SL Tournament Association celebrates 8th season, awards top jousters

Above, new awards to Realms for tournament hosting.

Friday, June 7th marked the beginning of Season 9 for the jousting community, celebrating the jousters who climbed to the top of the joust standings after a year of competition. In an event sponsored by t he SL Tournament Association (SLTA) and the Jousting League (JL), awards were given in honor Tournament Hosts, Top Ten finalists in the Intersim, League and Double Dragon Academy (DDA) jousts in Season 8. Here are some highlights from the event and speeches given by presenters and recipients of the awards.

NEW HONORS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Master of Ceremony Sir Forester Lowenhart, Headmaster of the Double Dragon Academy (DDA) welcomed attendees

"The SLTA and DDA were created to honor those achievements rightly; marking your passage in a tangible way, to honor your time here, and show your efforts mattered...

...The most tangible evidence of that commitment was the opening of the MUSEUM OF TOURNAMENT and its first exhibition dedicated to remembering our shared accomplishments over a ten years of history...(opened November 11, 2019)...Over 500 visitors had a chance to learn about our sport and the realms, groups and participants that have maintained a unique community. It was the first museum in the history of SL to showcase the tournaments you have hosted or participated in...

It is a fitting testament to the goals of the SLTA and DDA to ‘honor your efforts rightly’ and have them ‘stand the test of time’...

...It has always been the mission of the Tournament Association to support all tournaments similar in the way the Double Dragon Academy certifies the training in all contests of combat skill, be it Lance, Blade or Arrow. So we are making a small change this year to reflect that mission.

...In the past, we have honored the hosts of tournaments tracked by the Jousting League and Tournament Association with a trophy labeled ‘Intersim’.... Not all of the tournaments tracked by the SLTA or Jousting League for awards are Intersim tournaments. So this year we will be replacing it with a Realm Host Trophy that honors any host for a tournament we provide seasonal awards for.

...It now looks as if we are on track to achieve a long term goal of the Tournament Association. A full year of competitive events in Archery, Melee and Other Competitions!... plans are being made to celebrate the winners of those events in a SECOND Tournament Association awards celebration 6 months from now, in January, at the start of 2020. "

BEST OF HELMS

Dame Bella Denver, Director Emeritus of the DDA presented the awards for the Lord and Lady winning the most 'Best Of Helm' honors at the Intersim Jousts.

KING OF HELMS: Sir Brett Kjeller

"As we all know, the King of Helms was decided by our own Ladies! I am sure he was very deserving of this award as well, as it was a strong vote by the Ladies as well in his honor!

QUEEN OF HELMS: Dame KALIvRAHU

"She represented exquisitely throughout the year. A fine example to be of our Best of Helm Award!One could not forget her presence on the field as a fine player indeed!...

BEST OF SERVICE

Sir Forester Lowenhart, presented the awards first runner-up and winner for SL Tournament Association's 'Best Of Service'

FIRST RUNNER UP: Sir Nephilim Ventris for Joust Officiating

"Chances are if you have jousted a lot in SL this past season, this person has been the official at your match. In fact he has officiated more matches this year than any other. 145 of them! That’s 45% of all jousts tracked in Season VIII!"

WINNER: Dame KALIvRAHU for Joust Reporting

"Jousting results are kept current and complete primarily because ALL that data is posted by only one person. Without her consistent and tireless efforts behind the scenes, we would not have an accurate accounting of each participant’s performance"

BEST OF HITS

Duchess Ariell Fallen, presented the award for 'Best Of Hits'

WINNER: Sir Nephilim Ventris

"Best Hits is a record of the most impressive hit using a Dragon Lance. This award is for the single jouster with the most impressive tally of 'Best Hits' gotten from their joust season. For those unfamiliar with Dragon Lance, it's based on the most accurate hits, this is how you can gain a best hits in a joust.

HOST AWARDS

Sir Nephilim Ventris, presented the awards honoring this years Tournament Hosts

"My family, friends and comrades, Let me first say it has indeed been an absolute honor to have been a part of this great community for so many years and to stand here tonight honoring those that make it happen and provide the opportunities for each and every one of us to enjoy this experience.

Through these sports and gatherings, we have come closer together in the community as friends, family, and as a whole. Daily we spend time together training, getting to know each other and working together.

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. It is most important to recognize the realms that give us this opportunity."

DDA FINAL FOUR

Sir Forester Lowenhart, presented the awards for DDA 'Final Four'

"We began this award last year to honor those how participate in the DDA’s two legacy jousts...

The Wednesday Joust was first established in June of 2009, it has been consistently held every Wednesday of every week for the past 10 years.

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

My thanks for the continuation of these tournaments goes to the DDA’s former and current alumni who have given generously of their time to officiate."

FOURTH PLACE: Sir Brett Kjeller

"Always a favorite personality in the list"

SECOND PLACE: Dame KALIvRAHU

"A competitor whose service to the DDA as Dean of Admission, and as chief joust reporter plays a crucial role in service to a thankful community"

THIRD PLACE: Sir Nephilim Ventris

"One who gives generously of his resources, while exemplifying the highest of professional standards in these tournaments"

FIRST PLACE: Dame Stormy Summerwind

"A jouster whose hard work in the lists almost tripled her point totals this year over last, and whose efforts as a tournament reporter deserves our praise for keeping the tally of Melee and Archery points up to date"

Stormy Summerwind: Thank you Headmaster Lowenhart and thank you Brothers, Sisters, dear Friends & Competitors. Another wonderful season of jousting has now passed and a new one has begun. I am honored to have faced each and every one of you in this sport we all love and enjoy so much and while doing so to have achieved such an award, it truly means the world to me.

My first tournament of joust was in October of 2014, soon after I joined the Double Dragon Academy in July 2015 then through my DDA certifications Knighted into the Dragon's Lair in August 2016 serving proudly until June 2019. I am grateful for each of the true friends I've made along my path and will never forget what each has meant to me and the experiences shared during our journeys as competitors, dear Friends, Brothers and Sisters in Arms.

Season 8 was my last season to officially compete and Officiate in the SLTA tournaments of joust, melee and archer, It is time for the next generation of competitors to forge ahead in service and glory to have their names recorded for all to remember and inspire others and very exciting to see so many new loyal and eager competitors for this coming season. Season 9 will be amazing, of this I am certain.

I know each of you will have an amazing season and I wish you all the best as you go foreword in your jousting, melee and archery careers. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve this community as Stormy Summerwind, the Double Dragon Academy as a Captain, Iron Lance, Dragon's Lair as Knight Elite and the SLTA community. Each role being very dear to me. I would especially like to thank you Headmaster Lowenhart for your continued support for without it this community would not be as we know it through the Double Dragon Academy and as a dear personal Friend and Mentor.

Again I wish each and every one of you much success and happiness as you go foreword from here in all your endeavors. I offer you these words in closing......

Know your worth because you are worthy of all that is good, share your worth with the world then tolerate nothing less in return."

INTERSIM TOP TEN

Duchess Ariell Fallen, presented the award for 'Top Ten Intersim Jousters'

"I'm most honored to be in included in the presentation of awards here at DDA. Look at this crowd!

Such fantastic company this evening...patrons, competitors, nobles and supporters from all edges of the known medieval grid.

I'm giddy with excitement, stood here before you, to present the Season 8 'Cry the Tournament' Intersim Winners!This award is something that inspires me personally. This spectacular league of most extraordinary jousters, these exemplary Champions...they have done something most remarkable in Season 8!! What have they done you ask?

Good Sir's...gentle Ladies, season 8 provided only 12 opportunities to strive for greatness in the Intersim Joust, and the pace of Intersim competition is most intense!

The competition of Season 8 Intersim can speak most gloriously for it's own self....there are FOUR separate TIED Scores within the Top Ten Placements!!With a combination of FOUR TIES, we do have more than ten victors in INTERSIM Competition in Season 8! "

INTERSIM CHAMPION

Dame Bella Denver, presented the award for Season VIII 'Intersim Champion'

CHAMPION: AETHERNOCTIS

"I have known our winner for many past years and seen his dedication to the sport for sometime.

Relentless with the lance, time after time throughout this past year he took the most wins.

Let me just say... he must spend a fortune on these big pointy sticks that we love to smash into one another time and time again! One must think that we are crazy, but how could we be? It is much fun and we just need a few stitches now and then *smiles with a wink*

This year there were 13 Intersim, due to its switchover to a monthly schedule to place more emphasis on the special nature of the Intersim joust. But the competition for Champion was still fierce...

...Amazingly, he placed first every time in 8 of the 13 Intersims."

AETHERNOCTIS: "Good evening everyone!

I am extremely honored to be receiving such important awards this evening, and I have no doubt that many other riders were as capable, if not more, of winning this championship.

I have faced several challenges on my way here, but each one of them has only strengthened me to make me the jouster I am today. Standing here would not have been possible without the inspiration I have received from my seniors and colleagues, for whom I have the deepest respect, and from whom I have derived the will to challenge myself and perform better at each joust. I sincerely thank each one of you for being a part of this achievement.

I wish to dedicate this championship to Captain Kzebo Rufus, mentor, friend, example, legend, who has always taught us rangers the valors of a true Knight. I would certainly have never made it so far without his guidance. Thank you all for joining us tonight!"

LEAGUE TOP TEN

Lady Skysong presented the awards for 'Top Ten League Jousters'

"I am pleased to present our next award for the Top Ten League of Season 8.

League points are accumulated from many individual jousts throughout the jousting year from June 1st to May 31st.

These jousters come together to pit skill against skill day after day and week after week. The accumulation of these points shows the highest level of dedication in attendance, service in representing their realms, and skill of the joust itself."

LEAGUE CHAMPION

Sir Forester Lowenhart presented the final award of the evening for League Leader with the most overall points for the season

"I am pleased to present our next award for to those among the League Top 10 who rose to the top 4 League Leaders for Season VIII.

Every year, after KALIvRAHU records the final joust of the season May 31st, I go to work totaling final results, archiving the season, and deleting the results to make ready for tournaments and standings to populate the new season. So even though I do not see every joust, I have a chance to look at the close contests, the interesting changes year over year, and the steady climb in career points for our winners of this award.

The trip to the final podium tonight represents consistency and determination, over a years time and many events. Much of the praise they deserve has already been given by other presenters for other awards. One thing I can add is this...

I am proud of our STLA hosts. Since the SLTA first began tracking the results of tournaments, it has provided a unique opportunity in SL for participants to be remembered for the ‘feats you did this day’ rather then fade into pixel dust, after they or their realm departs the grid.

All in the community deserve praise for this, so I wlll take this moment, like PBS, to appeal for your support so we may continue to bring these quality programs to 'viewers' like you. By that I mean, support each other, the realms, and the organizations that maintain a vibrant tournament community."

FOURTH PLACE: AETHERNOCTIS

"Season VIII Intersim Champion, with a total of 270 points for the season."

SECOND PLACE: Lady Rachel Cassiebain

"A competitor whose ferocious beginning to the season, keeping her in third place by the thinest of margins; just 3 points, with a total of 273 points for the season"

THIRD PLACE: Dame Stormy Summerwind

"An impressive total of 418 points for the season"

FIRST PLACE: Sir Nephilim Ventris

"Since the League Leader awards first began 5 years ago, there has been only one name on the trophy for First Place. Year after year he has risen to the top of the field. And it has been my good fortune to have watched his development from a young DDA Cadet to the formidable jouster he has become."

Sir Nephilim Ventris: "I would like to thank each and everyone that supports the SLTA and community in this wonderful sporting family!

Your continued support of the realms and each other is amazing and has been a true inspiration

Special thanks to the DDA and HeadMaster Lowenhart for always having an encouraging word and for being there as a friend even in the bleakest of times.

Togather I hope we can continue these proud traditions for many seasons to come. I salute you!

I promise again to serve to my utmost best and proudly do so in the name of this great institution

Thank you all very much!!"

CLOSING CEREMONIES

Sir Forester Lowenhart and Dame Bella Denver took the stage for the closing ceremony that included fireworks and invitation to the Champions Ball held in the Dragon Pit.

Forester Lowenhart: "I know its getting late but I want to thank all those who took the time to come, and our presenters for their assistance. Sir Nephilim, Lady Skysong, Duchess Ariell and Dame Bella! Also our thanks to Stormy who is taking pictures of the event for the Herald website Blog.

Our program is nearing the end. Any final words Commander Bella?

Bella Denver: Time to light the fireworks!

Forester Lowenhart: Right! To all those honored who could be here, and to those who could not, we salute you! And remember - the points clock has been reset to zero for Season IX (9), which gives everyone an equal chance to be on the stage next year with the best of the best!

Commander, that concludes another annual celebration, where do we go from here?

Bella Denver: To the Dragon Pit for dancing and fellowship!

Forester Lowenhart: For those who can stay, please join us.

For those who must leave, “may the high road be afore ye!”

Bella Denver: Well done all!!!

Forester Lowenhart: Have a great Season IX, and see you all back here in a year!"

#awards #tournament