Billhooks at Bristol

The other week, along with Andy Moran and John Kersey of The Old Berks, I attended the BIG Billhooks weekend event in Bristol.

Many years ago, I wanted to experience one of the many WAB weekends, but living so far away from the main venues for such events, I never managed it. When I saw that similar weekend events were being held for “Never Mind The Billhooks” players, in discussion with my compatriots in The Old Berks, we decided to attend. Andy and John had been to one before, but this was to be my first …

It was good to meet so many other players, and to have a bit of social time, and basically talk Billhooks most of the weekend.

Having arrived on Friday evening, we met a few of the players at our hotel, I went into the Saturday (game day) with some trepidation! How would my Warwick army fare against so many different armies (especially those from other theatres, such as Italian wars, with their heavy Gendarmes and pike blocks)? 
I needn’t have worried…

In fact, I so enjoyed the gaming that I neglected to take any photos whatsoever. The pictures shown here are all 'pillaged' from the Billhooks FB group, most of them taken by Mike Peters (organiser extraordinaire).

Above: Simon Wilde, my first opponent, on the left expertly advances his imposing Venetian Army. On the adjacent table in the background, Andy Moran (right) plays Luke Parry (left) who would be my opponent in the second game.

First game... versus Simon Wilde’s Venetians.

Simon is a past master at handling his army, but I managed a very creditable tight-fought game, and was narrowly beaten. Sir Gregory Carrodus and the light horse were ridden down by their opponents on my left flank, and I spent a lot of arrows against the Venetian gendarmes, who I did manage to bounce off one of my Bill-Bow blocks. On my right, the Venetian Swiss Mercenary 3-company pike block juggernaut was the biggest concern as they had been screened by 2 units of crossbow armed levy (with pavises) and following their slow but inexorable advance were closing in. I managed to hold out till time was called, enduring a close defeat. It was an enjoyable, cliffhanger of a game, but I ran out of steam (and arrows). I learned a lot though…

Second game... versus v Luke Parry’s Yorkists.

This was to prove one of the most exciting wargames I have ever played, and credit goes to Luke Parry who played so well and took it to the wire, and again all in the true spirit of the game.

Above photos are by Luke Parry.

The increasingly "dolt-ish" Sir Gregory Carrodus failed to survive the action, although once again he had done a good job against the enemy horse. On my right, Mortimer of Arden along with a unit of my skirmishers and my artillery managed to hold off a couple of bow-bill blocks and some levy (with geese!) who stood rather too proudly atop a low hill to the right centre.

In the centre, Warwick’s ward was poised to receive the attack of the strongest enemy ward…It looked to be going the way of my opponent. However a twist was to come in one big final turn. With the rules author Andy Callan watching proceedings from the side-lines, my Warwick himself saved the day when, along with my foot knights, he charged and broke the enemy foot knights and precipitated a general collapse of about 4 enemy units. Typical Billhooks stuff.

At the outset, I had feared I may come last (with all the regulars seeming to know what they were talking about!), so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that after two games I was sitting joint second. However, two wargames is, in my book, more than enough for one day, and so, feeling a little battle weary, I decided (given I was well-placed not to come last!) that I would forfeit my final game and take a rest, just chatting with a few of the players and generally cooling off after a particularly hard-fought second game. Some might say, I should have pressed on for a third game, but I really was "bushed", as they say.

In the end, I finished a respectable joint 7^th along with John K (out of 18). Andy M finished a very impressive 4^th. A good showing by the Old Berks.

Thanks to my opponents, Simon and Luke, for hard-fought, fun-filled games in the spirit of Billhooks, to Andy M and John K for their company over the weekend, and to Andy Callan, Ian Callan, and Stephen Wood for their company over dinner.

Thanks also to the guys at Bristol Independent Gaming store for hosting the event and to Mike Peters for organising and running the whole thing.

Above: the assembled throng, post match.
Mike Peters needed a lie down at the end of the day!!

Great fun, and I will definitely do more of these.

It’s Partizan this weekend… I need to stock up on more soldiers! Procurement list at the ready…

See you there.