Name: The 17th Chess Challenge
Start: 2026-03-07T00:30:00+11:00
Location: Caulfield Park, Aviary Garden, Inkerman Rd, Caulfield North.

The annual shared potluck picnic with a Chess Challenge and tourney. Continuing the tradition of competition between the Baronies of Stormhold & Krae Glas.
Website- https://stormhold.lochac.sca.org/chess-challenge/
Tourney rules are:
Round 1 – Pawns: Everyone to fight with sharpened sticks (i.e. thrusting spears).
Round 2 – Knights: Counted Blows (each fighter gets to throw five blows or three good blows with arms & legs not lost).
Round 3 – Bishops: Maces and shields.
Round 4 – Rooks: Sword and large shield (defence)
Round 5 – Queens: Queens are the best protected and each combatant fights with two guardsmen drawn at random, fight to end with the death of the “queen”.
Round 6- Kings: All fighters take to the field to defend the last two combatants or “Kings”.
To be repeated until there is a winner.
Heavy fighters, please bring along any extra weapons and shields for this wide ranging style tourney. A rapier tourney will be held if there is interest. Please get in touch with the event steward if interested!
The Game of Chess between Stormhold and Krae Glas. Who will be victorious?
This year there is also and Arts and Sciences competition of games, and related objects.
Price
$10 adults, $5 children, under 10 free.
Please add $10 for non-members.
Pay on the day via bank transfer, Square, or card.
Steward: Miriam bat Shimeon
Bookings not required.
As this event is in the state of Victoria, please remember that anyone carrying or using any kind of sword in the state - including visitors - must carry proof that they completed the Victorian weapons exemption application process with the SCA Ltd Registrar - see https://sca.org.au/victorian-weapons-legislation/ for detailed information.
Picture from “A game of chess gone wrong” Bruges, 1462-1470. National Library of France, BnF, Arsenal, ms. 5073 Res., f. 15.