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Topsy Turvy Top Tables
For the last 18months, the Great British Hobbit League's Rankings have been frozen in time, hanging in a perpetual state of Covid induced coma. Somehow people like David Clubley retained a podium position for months (strange times indeed...) but with a series of tournaments taking place throughout August, things have finally changed.... A bit...
Let's take you back to The Battle of Borough Dur early this summer. The London based tournament saw a field of 30 take on for games at 600pts. The two Clubley brothers managed third and second respectively. James took third with a Harad and Far Harad force, while David took second with another evil men list - featuring Amdur and a King on Chariot. Tom Pattinson Came in First with a filthy spider Queen led list. Congrats to all! Full results are here, and top three lists are here.
Move into the Lair of the Dragon (probably an unwise relocation at the best of the times) and a 450pt tournament in the heart of Cardiff. Alastair King came third in the tournament ran by his brother (fix) leading Theodred's Guard to great success, he was beaten to second by Callum Edens' mix of Harad, Abrakhan and Mahud Warriors, but it was more Rohan which took the top spot.
Neil McCloughlin with Helm's Guard smashed opponents into the dust like the Hammerhand himself. Sean Lang won best sporting while Mat Maslen-Hunt took home the best painted army with his gorgeous Fangorn force expertly showcasing the new Treebeard sculpt (special shout out though for Sean Sproule's Mordor army which features some crazy Chequered Diamond Patterns).
Next our journey takes us to discover who became a Lord of the West (Midlands) in Walsall. Ryan Wood and Aidan Lummer came Third and Second with Pelennor Themed Lists (Riders of Theoden and Return of the King) but the winner crept from the deep dark of Moria. Jack Canavan squeezed every last drop out of his Moria list by filling every single warband to its fullest; with 63 models at 800pts (including a Cave Drake...) he swarmed his way to top spot.
All of these tournaments have been awarding 80 points in the league to their winner, but for the first time this year a GBHL event awarded 100pts to the winner in August. And it took a Journey to the Emerald Isle to get it (though journeys were of course prohibited by Covid...). Ivan Sheehan took top spot in a slightly reduced field but his win shouldn't be diluted, especially in a field where half of the players have made podiums in the past. His win came in the shape of fella with two swords and a crown, accompanied by a guy on goat and a fella with some axe stuck in his head. In such a hero heavy list (see the full detail here) with only 35 models at 1000pts it must have taken some experienced gamesmanship to secure the top spot in a tough field. Well done to him.
Just a week later Alastair King added another GBHL 100 to his tally to cement his position at the top of the GBHL with a Theodred's Guard List (not the first time these guys have been mentioned - do I detect a trend?). Runners up were Matthew Tullock's Serpent Horde/Corsair alliance, and the Cirith Ungol Legendary Legion piloted by David Farmer. Best sporting went to all-round nice guy Matt Kemp and Colm Browne's incredible Laketown Army and display board took home best painted (check out the pictures to see why!)
Not long after that, not one, not two, but THREE evil lists topped a Good Vs Evil escalation tournament on the South Coast. The first two games had armies of 400pts while the final two saw 700pt forces clash for domination. Jacob Fereday came third with a Dunland List, Rowan May took silver with a Moria force and out on top was Thomas Seccombe with a Goblin Town force. Perhaps it should have been called the ANTI-Heroes of the Belegaer Sea III.
Almost rounding off this update, comes a journey to Scotland for Doubles Event The Last Alliance. And what could be more thematic than taking Exactly that to the tournament? David Reid and David Alexander not only did that (with Isildur, Elrond and a Numenorean Captain), but also took it to the top tables and stayed there.
Now we come to Journey's End with (appropriately) a trip Into the West. Cardiff's 40+ person tournament earning the winner another 100pts for the Great British Hobbit League. Players do battle with a small force of just 450pts, and could choose to take a Good army, an Evil army, or Both. But the top table players clearly knew what they were doing because they (mostly) took just one force. The exception was Joshua Davies who took Both Azog's Legion and Hunters, as well as the survivors of lake town, and secured the Bronze position. In Second Jasmine Tetley took a huge number of Woses to great success (final count, 42 Woses!!), but not only did she do incredibly well in her games, she also came Runner Up in the theme category because these weren't any old woses. These were led by Gurl Brea Gurl, and were all converted into amazonian style trimeswomen and given unique names and personalities. Truly outstanding hobbying effort. But still there must be only one winner, and this time it was Tournament Organiser Matt's brother (fix!) and GBHL CoOrdinator (fix!!) Alastair (fix!!!) King.
His Theodred's guard smashed their way to top tables, and reinforce that (certainly at lower points levels) Rohan foot troops in Legendary Legions are certainly to be feared. And to top it off, another Rohan was crowned Best Painted Miniature, Helm Hammerhand painted by David Clark (see a post here in which David runs through how he paints his Rohan Royal Guard). Joining him in the Hobbying Hero Hall of Fame from the event were Dave Sweeting and His Awesome Moria List, and Chris Cooper for his display board.
With more results coming in thick and fast we'll have another league update VERY soon. But in the meantime a quick look ahead.
Tournaments on the way include:
With that, I bid you a very fond farewell… There’ll be more League Updates and Tournament Teasers on the way soon. But in the meantime, remember the GBHL Website has an archive of data, including standings, winning lists, a calendar of events and a blog to delve into. Have a look here: https://thegbhl.wixsite.com/website
And remember, this hobby is a source of great goodness in many ways… Let it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.
Boo-rarr-Ruum!
Harry Parkhill - GBHL Marketing Officer.
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