With minutes to go before his flight, Cliff Hansen managed to pull out a victory in the finals of the Saratoga tournament on DonConSunday, narrowly defeating Don Hanle. Culminating a weekend of intense enjoyable action, the final game was also the longest game of the weekend: proving that simple does not mean shallow.

Twelve enthusiastic Saratogians headed to the post on Saturday morning in this single-elimination tournament, vying for glory, Albany, and prizes freshly brought from Ft. Ticonderoga and Saratoga by the GM--including liquid gold, New York State Maple Syrup.

The highlight of the first round was the capture of the British baggage train by Volko Ruhnke's Continentals--the only Automatic Victory of the tournament, and the round which convinced the GM he'd not be returning with all the goodies
(since it was HIS baggage train which was siezed).

Other highlights of the tournament included Volko Ruhnke's defeat of the British with the Americans, coming out of a desparate situation; with Ft. Nielsen threatened, Volko abandoned the Continental tents like so many autumn leaves, pushed on the Birtish baggage train, and fought so well that British morale was reduced to zero (which would happen if all you fought for was autumn leaves).

The GM remembers especially Bruno Sinigaglio's 'caterpillar' strategy of forming a Continental line with two refused flanks, crawling around the western side of the map. It seemed as if the British soon would be defending Albany from Continental attack, not knowing that Gage had gone off to the Travers Cup at Saratoga.

The GM is grateful to all participants for their support and counsel during the tournament; he hopes that he will be able to repeat it next year. Mark Miklos has designed a grand little gem here--would a gallon of maple syrup be a better prize?

William Cooper - Acting GM