Welcome! 

Auckland Sword & Shield hope you’ll join us for our 2020 Steve Hodgson Memorial Tournament. Entry is only $30.

The Tournament 

We’ve got 6 competitions this year: 

1) Synthetic Sidesword – lower intensity and beginners 

• This tournament is intended for those who are new to sword-fighting, are new to tournaments in general or who just feel more comfortable participating in a lower intensity competition. 
• This competition is intended to encourage people of all skill levels to join in so will be Marshalled at a lower threshold of tolerance for hard hits at full speed. 
• This section will not count towards results for the overall winner of the SHMT tournament.  

2) Synthetic Longsword – lower intensity and beginners 

• This tournament is intended for those who are new to sword-fighting, are new to tournaments in general or who just feel more comfortable participating in a lower intensity competition. 
• This competition is intended to encourage people of all skill levels to join in so will be Marshalled at a lower threshold of tolerance for hard hits at full speed. 
• This section will not count towards results for the overall winner of the SHMT tournament.   

3) Synthetic Mixed Weapons  

• This tournament is intended for those who are comfortable participating in a higher intensity competition and is intended to encourage people of intermediate or higher skill levels to join. 
• This section will count towards results for the overall winner of the SHMT tournament.    
• Weapon combinations can include Synthetic Sword (sidesword, rapier, messer, sabre, etc) and Dagger, Sword and Shield, Sword and Buckler, Sword and Cloak  
• Any weapons combination not listed above must be approved by the Marshall. 

4) Steel Rapier/Sidesword  

• This tournament is intended for those who are comfortable participating in a higher intensity competition and is intended to encourage people of intermediate or higher skill levels to join. 
• This section will count towards results for the overall winner of the SHMT tournament.
• Any steel rapier or sidesword is acceptable in this section   

5) Steel Longsword  

• This tournament is intended for those who are comfortable participating in a higher intensity competition and is intended to encourage people of intermediate or higher skill levels to join. 
• This section will count towards results for the overall winner of the SHMT tournament.   

6) Steel Saber 

• This tournament is intended for those who are comfortable participating in a higher intensity competition and is intended to encourage people of intermediate or higher skill levels to join.
• This section will count towards results for the overall winner of the SHMT tournament.   

Tournament Rules and Conditions 

1. Competitors may enter a maximum of 3 competitions.  We reserve the rights to remove competitions if things are running late. 
2. If we have 3 or more women sign up in any category we will happily run a women’s competition in that category. When signing up please let us know your thoughts on that. 
3. The tournament is open to members of all HEMA, WMA, Historic Fencing, or re-enactment club or society in New Zealand or overseas. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older. The tournament is not open to members of the public although they are welcome to come along and spectate.  
4. The price to enter is $30 and will secure your place in the competitions.  We do have to limit the number of competitors in each competition and will be determined on a first come first serve basis.  
5. Sign up will end at 11:59PM Tuesday, September 22nd and we will not be accepting entrants after the cut-off period. 
6. Auckland Sword and Shield may contact the relevant clubs to ensure entrants are indeed members and have the necessary references to enter the tournament. The Head Marshal has the ultimate right of refusal of entry. 

Gear Requirements & Rule Sets 

• Will be emailed to competitors closer to the date. 

The Venue 

• Blockhouse Bay Community Centre – 524 Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland. See the map above
• There is a large parking lot for the Centre located on Exminster Street.  There is ample parking in the lot but if that happens to fill up the parking is free on Exminster Street as well. 
• Just come through the main doors and you won’t be able to miss us as we’re in the main hall.  More information about start times and sign in will be emailed to you closer to the time.
• Auckland Sword and Shield will be providing tea, coffee, biscuits, and a simple luncheon for all the fighters and volunteers.  If you have any allergies or anything please let us know when you sign up.  

Accommodation 

• For our out of town visitors who are looking for somewhere to stay we are recommending Verandahs Parkside Lodge located in Ponsonby, Auckland.  It’s a lovely and quiet family owned accommodation that has nice rooms and share rooms available at a good price.  It’s a 15 minute drive away from the venue and located close to lots of nice cafes and restaurants in Central Auckland.