Author: Mike

Only a week and change to Salute, which is traditionally about the time thinks start rolling here at Hereward Towers.

If you check to the right, you’ll see that we’ve put the first few tickets on sale – advance admission, and our first two tournaments, the Magic and X-Wing events. Both of the latter are being put on by our regular tournament sponsors, the guys at local game store The Rift.

More to follow over the weekend, just as soon as we’ve sorted out the details.

A note for all X-Wing tournament entrants – by dint of some subtle furniture arranging on the ground (the venue let us in to check setup this afternoon), we’ve made enough space to fit the X-Wing tournament in next to the Rift’s stand (T13), so there will be step-free access for entrants AND you won’t have to trapse up and downstairs for food and to spend your money (our traders like it when you spend money!).

Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Remember the tournament starts at 9am!

As for the past two years, we will be awarding the Steve Frisby Memorial Trophy for the best game in the show, as voted for by our members. (OK, to be fair, ‘voted for’ usually translates to the chairman running round the show at 2:30 and canvassing the opinions of any members who haven’t passed out from exhaustion, but you get the general idea!). our criteria tend to be that the winner is a game we think Steve would have enjoyed, and that we as a club wish we’d have come up with!

Past winners have been:

• • 2015 – Huntingdon Wargames Club – Catch The Pigeon
  • 2016 – Forest Of Dean Gamers – Martian Practice

In addition, this year, we’re beginning a new award, the Nick Hawkins Memorial Trophy. This is a little bit different, in that it is entirely 3D printed with the exception of the plaque: the base and stand are printed in a wood effect filament, and the plane itself is one of Nick’s own 3D design files of a Hawker Hotspur. We’ve chosen to award it to the game we consider the best build, be it the best scenery or the cleverest bit of engineering – we think Nick would have liked it that way.

So just a few last minute notes.

Pre-sales for general admission (£3) will close at 11pm tonight. After that you will only be able to pay at the door (£5). Accompanied under 16s are (still) free.

Directions: the big reminder (and we say this every year!) – if you can see Sainsbury’s, you’re parked in the wrong place and will be charged. Follow the signs to the show, and park as directed by our nice marshals in their hi-vis jackets and your parking is free! (If the main car-park is full, the overflow is a bit further down Rightwell E – we’ll direct you.)

All the show barring the X-Wing tournament is on the ground floor with step-free access – the latter is upstairs in the Fitzwilliam Suite, reachable by stairs opposite our registration desk. There is wheelchair access to the tournament area – please contact one of the club members on reception and we’ll sort that out for you.

Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Due to a lack of interest, we’re regrettably not going to hold the Magic The Gathering Tournament this year. Our thanks to the Rift for their support.

(Rest assured, the X-Wing tournament is still going ahead!)

We’re delighted to announce that historian, best-selling author and wargamer Dr. Harry Sidebottom will be appearing at the show. As well as a well-received book on Ancient Warfare, he has been writing historical fiction set in his favourite period, the Crisis of the 3rd Century, since 2006 with the Warrior of Rome series. He’s also a very entertaining after-dinner speaker (as those of us who attended the club Christmas dinner can attest), and is a keen wargamer – check out his appearance on the Meeples and Miniatures podcast for more on that, or just ask him!

Harry will be on hand to talk about all of the above at stand T10, between the Concourse and Studio 2.