I went off to Partizan 2022 at the Newark Showground (UK) on Sunday last with Steve, my regular wargame opponent. I have not been to this show for many years, so it was interesting to see how it has changed - a much better location for traders, gamers and visitors, although difficult to get to by public transport on a Sunday, which meant we drove over two hours to get there. It was very busy and barely a face mask in sight! The event seemed well-organised to me and there was plenty of room to get around most of the time; it was certainly user-friendly for mobility impaired attendees as far as I could tell. There was quite an age range in evidence, it was nice to see youngsters as well as oldsters, although the latter were by far the greater in number. Anyone dropping in for a look would think it was a pastime for white males in their forties and upwards I would think! Business seemed brisk at the trade stands, but I was there for the morning, which always seems the busiest time at conventions I have attended. I had an enjoyable time and admired many of the demonstration games. However, by mid-day it was quite warm and stuffy inside so I retreated to the car park for fresh air and lunch. Although there were plenty of traders in evidence, only a few catered for my interests - which are rather in a minority, except ACW - so my purchases were limited, which is probably a good thing, given the stuff still to paint in the garage this year and the rising cost of living! I bought brushes, paints, a few 25mm metal draught horses and a few old rulebooks.

I took pictures of the demonstration games, which covered a wide range of periods and showed a great deal of effort on the part of those involved. Some of them were outstanding exhibits for the hobby. I have not labelled them, as I lost my event map on the way out somehow! Nonetheless, I hope they are of interest.

A first outing for some of my new ACW collection at the local club:

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Figures are both mine and Steve's (my regular opponent); Steve and Nick fought the game, I umpired, using Rally Round The Flag rules. As ever with a club game, not enough time to play to a finish, but very enjoyable nonetheless.

An attempt at refighting Wittstock 1636 using my Sun King 1670s figures, with the French as the Swedes-Germans and the Allies as the Imperials-Saxons. My regular opponent, Steve, took the Allied side, I took the French side. The table is 6' by 4', the terrain reduced to the very basics of the 1636 battle and with the Allied army deployed first, the French then being positioned, but with them dicing for their reinforcements. The rules are my own; the small dice by the units represent "Fatigue Points", basically "combat wear and tear"  - not very photogenic, I know, but quicker than writing them all down and keeping track on paper! The cavalry action on the steep hill was fast and furious, with the French eventually prevailing, as they did on the other side of the field, but the opposing infantry did not come to blows by the time the game had to end. Here are some photos of the engagement.

The battlefield with the Allied camp in the lower right corner and their army deployed on the plateau beyond the steep hill.

The Allied army deployed to resist an expected attack from the south.

The Allied camp - figures, I think, are by Colonel Bill.

The Allied dragoon regiment in the woods - completely forgotten by Steve for the entire game!

The Allies' fieldworks - the artillery could not move, lacking teams and limbers, these having gone to the rear, i.e. the camp.

The French deploy onto the battlefield - right wing in front, centre behind; their left wing and reserve were reinforcements whose arrival was dependent on the result of regular dice rolls.

Regiment Douglas.

Regiment Anjou.

The Allied left wing lined up in the valley between the plateau and steep hill - cuirassiers and light horse units; the cuirassiers are double squadrons, large and hard to beat!

The Dutch Regiment Reede.

The Allied right wing cavalry - light horse and cuirassiers units.

Allied foot - Ingen-Nielant and Münster Regiments.

French cavalry on the steep hill; the latter counted as severe ground so units accumulated "Fatigue Points" just moving over it.

The Allied left wing moves to engage the French force.

Hasty redeployment by the Allies on the plateau.

The Spanish Alcantares Regiment.

The French reserve arrived on the battlefield pretty promptly and was soon moving up behind the right wing and centre troops.

The opening cavalry fights on and around the steep hill.

The French left wing makes its way onto the battlefield through the rough ground south of the Allies original position.

The French ignored the Allied camp and concentrated on defeating the Allies' troops first.

Brandenburg foot - Regiment Graf van Dohna.

A cuirassier squadron of Austrian Regiment Bamberg.

Regiment Grancey waits behind Regiment Anjou, with a light gun in draught close by.

The French have cleared the steep hill of their cavalry opponents, but the line of foot was too intimidating to attack!

A cuirassier squadron from the Austrian Regiment Caprara about to beat a squadron of the French Regiment Foix.

A French light gun deployed for action.

The ongoing cavalry action on the Allied right wing.

The Brandenburgers have formed Stand of Pikes in the lower part of the picture, the best all-round defence against cavalry, whereas the Regiment Münster has remained in line.

The closing phase of the battle, with the steep hill in French hands...

...but with the plateau still held by the Allies.