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.
Website: http://www.goldenswan.org/
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 1080
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 du 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
2014 Diamante da Magenta Italy
Carol Lewis Born 1477
2014 Illuminada Eugenia de Guadalupe y Godoy
Lima, Peru
Born 1582
Currently 1614
L. Dinsmore
2014 Svala Gunarsdottir
Iceland
Born 897
Currently 929
Shawna Cummings
2016 Cwrstyn verch Senann du Saone
Wales
Born 1398
Currently 1450
Joanne Burrows (second time)