SOFT NEWS Medieval knight impales himself on lance during Kentucky performance

[Melodi]

I've known about this story for over 24 hours but waited to post until it hit the mainstream media which I knew it would - I'm posting both because it is interesting (if very sad) and to note there is always a risk when working with horses.

Master Terafan was a friend of my husbands when he was stationed in the UK with the US military and used to practice SCA fighting together.

After Master Terafan developed a bad back he took up SCA equestrian which does not include jousting or actual fighting but rather displays many of the other techniques knights used in training for combat or the hunt.

When he died he was the head "Marshall" (top official) for equestrian events in the SCA - he will be greatly missed as he was also a champion brewer, artisan and US military veteran.

Welcome to USA TODAY NETWORK’S EUROPEAN UNION EXPERIENCE
Learn More

Medieval knight impales himself on lance during Kentucky performance
Thomas Novelly Louisville Courier Journal
Published 7:06 PM EDT Oct 9, 2018

A Medieval knight re-enactor died in Northern Kentucky this past weekend after he impaled himself with his lance during a performance.

Peter Barclay, 52, of Virginia, was performing at the Society for Creative Anachronism event in Williamstown, Kentucky, on Saturday when he died, according to Cincinnati TV station WLWT. He performed under the name "Master Terafan Greydragon."

John Barclay, his brother, said in a Facebook post that the accident happened "when his metal-tipped lance, used for catching rings (not jousting), hit the ground and flipped."

Barclay's brother said the lance hit him in the sternum and impaled him. He died while being airlifted to a nearby hospital.

The Hamilton County Coroner's office confirmed that Peter Barclay was brought to University of Cincinnati Medical Center from a renaissance fair in Grant County on Saturday.


A Medieval knight re-enactor, similar to the one pictured here, died this weekend in Kentucky after accidentally impaling himself with a lance.
DHuss, Getty Images/iStockphoto
Chief Administrator Andrea Hatten said an autopsy has not been completed and did not comment on the cause of death. His death is listed as an accident.

Other news: Jesse Grider, who kept the peace in America's tense moments, has died

The Society for Creative Anachronism, an organization dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe, released a statement regarding the accident:

"The Society’s Equestrian Marshal, Master Terafan Greydragon, died while competing in an equestrian game at an SCA event in Kentucky. We have reached out to Terafan’s family to express our support for them at this moment of loss. We ask that Terafan and his family be held in your hearts."

The Society for Creative Anachronism said it would be conducting an investigation to see how to prevent an accident like in the future.

Sarah Brookbank from the Cincinnati Enquirer contributed reporting. Thomas Novelly: tnovelly@courierjournal.com, 502-582-4465. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/tomn.

Published 7:06 PM EDT Oct 9, 2018
Terms of Service Privacy Notice
© Copyright Gannett 2018
https://eu.courier-journal.com/stor...ht-dies-after-impaling-self-lance/1574892002/

 

[Melodi]

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (LEX 18) – An equestrian was killed in a freak accident during a weekend Medieval-themed event at Kentucky Cowtown in Williamstown.

According to the Hamilton County Coroner, Peter Barclay was pronounced dead in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Barclay, better known as Master Terafan Graydragon, died while competing in an event with the Society for Creative Anachronism. Per a preliminary coroner’s report, Barclay was competing in the event and accidentally impaled himself with his lance while doing a trick.

Grant County officials confirm there was an incident and that the individual was airlifted to Cincinnati, where he passed away from his injuries.

Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)
on Sunday
On Saturday, October 6, a brother in arms to many of us lost his life in the pursuit of our game. The Society’s Equestrian Marshal, Master Terafan Greydragon, died while competing in an equestrian game at an SCA event in Kentucky. The Society is investigating the matter and is fully cooperating with the authorities. The Society Marshal is conducting an investigation to determine what might have led up to the accident, and what specific measures should be taken to ensure that this does not occur again. Upon the completion of our investigation, the SCA will make the results available to the public. We have reached out to Terafan’s family to express our support for them at this moment of loss. We ask that Terafan and his family be held in your hearts.

Society Marshal - Alan Gravesend, Society Marshal

https://lex18.com/news/covering-the-nation/2018/10/08/equestrian-killed-at-kentucky-medieval-event/

 

[Melodi]

Actual photo of Master Tarafan the photographer is allowing this to be shared for memorial purposes but retains full copyright it was taken at an SCA event.

copyright Esmeralda Lakes 2014

 

[Dozdoats]

Condolences to his family and friends. Lethal weapons can be lethal in accidents, too.

 

[celtic-cat]

Oh no. Master Terafan was one of the most kind, talented gentles I have ever met. I was a fellow Atlantian for a time, and always admired his woodworking skills. He will certainly be missed.

 

[Melodi]

Oh no. Master Terafan was one of the most kind, talented gentles I have ever met. I was a fellow Atlantian for a time, and always admired his woodworking skills. He will certainly be missed.

Cetic-Cat thank you for the kind words, letting people know who might have known him but not heard the news was one reason I posted as being in the military he lived quite a few places before he retired.

 

[Garryowen]

I don't really see how one could easily impale himself on his own lance, unless he caught the business end in the ground, and drove the shaft through his body, but it seems an unlikely way of holding it.

 

[homecanner1]

even peace tied to your thigh a blade can be dangerous if stumbling in the dark. The jousts and blacksmithing can also be risky, broken ribs from falls, even with padding, risk of burns and hearing loss at the anvil. It is like hunting, sporting or battle re enactment activity and comes with risk, waivers signed etc.

 

[night driver]

If the tip of the lance got planted by accident, while charging, it might shatter and leave a longer shard or BIG splinter with which he might be impaled.

 

[Melodi]

He was using it to grab the rings of the quintain and somehow (I'm not sure exactly how and while I slightly know some people who were there everyone is in too much shock to be talking much yet) but somehow the lance fell and got him right through the chest.

I had thought the saddle strap must have broken or come loose and he fell on the lance but from the brother's account, I am not sure that is exactly what happened either.

However, it was NOT a Ren Fair it was an SCA event and it was NOT jousting which isn't allowed in SCA Equestrian for safety reasons; people who do jousting are basically highly trained stunt actors who practice falling as well as horsemanship whereas the SCA has concentrated on the skills needed for riding and fighting from horseback in the Middle Ages but not actual combat or jousting (which was extremely dangers in the Middle Ages and it was pretty normal for knights to die while doing it).

I'm sure in a few days I will know more than I ever wanted to know as equestrian sports has only been "allowed" fully in the SCA for a few years for insurance reasons and losing the Equestrian Marshall in such a spectacular and horrible way is likely to shut everything down or severely limit it while "changes" are made.

The bottom line is that working with horses can never totally be safe (or deadly weapons for that matter) the SCA (unlike some re-enactment groups) doesn't use live steal for fighting but does allow real weapons for things like this sort of skill demonstration or for archery against targets (but not people).

I saw someone almost killed in the early days of SCA archery when an arrow went wild (the person was fine but it was a very near thing).

For decades the only thing you could do on a horse in the SCA was ride, while someone else held the bridle (mandatory) and walked beside you; this was sometimes ignored in the West (Colorado, Wyoming) when I was there especially on private land; you couldn't really tell people they couldn't ride their own horses.

But the rules were still in effect about 20 years ago when we brought our horses to Dublin for a royal coronation; The Prince and Princess (soon to be King and Queen for Six Months) got to "ride" in on them while someone else walked beside them holding the bridles. It was a good show but not really equestrian sports as they have now (or may still have).

I'm sure I'll know more after Sunday's Shire meeting if not before.

Melodi aka Vi-Countess Sagadis Ducansdottor in another life...

 

[ShadowMan]

How sad, how very very sad.

No matter how safe you try to make something there is always the chance (no matter how remote) that something will go wrong. Life is dangerous. May his passage to Avalon be swift and uneventful.

 

[Melodi]

How sad, how very very sad.

No matter how safe you try to make something there is always the chance (no matter how remote) that something will go wrong. Life is dangerous. May his passage to Avalon be swift and uneventful.

He was a very-very committed Christian, so I suspect he has had a wonderful entry into heaven; perhaps with angels riding beside him, I rather suspect Michael is proud of him.

I am worried about his wife and family (I don't' know but most likely they saw it happen unless they were not there for some other reason) but I'd be surprised if they didn't have a church family as well as their SCA one holding them up and helping them through this time.

While not a religious organization; the SCA does have people of all stripes including Christian households and the group from Salt Lake used to have LDS prayer sessions in a private trailer at events in the West when I lived there; I've known at least one Catholic Priest who joined and for a few months the Church of Ireland Paster and his son were coming to our fighter practices (not on horseback) here at the house.

There are also plenty of Pagans, Asatru, Athiest and the every popular "Scientific Agnostic" - we get a lot of crossover from Science Fiction Fandom, the IT world members in the US (and other) militaries, and the expected artists, writers and actors (by "mundane" profession).

But we don't do jousting, there are crossover members who do but they belong to more than one organization and to their jousting in the other one; ditto live steel fighting isn't done in the SCA but there are members (especially in the UK) that also join The Vike or other The Sealed Knot (English Civil War) to use live steel or demonstrate black powder weapons.

 

[summerthyme]

What a freak tragedy. And how horrific for everyone... his family and all those enjoying a carefree day at the SCA event, only to witness such an unexpected, terrible thing.

I'm afraid they'll probably ban some of this now, but honestly, that's silly. The late actor Christopher Reeve was permanently paralyzed (which eventually led to his death at far too young an age) by a crazy freak accident while show jumping on horseback. His horse refused the fence (very common if they misjudge their stride, come in at an awkward angle or the horse just decides the whole thing doesn't "feel" right). Reeve slid off over his head... again, common and typical... it happened to me many times as a teen while training young Thoroughbreds to jump. But his hands slid up the neck of the horse as he was going forward, and became trapped in the bridle, which prevented him from using his arms to break his fall. Instead, he landed head first, breaking his neck.

Stuff happens in active lives. Short of sitting on the couch 24/7 (which has risks of its own!), living fully carries risk.

May God comfort his family with the sure knowledge that he's enjoying his welcome into Heaven, and that they will be together again in the fulness of time.

Summerthyme

 

[Dozdoats]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=40&v=ibB9HxM9XrQ
Ring Jousting at Painted Bar Stables
RT 00:59
===============

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=119&v=q-vNroySz6U
Harcourt Park 2011 - Skill-at-Arms
RT 02:40

Published on Aug 13, 2012

A selection of some of the skill-at-arms exercises performed by some of the riders at the 2011 Harcourt Park 'Grail of Chivalry" World Invitational Jousting Tournament in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.

 

[WalknTrot]

So sad. He sounds like a great horseman and an all-around great guy.

Goes to show that these freakish things can and do happen even to the best of us. My sympathies to his family and friends.

 

[celtic-cat]

So sad. He sounds like a great horseman and an all-around great guy.

Goes to show that these freakish things can and do happen even to the best of us. My sympathies to his family and friends.

He was a really, really great guy. He did a lot of mentoring of younger members in all of his areas of interest. He did a lot of research on medieval furniture, tapestries and tentage, and was really, really into brewing. Much of his research is online at his site http://www.greydragon.org/

 

[vessie]

So sorry to hear this very sad news.

Sending my deepest condolences and prayers to him and his family. V

 

[Melodi]

I have heard from our local equestrian marshall in the UK and while jousting isn't allowed in the SCA in Europe it is sometimes down now on a limited basis in the US but Tarafan was not jousting he was "Picking up" something on the ground with his lance (I think a plate) and something slipped and the lance impaled him.

As Summertyme said the only way to prevent sports accidents is to never have any sports especially with large animals; that said I have no problem looking at reworking armor (that is done all the time in the SCA) to see if any other protections are needed but this was such a rare thing it hard to imagine what else could have been done.

This has not only shocked the SCA but re-enactment groups, professional jousting clubs, Ren Fairs organizations from Sweden to Canada are having emergency meetings to go over their situations and look into the matter.

The story has just made the Drudge report; prayers for his family and all of his friends, everyone is still in shock but details are starting to leak out.

 

[Paladin1]

I was slightly involved in the SCA back in the very early 90's and even then, Graydragon was well known. I've talked to a few old timers who knew him fairly well and they're all in shock today. No detailed, verified word on what happened, other than it was a freak accident. He was considered the Equestrian Master, not just for his kingdom but for the entire SCA.

 

[Dozdoats]

he was "Picking up" something on the ground with his lance

Ground targets for lancers were usually marked with ribbons and intended to be picked up on the point of the lance. The lance was a weapon of war for a long time and was well suited for use from horseback.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancer

A modern manufactured lance is available from Cold Steel - https://www.coldsteel.com/products/spears/maa-lance-point-spear.html

 

[Paladin1]

I have heard from our local equestrian marshall in the UK and while jousting isn't allowed in the SCA in Europe it is sometimes down now on a limited basis in the US but Tarafan was not jousting he was "Picking up" something on the ground with his lance (I think a plate) and something slipped and the lance impaled him.

As Summertyme said the only way to prevent sports accidents is to never have any sports especially with large animals; that said I have no problem looking at reworking armor (that is done all the time in the SCA) to see if any other protections are needed but this was such a rare thing it hard to imagine what else could have been done.

This has not only shocked the SCA but re-enactment groups, professional jousting clubs, Ren Fairs organizations from Sweden to Canada are having emergency meetings to go over their situations and look into the matter.

The story has just made the Drudge report; prayers for his family and all of his friends, everyone is still in shock but details are starting to leak out.

From what I was told Melodi, he was picking up rings in something called the "pig sticking" event when his lance dug into the ground and impaled him.

That's second hand info, though, so bear that in mind.

 

[Dozdoats]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=oRjz5ww9qbI
Tent-Peg Sticking
RT 00:07

Tent Peg Sticking Demonstration. How to do it without falling off your horse or embedding your lance butt in the back of your head.

 

[Caplock50]

For a man of his background, only one thing could have made his 'exiting' this world better, and that would have been exiting during real battle. He 'went out' doing what he loved to do... I salute him.

 

[Dozdoats]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mediev...self-with-his-lance-in-williamstown-kentucky/

CBS/AP October 10, 2018, 9:42 AM
Medieval re-enactor fatally impales self with a lance during equestrian game in Kentucky

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. -- A Medieval knight re-enactor has impaled himself with his lance during a performance and died. The Louisville Courier-Journal reports 53-year-old Peter Barclay, of Virginia, was competing in an equestrian game in Williamstown, Kentucky, when he was wounded Saturday.

Barclay's brother and the president of event holder Society for Creative Anachronism, John Fulton, says Barclay was trying to spear a paper plate on the ground. Fulton says in a Facebook post that the metal-tipped lance hit the ground and flipped, stabbing Barclay's chest. He says Barclay, who performed under the name "Master Terafan Greydragon," died while being flown to a hospital.

The Hamilton County coroner's chief administrator, Andrea Hatten, says an autopsy hasn't yet been performed. His death is listed as accidental.

In a Facebook post, the SCA Marshal Alan Gravesend says it's investigating "what might have led up to the accident, and what specific measures should be taken to ensure that this does not occur again."

 

[Melodi]

For a man of his background, only one thing could have made his 'exiting' this world better, and that would have been exiting during real battle. He 'went out' doing what he loved to do... I salute him.

As my husband said, "you can't get much more of a 14th century way to die in the modern world."

He just asked me about the electronic keyboard as he is composing a ballad for him right now.

 

[SamGribley]

We just added a jousting field to our SCA site, Dalwhinnie Fields in AL. There is some talk about naming the field after him.

 

[Caplock50]

Remember the 'Cowboy Prayer'?

"let me die with my boots on..."

Cowboys didn't want to die of old age, laid up in a bed and unable to 'live life'. They wanted to be out on the open plains, doing what cowboys did...facing down everything life had to throw at them...laughing in the face of death. This guy lived that life...and he 'died with his boots on'...a very rare occurrence these days. That picture said to be of him...like a cowboy riding off into the sunset....

(Gotta go...got sum'thin' in my eyes...)

 

[Txkstew]

I worked for an Engineer who was big in the local group. He was a horseman, and did sword reenactments. He said you try not to hurt the other guy sword fighting, or get hurt yourself, but usually someone gets hurt. It's very realistic apparently. I had always meant to go watch, but never had the time back then.

 

[Melodi]

I worked for an Engineer who was big in the local group. He was a horseman and did sword reenactments. He said you try not to hurt the other guy sword fighting, or get hurt yourself, but usually someone gets hurt. It's very realistic apparently. I had always meant to go watch, but never had the time back then.

Heavy Fighting is done with heavy armor (carefully crafted after 50 years of practice, there are different types but all have to meet the same safety standards) and Rattan (bamboo) or with the shortage of Bamboo there have been some new plexiglass and/other materials tested (others who do heavy fighting would know I don't and my husband hasn't been on the field for several years).

There are certain regions of the body where "blows" are not allowed (the face) and unlike some live-steal groups (that use blunted steel weapons but pull their blows) hitting is hard.

Our current equestrian marshall over here (UK) is also a medical doctor and he did a paper for a medical journal on the force required to actually create different sorts of stab wounds (using a pig carcass) and a calibrator.

It is part of learning the sport to know when to shout "good" (the blow would have killed or injured if a real weapon had been used) and how to fall dramatically down "dead" or drop an arm (as if it were cut off); this adds the show as well as teaching fighters how hard they can hit.

And yes like any sport there are almost always some injuries - in "big battles" with dozens or even hundreds of fighters; someone almost always slips on wet ground or like my husband gets hit on the hand just the wrong way and breaks a finger (even with protection).

Almost every "tournament" ends up with bruises but usually no cuts unless something really goes wrong; there are "marshalls" who supervise and can stop any fight at any time by yelling "hold."

Some people here may remember a few years ago when my husband became "the accidental Prince" because the man who was about to win (most likely) suddenly collapsed on the field; they thought at the time it was a heart attack but it turned out to be another condition but everything stopped for several hours and when the final was "re-fought" with my husband (who had been third in rank) won - he didn't even have an outfit to wear and had to borrow one! lol

Anyway, I love the idea of naming a Tourney Field after Master Tarafan; we are in the process of establishing shire awards this weekend and I suspect that our "fighting award" may change their name too.

He used to come to Ireland for a week at a time to train people when he was doing the heavy fighting (and stayed at our house at least once for an entire week) so he will be greatly missed here as well as all the other places he lived.

 

[Melodi]

This is now international news - from SKY (Terafan was stationed in the UK and Germany)

Medieval knight re-enactor dies after impaling himself on lance
Peter Barclay was stabbed in the chest after his lance hit the ground and flipped as he was reportedly trying to spear a plate.
12:19, UK,
Thursday 11 October 2018
Peter Barclay

Image:
Peter Barclay was competing in an equestrian game when the accident happened. Pic: John Barclay



By Adam Arnold, news reporter

A man who re-enacts medieval scenes as a knight has died after impaling himself with his lance during a performance in the US.

Peter Barclay, 53, was competing in an equestrian game in Williamstown, Kentucky, when the freak accident happened.

His metal tipped lance hit the ground and flipped, stabbing him in the chest, according to his brother John.

The victim, from Virginia, was reportedly trying to spear a plate on the ground at the time.

John Barclay said his sibling, who performed under the name Master Terafan Greydragon, died as he was being flown to hospital.

He added: "He died doing what he loved, but will still be missed. RIP Peter aka: Terafan Greydragon."

Mr Barclay said his brother was a regional equestrian master for the society for creative anachronism (SCA) and next year would have risen in the organisation to the title of worldwide equestrian grand marshal.

Peter Barclay
Image:
Mr Barclay served in the US army in England and Germany. Pic: John Barclay
The SCA, which is dedicated to researching and recreating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe, said: "The society's equestrian marshal, Master Terafan Greydragon, died while competing in an equestrian game at an SCA event in Kentucky.

"We have reached out to Terafan's family to express our support for them at this moment of loss. We ask that Terafan and his family be held in your hearts."

The SCA said it would be carrying out an investigation to try to prevent a similar accident happening in the future.

John Barclay said his brother, who was involved in the SCA for about 30 years, joined the US army after college and was stationed in England for four years.

He then returned to the US before being sent to a base in Germany for four years.

"He did medieval trips throughout Europe," his brother said.

Mr Barclay is survived by his wife Deborah, daughters Amy and Taryth, brothers John and Charles, and father Jack
https://news.sky.com/story/medieval-knight-re-enactor-dies-after-impaling-himself-on-lance-11523376

 

[night driver]

I'm an administrivia nerd. ANYONE recognize the Badge above his nametag on his right breast?

 

[Melodi]

I'm an administrivia nerd. ANYONE recognize the Badge above his nametag on his right breast?

I don't know what his decorations were for, but on other threads, over the years (including a recent one on troops being medically discharged who could not deploy) he is the "family friend" they chose to keep in the Army even after he was diagnosed with Type 1 AFTER he joined the service.

In the first few moments after we got the word he had died (but no other information) I simply thought it must have been the disease that often does "get" people in the end, no matter how careful they are (type one is usually but not always diagnosed in childhood).

So he is not only a hero in the military and the SCA but to people with severe medical conditions everywhere (and should inspire every diabetic child) that you really can take care of yourself and still make something of yourself.

 

[Melodi]

dup post

 

[Housecarl]

I'm an administrivia nerd. ANYONE recognize the Badge above his nametag on his right breast?

I can't make out the branch from the photo but it looks like a jumpmaster's badge. He's also wearing an air assault badge as well on his left side.

 

[Dozdoats]

Foreign jump wings are worn on the right. I don't recognize that set, looks maybe some African country from what I have seen before. Or they may be French, from which several African countries evolve their design.

https://www.rangerjoes.com/Foreign-Jump-Wings-France-P48.aspx

 

[Melodi]

Foreign jump wings are worn on the right. I don't recognize that set, looks maybe some African country from what I have seen before. Or they may be French, from which several African countries evolve their design.

https://www.rangerjoes.com/Foreign-Jump-Wings-France-P48.aspx

I will ask hubby if he remembers, but I have a long ago memory of someone not being at an SCA event they were supposed to be holding or doing something important at because they were rescuing people from trees (including the lady that gave birth in one and later toured the US) in the African floods it may have been Master Tarafan but I simply can't recall for certain.

 

[Dozdoats]

There's always a competition among US paratroopers to see who can wear the gaudiest, showiest, rarest foreign wings. Protocol requires actually making at least one jump with that country's airborne troops, not just going to the uniform store and buying a set.

My SF guys used to be particularly egregious in that pursuit...

 

[Melodi]

I am posting this message from the family because I know there are members here who may have known him and may not be on face book.


Deborah A. Barclay is with John Barclay and 3 others.
1 hr ·
I thank you all for your outpouring of love and support. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the USO in memory of LTC(Ret) Peter C. Barclay,
https://www.uso.org/donate/donate-in-honor/

Cards may be sent to 1586 Ridge Rd, Raphine, VA 24472.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214673525284044&set=a.1790340590551&type=3&theater

 

[Caplock50]

Best I can do...