The Saga of the Three Champions of St. Olaf
In the land of the North, where the granite hills meet the sea, there stands a Lodge of renown, steeped in the traditions of old – Lodge St. Olaf. And in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Five, upon the second day of March, three noble warriors set forth from that venerable hall, bound for a contest of skill, of will, and of unyielding determination.
These three – Phil Anderson the Sure-Handed, Brian Artingstoll the Bold and Alastair McPherson the Steadfast, stood as champions of their brethren, bearing the proud standard of St. Olaf into the Provincial Grand Lodge of Aberdeenshire East Bowls Competition. Seven Lodges in total gathered upon that field of battle, each with hopes of glory, each seeking the laurels of victory.
Yet, as in all great tales, adversity struck early. The first two skirmishes were hard-fought, but the fates turned their backs upon our heroes, and defeat loomed like a storm upon the horizon. Many might have faltered, their spirits weighed heavy with the burden of loss. But not these men of St. Olaf! With grit and unwavering resolve, they steeled themselves against despair, and from the ashes of those early losses, they arose anew, their will unbroken.
Then came the turn of fortune, and as the winds shift upon the sea, so too did the tide of battle favour them. Game after game they fought, each stroke of their hand guided by skill and destiny alike. Four victories they secured in unrelenting succession, and though they fell just short of the ultimate crown, they had won a prize no less worthy of legend.
For in the annals of this contest, there is one prize above all others that holds the heart of Lodge St. Olaf—the fabled St. Olaf Trophy, forged in honour and dedicated long ago by their own kin. This most sacred relic is not given to the victor alone, but rather to those who prove themselves mightiest in points, who demonstrate not only success but supremacy upon the field. And on this day, it was to these three warriors that the honour fell. With heads held high and the sacred trophy clutched in their grasp, they bore it homeward, their names forever etched in the history of their Lodge.
And so it is that upon the eve of the sixth day of March, the brethren of St. Olaf shall gather in their hallowed hall, where the ale shall flow as freely as the tales of triumph. In ‘The Level,’ that most revered of watering holes, their victory shall be sung, their deeds recounted, and their honour toasted well into the night. Never yet has that noble bar been put to finer use, nor shall it stand silent while men of such valour return in triumph.
Now, let it be known that in the moment of triumph, when the spoils of victory were claimed, the presence of a most esteemed figure lent gravitas to the occasion. Pictured here, standing alongside our valiant trio, is none other than The Provincial Grand Master of Aberdeenshire East, Brother David Wemyss. His presence at the ceremony was a testament to the magnitude of this victory, his dignified bearing adding weight to the moment when the St. Olaf Trophy was placed into the hands of its rightful guardians.
With Brother Wemyss standing in solemn recognition, and the champions – Brian Artingstoll the Bold, Phil Anderson the Sure-Handed, and Alastair McPherson the Steadfast – bearing their hard-earned trophies aloft, this was truly a scene fit for legend. The spoils of war were claimed, the honour of St. Olaf secured, and their triumph immortalised in both word and image.
Thus is recorded the tale of the three champions of St. Olaf, who against the odds rose to claim their rightful place among the legends of their Lodge. May their names be spoken in reverence, and may their tale inspire all who seek to bring honour to the brethren of St. Olaf in the years yet to come!
