.png){kind=logo}
I'm glad you're here with me. Here at the end of all things.
The Great British Hobbit League's 2020/21 season is over. It's done.
With a dramatic finale this weekend up in Stirling, the longest ever GBHL season has fought its way through the darkest of times to bring you a result. And what a thriller it was!
It began in January of 2020 with Matt Light coming top of Cardiff's largest event taking a list which is now banned from competitive play (Rangers of Ithilien without Hobbits!) and ends with newcomer Rowan May storming to the top of the final event with a Rohan Lothlorien alliance (Galadriel, Grimbold and Theodred et al).
But let's give everyone their dues, because over the course of this season a whopping 540 separate players took part in a GBHL event. That's despite pandemics putting paid to a significant number of them. Perhaps more impressive is that about 300 of those players are newcomers to the league. It's a testament to the power this hobby has to unite people, and to inspire them to meet like minded folk - even in trying circumstances. Perhaps many have returned to the hobby specifically because of the various lockdowns, in which case, you are most welcome.
With all that in mind, the weekend dealt out some true drama in the final throes of the League, so let's have a look at the winners.
Starting with the Southern Region league, which had 122 players choosing to compete in it, and the podium was made up of 3rd Place David Clubley (whose success came from two podium positions in Cardiff), Silver trophy winner David Farmer (who had significant triumphs in many other regions as well as this one) and Alastair King who took home Gold after a first place AND a second place finish in Cardiff.
Moving North, then, to the Central League where Aaron Pullen took home a bronze trophy for his efforts. He took home the top prize at Rings of Men in Nottingham, and graced the podium at numerous other tournaments across the course of the season. He says next year he's gunning for the top prize, so watch this space... In Second is Jasmine Tetley, who took silver after two major wins at both Sutton in Ashfield in the last few months and at The Warhammer World GT back in 2020. The consistency of performance must be admired (along with her honesty in telling rules writers how "broken" the Helm's Deep bomb list was!).
Talking of Rules Writers... In First, and no stranger to Podiums, is Jay Clare. He may be best known for being the main writer of the MESBG rules, but he's proven himself worthy of that title once more by taking home the Central League's Gold trophy after a season which saw him attend significantly fewer events than usual. But he still managed three podium positions in the most competitive of league events.
In the Northern League all came down to the finale in Stirling. A huge number of players were in with the chance to take home pretty much any podium position. In Third, Douglas Moore squeezed into place after finishing above his podium rival Sean Sproule. Second, is James Gilray who has a huge variety of top finishes across the three regions, but cemented his position in the North with two high ranking performances at the War of the Roses and as part of the Last Alliance Doubles Tournament in Scotland (his partner Ian McGregor surely deserves a Dram of Whiskey as thanks!). But out on top is David Alexander, who not only won tournaments north of the Border but showed impressive consistency in the battle for his trophy. Congratulations! Now onto the Friends of Middle Earth. Those people who've been ranked most highly by their fellow gamers as providing a fun experience for their opponenents. Surely the highest praise is to be voted Most Sporting at a tournament and this award tallies those people who've done this the most.
The winner this year is Harry Moore, who cements his position as the 'Nicest Guy in the Hobby' after winning this for the second season in a row. Harry won Most Sporting at 2 out of the 5 tournaments he attended, as well as ranking very highly in the league too. A decidedly impressive performance. It's worth flagging that point, because Harry wasn't alone in being a high ranked player also commended for their sportsmanship; Sean Sproule and Sean Lang both achieved that too (8th and 15th in the league respectively), proving that it isn't always necessary to be unpleasant and "gamey" to do well in tournaments.
Away from Gaming, it's important to commend the incredibly hobbyists... Nay, Incredible Artists! who've taken home Best Army awards over the course of the season. The standard of painting has been undeniably impressive, the effort from competitors has turned lunchtimes at tournaments into something akin to art exhibitions. Two Players in particular impressed their compatriots so much they each won three best army awards...
Michael Hanns took home a number of awards in Scotland for his outstanding armies, among them are Smaug the Magnificent, Barrells out of Bond, Iron Hills and Gundabad (Click the Pics above to see larger versions). The quality is maginificent - but all the more impressive considering the quantity of armies he's completed in a short space of time!
But taking home Artisan of the Year because of his GBHL Ranking (the league elects to reward all round hobbyists in the case of a draw), is Scott Whitefoot, who takes home his second Artisan of the Year and remains the only person to have ever won it - and it's not hard to see why:
Back to the gaming awards now, and to the race for Best Newcomer. There's more detail on the build up to this in my previous blog post (read it here!) but in short, the winner was decided at the Scouring of Stirlingshire. Ryan Gregory had the chance to take the lead over Rowan May... If Ryan won the event! And despite a Stirling performance, Ryan couldn't manage it... But Rowan could!
What a way to win Best Newcomer; by winning the final tournament of the season. Congratulations to him on an incredible run over the course of the weekend, and the season as a whole.
And well done as well to David Farmer who took the third place medal for the weekend. He's really settled into his stride in the last few tournaments he's been to - rarely dropping below a top 5 finish, and usually taking home prizes. Jay Clare rounds off the bunch with another Silver position. It almost feels expected these days but his achievement should be celebrated nontheless - especially whilst using a Paths of the Druadan List (I want to pick his mind on that one in particular!).
With that, it leaves only the BIG Prizes of the League. All the names have already been mentioned, but in Third it's Jay Clare, who has only NOT been on the Podium ONCE in all of his performances this season - which truly beggars belief.
In Second it's Jasmine Tetley, who started the season strong with a win at the GT and bolstered that score with a smattering of podiums before cementing it in position with another win at one of her last event's of the season.
And on top - it's Alastair King. He has been King since the Pandemic struck, and has kept it up with three 1st place finishes at the most competitive events (alongside a Second too!) leaving him as the GBHL's winner for 2020/21.
Take a look at this Rogue's Gallery of winners (sadly not everyone mentioned above could make it to Scotland!):
And that's everything - thank you so much for every single one of you has read this and other posts like it over the course of the year. Thank you to all the Tournament Organisers & Volunteer Committee members who make the GBHL a fantastic place to be.
These last two years have been tumultuous ones, but I hope that you agree, this hobby truly has been a light when almost all other lights go out. Times have been dark - it's undeniable - and there may well be yet more dark times ahead, but you will always find someone - or something - to share a smile with here, to provide inspiration or to simply take your mind off the darkness outside. So I leave you with a beautiful line with the assurance that this definitely is not our Last Goodbye:
Many Places I have been, Many Sorrows I have seen. But I Don't Regret, Nor Will I forget. All who took that road with me.
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Harry P - GBHL Marketing Officer.
Burarum, and may this hobby be a light for you, when all other lights go out.
Comments