Monday 13 May 2019

Carronade show 2019.

This is the seventh year we have attended this show and put on a demonstration game,and all the superlatives have been used,so what more can I say??-as usual the standard of games, the hospitality,the traders and "punters" were all superb-the "footfall" was up again this year,proving that the organisers had done a great job,and should be justly proud of their efforts.
We had decided to do Rorke's Drift this year,and would include a display of Zulu weapons,a genuine Martini Henry rifle,a bugle(I can still hear the thing now!!) pith(sun) helmets,books etc. etc.-and it was a tremendous success,so much so that..............................


We won the trophy for best Demonstration Game!!!-and we were chuffed to bits!!



From the "kick-off" we were swamped with people wanting to hold the rifle and spears,which is what we had expected-we always encourage youngsters to get involved,and to see them trying on the helmets and blowing the bugle(my god did they blow that bugle!!) was great.
At one point we had people actually queuing up to get at the display!!-absolutely marvelous.
But what of the game??


Top photo shows the Zulu getting into the Hospital compound(after we had stage-managed the initial attack),bottom photo shows the Hospital in flames(good old LED tee lights!)-apart from the display,the spectacle of the game caused some good comments,questions etc.too.

After more helmet trying,bugle playing and people wanting us to take their photo's(and we did a lot of photographing of them with the rifle and spears in their hands-as one man said,"well, when are you going to get another opportunity like this?")
On with the game.............................


Two photo's of the main attack developing-at this point in the game,we were answering questions from a few gamers who fought this period,and quite a lot of gamers who will probably take this period up-all the figures on the table were from Warrior Miniatures,who will probably get a few enquiries this week,about their Zulu ranges(15mm and 25mm).


Top photo shows the Redoubt being used to good effect,and the bottom photo shows the last Zulu attempt at surrounding the position!


A film crew from Channel 5(I presume Scotland?) was on hand-obviously heard we were putting a game on!!!!!

One final shot of Kenny,organiser and all-round good guy,wondering if he should buy that building for his pet Haggis to live in!!
We were asked,at the end of the show,if we would be attending next year-try and keep us away!!!
Well done to everyone,we met up with some old friends and made some new ones-surely that's what it's all about,roll on 2020, of course we will have to start saving now,as we all spent up on terrain,figures,vehicles etc. etc.!!
Any comments??







































































  












12 comments:

  1. Well done. A much deserved accolade. Did Dave play the bugle too? Cheers, Chris

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    1. Hi Chris,thanks for your kind comment-we had a great week-end,capped off by the trophy-and NO! Dave didn't play the bugle-only one in the whole hall who didn't!!!!
      johnc

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  2. Hi John,
    Congratulations on best demo! Much deserved too.It looked brilliant.
    Saw some photos on Facebook of the show and there seemed to be quite a few skirmish games going on. Not to my taste. Seems the way the hobby stands at the moment sadly. Still, who needs pokey little games when you and the lads turn up! Well done!

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    1. Hello Dennis,good to hear from you,and thanks for the comment-the game did look spectacular,pity we couldn't play it through,but we were too busy talking!!!!
      johnc

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  3. Im starting to get a bit suspicious with you winning this trophy again.You didnt lend Brian out for the night and he took one for the team because thats exactly the type of thing you are capable of.Lovely looking game by the way John I particularly love the Zulus. Well done.

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    1. Yo Knobbie,we were also a bit surprised that we won,but you know the score at shows-Talk,talk and more talk to the punters,let them see and hear what is going on-we were exhausted at the end of play.
      johnc

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  4. Thanks so much for doing a show report, after the plethora of Salute reports, it was good to see!
    Well done from me too for the participation items, bound to get people enthusiastic!

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    1. Hello Herky,good to hear from you ,the show is a "must" if you get the chance,so friendly with every wargaming interest catered for.The display items certainly captured everyone's interest.thanks for the comments,
      johnc

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  5. Congratulations Gents. Great looking game.

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    1. MJT-thanks,we had a great week-end-we go up to Scotland on the Friday,and come back on the Sunday,with a "few" drinkies" in-between!
      johnc

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  6. Do you mind if we link to this from the Carronade Website?

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    1. HI Genom,link away -the more publicity the better-glad you're reading our blog,cheers,
      johnc(william)

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