2014 Eastern Canadian Nationals with David Griffin This was the first time an event of this magnitude had been held in the nation’s capitol and special thanks goes out to Louis Santerre who has been the driving force behind making it work. From hotels to tables, even putting his own cash on the line, he organised and kept everything rolling forward until I could make landfall and help in the running of the tournament. We had 52 people registered and 44 showed up the day of to throw dice and see who could walk out with the title of champion.

The Marriott in Ottawa was a wonderful hotel and had both the rooms and the tournament meeting rooms. It was an easy walk from Parliament and the War Memorial as well as countless dining establishments. We had people from all over Eastern Canada ranging from Saskatchewan to New Brunswick and even had 8 intrepid souls from the US who braved customs to attend. I even drove up 16 Battlefront tables to support the event, braving a 3-hour wait each direction at the border.  It seems Customs agents are not aware of nor appreciate the wonders of World War Two miniatures (don’t worry, I spent much of that time teaching them about Flames Of War until they in desperation sent me on my way). After the morning briefing, all were ready to get started. We ran the normal 6-round Late-war missions with the fair fights having 3-hour slots.

Round One: Dust Up
Below: 57mm guns await the arrival of the German forces, unfortunately these brave gunners were no more shortly after this picture was taken.	Below: Louis Santerre points to his anti-tank guns attempting to hold back Bradley’s half-tracks from the objective.

A whopping 12 players scored a perfect 6 points this game, meaning that the field stayed very close overall.

Round Two: Counterattack

Below: David Garvin’s US tanks ponder crossing the river in the face of Brenden’s Germans.	Below: Dennis and Lance involved in a serious tank duel on table 19 with TDs versus German Armor. Lance pulled a win out with a 4-3 victory after the dust settled.

Round two saw a huge change in the playing field as only one player went forward with another 6-1 victory, unfortunately he was called home due to a family emergency.  This left the field open in the third round.

Round Three: Surrounded

Below: James Huff and Jay Williams discuss the range during an assault.	Below: Rob McBride’s Americans attempt to pin Bernhard’s Heavy Tigers against the levy.

End Of Day One Standings Rank Name Score Rank Name Score 1. Christian Auclair 16 23. Andrew Dobson 10 2. James Huff 16 24. William Shoemaker 10 3. Phillip Messier 16 25. Louis Santerre 10 4. Shawn Murri 14 26. Andrew Tripple 10 5. Kurt Reese 14 27. Marc Viau 10 6. Shawn Morris 14 28. Dana Madsen 10 7. Alexander Shvarts 13 29. Jerry Lane 9 8. Andrew Buchan 13 30. Daniel Choquette 9 9. Robert McBride 13 31. David Garvin 9 10. Nick Faryna 13 32. Brandon Bourdon 9 11. Denis Campbell 13 33. Bernhard Holmok 8 12. Chris Graham 13 34. Wayne Gardner 8 13. Matt MacKenzie 12 35. Evan Stevens 7 14. Jay Williams 12 36. Dean Marquis 7 15. Robert Kelly 12 37. BJ Lamure 7 16. Bradley Sainsbury 12 38. James Stewart 6 17. Lance Mathew 12 39. Yver Maurais 6 18. Christopher Messier 12 40. Paul Nelson 5 19. Richard Fisher 11 41. Christopher Moser 5 20. Kevin Wardrop 11 42. Brenden Brown 5 21. Doug Amelia 11 43. Serge Carignan 4 22. Jason Davis 11 44. Michael Abbott 3

As night fell three players were eyeing up their chances for the top position. Many a conversation at the scoreboard revolved around what match-ups were likely the next day.

Round Four: Hasty Attack

Below: James Huffs’ Churchills go head-to-head with Phillip Messiers’ King Tigers. With two gouts of flame he was able to cause a cascade of failed reluctant rolls that opened the way for a 6-1 victory.	Below: Shawn Morris sets up for Kurt’s attack.

The end of the round found James Huff standing alone in the first spot with several people jockeying to be the man to pull him down.

Round Five: No Retreat

The end of round five brought two Canadian players to the top slot, Shawn Murri and Shawn Morris with three Americans within firing range; Phillip Messier, Chris Messier and James Huff. Right: Paul Nelson had the pleasure of attacking on an urban board and decided to send all his heavy Tigers through the buildings.  He made it half-way down the board before getting mobbed 1-by-1 by Michael Abbott’s StuGs.

Round Six: Free-For-All

The two Shawn’s matched off against one another as did the Messier’s while James Huff was matched against Dana Madsen.

Final Standings Rank Name Score Rank Name Score 1. Shawn Morris 36 23. Kenin Wardrop 26.8 2. Phillip Messier 35 24. Chris Graham 26.8 3. Shawn Murri 35 25. Robert McBride 26.6 4. Kurt Reese 32 26. David Garvin 26.6 5. James Huff 32 27. Andrew Buchan 26.6 6.  Dana Madsen 31 28. Louis Santerre 26 7. Christopher Messier 30 29. Daniel Choquette 26 8. Lance Mathew 30 30. Jerry Lane 24.8 9. Christian Auclair 30 31. Yver Maurais 24.8 10. Doug Amelia 28.6 32. Bradley Sainsbury 24 11. Nick Faryna 28 33. Marc Viau 24 12. Evan Stevens 28 34. Serge Carignan 23.6 13. Matt MacKenzie 28 35. Bernhard Holmok 23.4 14. Richard Fisher 28 36. BJ Lamure 22.8 15. Jason Davis 28 37. Brenden Brown 22.6 16. Andrew Tripple 27.8 38. Brandon Bourdon 22.2 17. Wayne Gardner 27.6 39. Jay Williams 21.6 18. Robert Kelly 27 40. Michael Abbott 20 19. Andrew Dobson 27 41. Paul Nelson 19.8 20. Denis Campbell 27 42. Christopher Moser 17.8 21. Alexander Shvarts 27 43. James Stewart 17 22. William Shoemaker 27 44. Dean Marquis 16.6

The Winners

Champion Shawn Morris	Second Place Phillip Messier	Third Place Shawn Murri	Best Painted Denis Campbell	Best Sportsman BJ Lamure

There were so many beautiful armies on parade this weekend, I have included picture of the winner and two runner-ups. ~ David. Left: Denis Campbell's Americans.

Below: Denis Campbell’s Free French Compagnie d’Infantrie Blindee.

Below: Robert McBride’s US Infantry.

Right: Paul Nelson’s Heavy German Armour.