knight Fights / Class & Tournament) was first established in June of 2009, and been held consistently every week past 9 years. Alexarya/1st; Nephilim Ventris/2nd;Mathew Porchers/3rd; Brett Kjeller/4th (not pictured)

The Saturday Joust

was established in the Fall of 2011 as the first King Phy charity joust (before his passing) and has served as the monthly championship on and off over the years.

The Monday Joust (Funday) was established in the Spring of 2013 as the first to celebrate the wide diversity of RP in SL with few rules, each week for the past 5 years.

Since then, the DDA Tournament Jousts have accounted for more than 25% of all the jousts held in SL. They are designed to provide a unique learning experience for all, ...(which) like the Olympics, showcase athletes (from many realms) competing in amateur status without payment.

Much of the thanks for the continuation of these tournaments in recent years goes to the DDA’s former and current alumni who have given generously of their time to officiate, or hold the jousts in their lands for the benefit of new students and old, alumni or not.”

Lady Alexarya, honored as the DDA’s Season Champion offered these words of thanks:

“Although I do not usually like to talk about competition with pressures of any kind but of moments of fun and in which through that we made new friendships and union that transcends the border … That is what I personally enjoy above all the things that a league implies.

I am grateful to travel from kingdom to kingdom to find this band of honorable knights and have met new players, also old players who have fun again hitting us with their spears daily.

I share this with each one of them and I love to call them friends.”

JOUSTING LEAGUE TOP 10 and LEAGUE LEADERS

Seasonal Awards for the Jousting League’s TOP 10 league jousters were presented to Alexarya, Stormy Summerwind, Hacker Jannings, Hina Mhia, Kalivrahu and Nephilim Ventris (pictured above) and Mathew Porchers, Littlebigtrouble, Brett Kjeller, Queen Nakajima.

KaliVRahu followed the presentation with awards for the top 4 League Leaders of Season VII, sharing these recollections:

“Season 7 brought us a lot of exciting competition but I’ve never seen an ending like we had at the end of the season. It really got down to bare knuckles and nail biting.

This person took a bit of a break but still fought valiantly earning him his position…

Hacker Jannings

This next jouster fought tooth and nail earning him his position. In Third Place…

Mathew Porchers

With a close battle of only 2 points difference this next jouster earned her position with poise and grace. In Second Place…

Alexarya

And now for our First Place winner…

This man has the deadliest lance in SL.... the one we all hate to face...It gives me great pleasure to announce this year’s League Leader…For a record fourth year in a row!

Nephilim Ventris"

INTERSIM JOUST TOP 10

Kali also presented awards to the TOP 10 Intersim Jousters which included Alexarya, Hacker Jannings, Hina Mhia, Mathew Porchers, Nephilim Ventris, Stormy Summerwind (pictured below) and Myyriah Naopolitana, Littlebigtrouble, Brett Kjeller, Queen Nakajima.

INTERSIM CHAMPION FOR SEASON VII

The awards ceremony ended with the presentation of its highest award for jousting achievement in Season VII; Champion of the “Cry The Tournament” weekly Intersim.

The award was first presented in 2011 in the SL Tournament Association's (SLTA) first year managing the Intersim Joust, and has continued to serve as the signature joust event in SL, bringing together over 50 Realms during the proceeding years to participate in the pageantry of medieval jousts of old. It remains a true crucible for determining the best of the best by testing each jouster against the other, within the same number of jousts, same set of officiating rules, and same set of lances and lists.

Kali presented the award, sharing these comments on Season VII winner, Nephilim Ventris.

“I am pleased to present our next award for the Intersim Champion of Season 7.

Not only has this man worked tirelessly to perfect his craft, he also helped any who asked his assistance either setting up their venue, officiating for any realm who asked his assistance, and teaching or practicing with any who asked of his time and knowledge. He shared everything he had with any who asked of him.

I would now like to call up the honoree to the stage to receive his award."

A man of few words, but many deeds, Sir Nephilim shared these remarks:

"It's definately been a great season with many new jousters stepping up to the challenge. I look forward to this season with tremendous enthusiasm and wish everyone the best of luck!"

SEASON VIII BEGINS

With Season VII results now etched in the archives of SL jousting, DDA Headmaster Forester Lowenhart brought the ceremonies to a close amidst a showering display of fireworks, congratulating the winners, thanking the hosts and presenters and reminding all that Season VIII has begun anew:

"...the points clock has been reset to zero... which gives everyone the chance to be on the stage next year with the best of the best!"

#joust #awards