Steve ‘The Bull Dog’ Williams Wins the Gloriana Cup The British Federation for Historical Swordplay event held on the 20th and 21st of October 2007 at Oxford held the coveted sword tournament ‘The Gloriana Cup’ The weekend was a great success with many guest instructors taking varied workshops on different aspects of Western Martial Arts. It was on Sunday the 21st that the Backsword, Small sword, Rapier and Longsword Tournaments were held. The Longsword tournament was a stand alone tournament but the backsword, Small sword and Rapier tournaments were divided in to two separate contests. There were two pools for the Backsword fencers and a mixed pool for the Small sword and the Rapier. The winners from both sections then coming together to fight for the Gloriana Cup. Both of the Backsword pools were won by AOBC members, Jack ‘Wolfsbane’ Reynolds in one and Steve ‘The Bull Dog’ Williams in the other. Steve went on to beat a valiant Jack in the final for the Backsword therefore securing himself a place in the final against the mixed Small sword and Rapier pool. That pool was won by a Rapier fencer giving us all the classic spectacle of Rapier V’s Backsword. Both fighters fought exceedingly well putting on a great display of skill and form for the spectators at the event. However there can be only one winner and after several exchanges Steve Williams of the AOBC went on to win the final by beating his opponents Rapier out of line to gain the place on him and placing a blindingly fast cut to the right side of his opponents throat decisively finishing the bout with what would have been a killing blow. After the final I asked Steve what his tactics to the fight had been to which he answered ‘I applied all the principles of the true fight that I have been taught and the general advice that George Silver gave when fighting with your English backsword against a rapier’ In winning the tournament Steve has now secured a triple win this season and now holds the BFHS Gloriana Cup , The Oyster Fayre Cup and The Uffington White Horse Cup. Steve is the first Champion to hold all three at the same time and therefore has all to play for in the defence of his titles during the 2008 tournament season. Congratulations Steve! AOBC Champion Steve ‘The Bull Dog’ Williams current holder of the BFHS Gloriana Cup
