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The winter of the long swords

Trevor Stone's guide to longsword dance outings over Christmas and the New Year, from Rattle Up, My Boys, the quarterly sword dance magazine

Note that this year Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day) falls on a Sunday. Some teams have opted to hold their traditional outing on the Sunday and others will perform on one of the official Bank holidays - Monday December 27th or Tuesday December 28th. You are recommended to confirm details before travelling.

BOXING DAY, Sunday, December 26th

Barnsley Longsword
12.15 pm at the The Shaw, Barnsley; 1.00 approx at Spencers Arms, Cawthorne; 1.45 at Cawthorne Village Club. Phone Roger Thompson (01226) 281 248 to confirm.

Flamborough Longsword
Likely to dance at 12.30 'ish at the Rose & Crown followed by visits to other local venues ending at 2.45 pm approx at the Dog & Duck Square, Flamborough, - phone Richard Traves (01262) 851 311.

Highside Longsword (Kirkby Malzeard)
1.00 pm Grantley Arms; Kirkby Malzeard followed by a tour of the village - phone Ted Dodsworth (01765) 620 374.

Redcar Sword
Dancing at 12.00 noon at The Church in Greatham followed by other venues - phone Brian Pierce (01642) 454 371.

Spen Valley Longsword (Cleckheaton area)
A tour of Cleckheaton and Gomersal area starts at 12.00 noon at the New Packhorse; 12.45 at the Wickham Arms; 1.30 at the Old Saw and 2.30 at the Wheatsheaf - phone Dave Webster (01924) 402 897.

"CHRISTMAS BANK HOLIDAY", Monday, December 27

Claro Sword (Knaresborough area)
Tour of Knaresborough - phone Barry Slaymaker (01423) 880 526 for details.

Grenoside Longsword
11.00 am The Old Harrow, Grenoside dance followed by local guest teams and a song session - phone Joe Dunn (0114) 246 0463.

Handsworth Longsword
11.15 am at The Crossed Daggers, Woodhouse; 12.00 noon outside The Parish Church, Handsworth. Singing later in the upstairs room at The New Crown. Phone Peter Macham (0114) 255 4137.

NEW YEARS DAY, January 1st 2000

Kirkburton Rapier Dancers (Huddersfield area)
Tour of the Kirkburton area starting at 12.30 pm at The Carlton Club; 1.00 at The George; 1.30 at The Royal; 2.00 at Spring Grove(?); 2.30 at The Junction Inn at Kirkburton and ending at The Smiths Arms from around 3.00 pm - phone Ken Clarkson (01484) 651 510.

Monkseaton Morris
For over 20 years Monkseaton Morris have performed the Ampleforth play and dance on New Years Day, 12.00 noon outside The Ship in Monkseaton - phone Peter Brown (0191) 252 3022.

White Star Sword (Kent)
Last year had a tour visiting 11.30 am Chafford Arms, Fordcombe; 1.00 pm at the Queens Arms, Cowden Pound and 2.30 The Fountain, Cowden - phone Brian Tasker for more details.

Wype Doles (Peterborough area)
A Cycle tour visiting the homes of members of the team - phone Coral Cornell for more details.

SATURDAY, January 8th 2000

Boars Head Morris Mens' tour
10.00 am to 3.00 pm 'ish - tour of Bradford centre (hopefully with Kirkburton and Spen Valley sword teams) - phone Andy Fieldhouse (01274) 585 595.

Grenoside Longsword village tour
The Village "Traipse" starts at approx 10.15 am outside The Village News and then tours the village - phone Joe Dunn (0114) 246 0463.

Seven Stars Sword & Step Dancers (Wigan area)
From mid-day onwards starting at The Mill at the Pier followed by a tour of Adlington phone John Kelly (01744) 884 031.

SUNDAY, January 9th 2000

Sullivan's Sword (Nottingham area)
Celebration of Ploughtide, Church service at Morton Church followed by dancing and "celebrations" at 12.00 noon at The Waggon and Horses, Bleasby and at 1.30 pm at The Full Moon, Morton - phone Alstair Bloomfield (0115) 922 7989.

West Riding Longsword (Tadcaster area)
Plough Sunday Church Service followed by dancing at Bolton Percy Church (near Tadcaster) - may include Handsworth as guests. Phone Robin Longbottom (01535) 642 086.

SATURDAY, January 15th 2000

Goathland Plough Stots
Starting at 10.00 am outside shops (with guests Lange Wapper and Sallyport Sword). Lange Wapper will go on to dance at Malyan Car Park, Brereton Lodge, "Inn on The Moor" and Oakwell Avenue, Darnholm whilst the other two teams will tour Goathland and Darnholm, presumably ending up at Beckhole. Goathland Plough Blessing Service is the previous Sunday. Phone Keith Thompson (01947) 896 311.

SUNDAY, January 16th 2000

Claro Sword
Plough Blessing service starts at 10.30 am at St John's Church, Knaresborough - dancing afterwards outside the Church followed by a procession to the Market Square - phone Barry Slaymaker (01423) 880 526.

Highside Longsword (Kirkby Malzeard)
(Possibly) 10.30 'ish Plough Blessing Service in Kirkby Malzeard Church (includes dancing in the Church) - phone Ted Dodsworth (01765) 620 374.

AND LATER IN THE YEAR....

March 4th & 5th
DERT Rapper in the Millennium Dome
- contact Andrew Kennedy, 41 Bourg-de-Peage Avenue, East Grinstead, RH19 3YD, phone (01342) 311 236.

March (TBC)
Whitby Competitive Dance Festival
- details next issue.

April 2nd (Mothering Sunday)
Lange Wapper (Antwerp).
Flamborough Longsword have been invited and plan to attend.

April 28th - May 1st, Moor & Coast Festival Festival
At Whitby - likely to involve sword dancing, especially on Monday May 1st which is "dancing only" day. Further details from Moor & Coast Festival, 9 Windsor Terrace, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 1ET, phone (01947) 820 408.

May 25th to 29th, International Sword Spectacular
Large gathering of UK and overseas sword teams - see details in this issue of Rattle Up, My Boys.

©1999 Simon Pipe, Mark Rogers, The Outside Capering Crew

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