Davis and Keith battling longsword

Crowds at the Chicago’s annual Scottish Highland Games were educated and entertained once again by the intrepid CSG Demo Team. The Games is always a terrific event here in Chicago and this year they moved to a new venue in Itasca.

The set-up team of Christina, Nathan and Terry got there at 7:00am and lugged the display tent to the clan area. Given that directions to our spot included a map of the grounds with huge yellow circle around an area the size of Rhode Island, we were lucky to only have to spend 20 minutes hunting for a space with the word “SWORD” spray-painted vaguely on the grass.

We were also fortunate enough to find a perfect spot for our demos – an open field near the food concessions where the spectators could easily watch from 4 sides and most people could sit under a tree in the shade. That mattered as the sky was clear and temperatures stayed in the 80’s all day. As always, the visitors to this event were in high spirits and ready to see a great display of swordsmanship.

John (rapier) fights against Trey (arming sword)

We were also fortunate enough to find a perfect spot for our demos – an open field near the food concessions where the spectators could easily watch from 4 sides and most people could sit under a tree in the shade. That mattered as the sky was clear and temperatures stayed in the 80’s all day. As always, the visitors to this event were in high spirits and ready to see a great display of swordsmanship.

The first of three demos featured medieval weapons wielded by Keith, Davis and Chester. Greg prepped the crowd with a brief talk about medieval combat as the guys demonstrated longsword drills. When Greg asked the crowd how much they thought a longsword weighed, audience members yelled out anywhere from 1 lb. to 45 lbs.

Longsword bout with Davis and Jacques

The fencing segment started with Keith vs. Davis using longsword, followed by a spear fight that had the audience cheering. Greg closed the demo with Chester taking on Davis in an exciting longsword vs. spear demonstration.

Chester and Davis longsword vs. spear

It was easy for the crowd to see how losing wide distance put the spearman in peril for his life. Of course, they also saw that for the swordsman, the trick was making that happen.

The second demo was at 2:30p and the sun beat down on us mercilessly.  Spectators happily munched on haggis, meat pies and fish and chips as Greg introduced the first fencing demo of this program: arming sword featuring Chester and Trey. Arming sword is always a hit because of its speed and the

Arming sword with Chester and Trey

layman’s familiarity of the sword in one hand in the movies. Chester and Trey also went at it like demons, and the happy food-munching sounds were drowned out by the clang of steel and the “thwap” of bodies being struck by blades.

Next, John and Trey ran through the guards of the rapier as Greg gave the spectators a brief overview of the weapon. This was followed by a hearty duel that showed just how deadly this weapon is.

In the spirit of mixed weapons and the final duel of “Rob Roy”, the next fight was arming sword vs. rapier. Greg explained that while the rapier was considered a weapon on the duel, it was not uncommon for soldiers to wear a rapier into battle as a kind of sidesword.John and Trey again took the field, with Trey wielding the sword and John giving the rapier its honors.

Trey blocks Jacques' dagger attack (Hey- is that the ShamWow guy?)

To end the demo’s veritable smorgasbord of weapons, Chester and Trey ended the program with a dagger fight where Trey demonstrated various throws and takedowns that always resulted in Chester’s untimely demise.

John and Trey fence with rapier and dagger

Demo #3 was late in the day and Greg started off with medieval weapons. The first fencing bout featured Davis and Jacques in a rousing longsword bout. Next, John and Trey again displayed rapier fencing and then showed the crowd what it was like when you add the dagger to a rapier duel. It obviously takes enormous concentration to do rapier and dagger effectively. You are using 2 weapons, one in each hand. And so is the other guy!

The closing bout was between Davis and Trey in spear vs. rapier. Now you have the long reach of the spear against a long, thin sword designed mainly for thrusting. The rapier doesn’t have the longsword’s heft or two sharp edges to land big blows.

Trey (rapier) prepares to skewer Davis (spear)

Nonetheless, an experienced rapierista only has to close measure safely or deflect the spear with his hand to land a good thrust.

Games visitors enjoyed stopping by our display booth to ask questions, try on a pair of gauntlets or handle a sword. Volunteers Christina, Nathan, Tammy, Bill C. and Heather did a great job taking care of the show-and-tell. New member Alex was a (pleasantly) unexpected visitor and lent his brawn to help us all schlep our gear back to the cars.

And, for the second year in a row, the Chicago Swordplay Guild’s booth won the Highland Games award for “Best Tent Display by a Cultural Organization”.  We had colorful medieval banners draping the corners of the tent and it doesn’t hurt to have a couple tables showcasing armor and sharp, pointy objects.

Bill & Alex do show & tell

Big thanks to our Demo Team and our enthusiastic volunteer crew (with a nod to Rachel and Dawn as the supportive sword widows)! It was a terrific venue for showcasing the CSG and we look forward to being weapons-wielding exhibitors at the Scottish Highland Games again next year!