"A history of wargaming tournaments?" Topic

Can any of you "experienced" folks tell me about the history of miniature wargames tournaments. I'm not talking about chess, risk, hex wargames, etc, and I'm not thinking of one-off challenges at conventions. I'm interested in hearing about when tabletop miniature wargamers decided to start organizing tiered, competetive events.

They had the at Origins when I was in High School, so in the early '80s they were nothing new.
-Kle.

IIRC, the first British Nationals were organised by Don Featherstone and held in Southampton in the mid-1960s. As he didn't want to organise another one, the tradition became for the club that won in the most periods to organise the next year's competition.

Don't overlook Jack Scruby in the United States. He was definitely an early gamer as well as Featherstone. But I would assume that Don would be involved in the birth of competition but then again, the old school wargamers got together more at each other's places rather than setting up open competitions. I too am curious about the beginnings. I would think that someone tagged along with an existing convention. BUT I would also bet that clubs staged tournaments before what becomes known as a convention today.

I remember having friends play in Anciets (WRG) tourney in the 70's and 80's and those were "Nationals"

Which period had the first tournaments? Was it ancients or another period?

I played in WRG Ancients tournaments in 1977 to 1986. I played in 1 WRG Gush Renaissance tournament in that time span. These are the only tournaments in the USA that I was aware of. I played in the Philadelphia area, starting at Widener College, and at Gen-Con East in New Jersey, and at a few Origins on the East Coast. I played in Detroit, but I forget the con name.

I read in various British glossy gaming and modeling magazines that there were tournaments across the Pond in virtually all eras. That struck me as a bit strange, reading about an ACW tournament with 1864 Union Sherman beating 1863 Union Grant in the chamionshiop round.

What historical tournaments are played now in the states? Several ancients and Flames of War tournaments I know of, any others?