Golden Swan Tournament

The Tournament of the Golden Swan is held annually on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in Appledore.

Golden Swan is a persona development challenge for female personas. It is sponsored by the Shire of Appledore in the Kingdom of An Tir within the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a world-wide historical recreationist group. The first Golden Swan was held in Kelowna, B.C. in 1984. The purpose of Golden Swan is to foster knowledge of the lives of women in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Its aim is not merely to confine itself to women's history and women's issues, although these will, of necessity, form part of the research most candidates will do. A successful Golden Swan has acquired a level and depth of understanding of what a woman's life was like in a given time period that may be unequalled even in the highest academic circles. In addition, the candidate will have a certain amount of acting ability, to stay in persona for a period of 36 hours. The judges and event organizers try to create a supportive atmosphere during the event for those undergoing the Golden Swan competition. Golden Swan is held on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in south-central BC. Applicants must submit an application to the Shire of Appledore by June 30 of the year in which they wish to compete. This will consist of a general persona introduction (name, age, date and place of birth, marital status, occupation or occupation of father or husband, social standing, and any other relevant information), and a general bibliography. Applicants should also indicate which categories they intend to compete in (see the links to the left). A more detailed application will be required by August 15 if the applicant has been accepted. Candidates enter 10 categories. Eight are mandatory: Persona Development, Skills and Technologies, Costuming, Needlework, Correspondence, Everyday Life, Habitat and Food. The candidate must also choose 2 of the 3 following: Games and Pastimes, Performance, Survival Skills. Personas must be historically based, not just SCA. Documentation is expected for the persona in general, as well as some minimal level for each category. Educate the judges by providing them with as much information as you can. Please note that all categories are open to anyone as individual contests. ==Golden Swans==1984 Thyri Iris Eiriksdattir Norway

                    	Jane Ann Lahmann              Born 985, Currently 1008

1984 Kyrsteen ap Sennan Wales

                       	Joanne Burrows                   Born 1398, Currently 1421

1984 Gyelle Spence Normandy

                      	Laurel S. Burch       Born 1050,Currently                                                                      

1984 Elspeth Aylena of Alnwick England

                       Valorie Lennox                        Born 1529, Currently 1547

1985 Janet Marie MacBain Scotland

                       	Anne Cave                               Born 1490,Currently 1511

1986 Eileen Falconer England

                       	Delaine Faulkner                  Born 1475, Currently 1502

1987 Madelene de Vos Belgium

                      	Brenda F. Nicolson                Born 1423,Currently 1453

1989 Anthea de Northeton no application on file

1990 Helene von Gruner England

                      	Leanne Mallory                     Born 1348,Currently 1365

1990              	Ilana M.M. di Firenze           Italy
                      Sharon Burrows                    Born 1353,Currently 1401

1991 Adriana della Sangomano Italy

                      	Toby Chernoff                         Born 1455, Currently 1487
                                                                    

1992 Meresigha Stonegatta England

                     	 Jackie Lynch                             Born 872,Currently 916
                                                                          

1995 Aloise de Pont de Fosse France

                      	Susan Suisaidh                        Born 1151,Currently 1187

1998 Vigdis Bjornsdottir Sweden

                       	Melinda Shoop                        Born 809,Currently 852

1999 Osolbayajin Mongolia

                      	Kim Jacobs                                Born 1186, Currently 1230

1999 Nadezhda Igoreevna Russia

                      	Erin-Lee Halstad                      Born 932,Currently 957 

2001 Walburga of Liege Belgium

                      	Mary Defeo                               Born 1198,Currently 1230
 2001              Agnes Kennet                           England
                      Vanessa Giddings                    Born 1326,Currently 1350
  2001             Meryell Kennet                       England
                      Kiara Moran                             Born 1330 Currently 1350 
                                                                          

2003 Alis Talairan de Perigord Aquitaine (France)

                      	Anne Harwood                         Born ? Currently 1152 
 2003              Rose van den Burge                Belgium
                      Shiela Campbell                       Born 1421 Currently 1440
                  

2004 Saikhan Mongolia

                      	Marie Bauer-Woodard            Born 1255 Currently 1291

2005 Iulia Aurelia Britannia (Roman rule)

                      	Sarah la Follette Urdahl          Born 401 Currently 450  Italy
 2005                Lucy Pogson                             England
                       Judy Mulloy                             Born ? Currently 1375

2006 Anya the Gypsy Hungary

                      	Marilee Humason                     Born c, 1534 Currently 1580
                     

2010 Samira al Waddi Spain

                       	Melody Anderson                    Born 1133 Currently 1175 
                        

2012 Marguerite FitzWilliam Wales

                       	Barbara Beden-Hill                   Born 1133 Currently 1172
2012                         Meresigha Stonegatta               England 
                      	Jackie Lynch (second time)      Born 872 Currently 916
2012               Alicia de Wilford                        England 
                       Judy Harcus                                Born 1331 Currently 1371