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)