{"id":4691,"date":"2019-10-15T21:24:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T21:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/?p=4691"},"modified":"2023-07-22T21:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T21:28:46","slug":"quidditch-in-the-queen-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/15\/quidditch-in-the-queen-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Quidditch in the Queen City"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Audio story by Mike Tripp for WMRA (NPR) radio.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unless you\u2019ve been living under a sorcerer\u2019s stone, you\u2019ve probably heard of a game called &#8220;Quidditch.&#8221;&nbsp; And you may be aware that it exists not just in the fictional world of Harry Potter, but in real life too.&nbsp; WMRA\u2019s Mike Tripp recently met with one Staunton couple to explain this sport, featured during the recent Queen City Mischief &amp; Magic festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TRIPP-QUIDDITCH-AUDIO-FINAL2-1.wav\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"801\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10-1024x801.jpg?resize=1024%2C801&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10.jpg?resize=1024%2C801&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10.jpg?resize=300%2C235&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10.jpg?resize=768%2C600&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10.jpg?resize=1536%2C1201&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10.jpg?resize=70%2C55&amp;ssl=1 70w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-10.jpg?w=1760&amp;ssl=1 1760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Mike Tripp)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHRIS PUGH: &#8230;Want a good clean game! No biting, spitting or cussing! Alright! \u2026 Brooms up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And just like that, the game is afoot.&nbsp; And it IS on foot \u2013 unlike the games at Hogwarts, the contestants are decidedly earthbound rather than flying around on brooms. &nbsp;Players propel their brooms forward under foot-power as the game of Quidditch begins. The setting? \u2026 The middle of West Beverly Street in the heart of downtown Staunton during September\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.queencitymagic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Queen City Mischief &amp; Magic festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11-1024x810.jpg?resize=512%2C405&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4694\" width=\"512\" height=\"405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11.jpg?resize=1024%2C810&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11.jpg?resize=300%2C237&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11.jpg?resize=768%2C607&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11.jpg?resize=1536%2C1215&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11.jpg?resize=70%2C55&amp;ssl=1 70w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-11.jpg?w=1760&amp;ssl=1 1760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Chris Pugh (center) blows the whistle while officiating a Quidditch match between House Slytherin and House Hufflepuff. He portrays Godric Gryffindor &#8212; one of the founders of Hogwarts. (Photo by Mike Tripp)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHRIS: Hello, I\u2019m Godric Gryffindor, and I\u2019m the head of House Gryffindor at Hogwarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MIA PUGH: I\u2019m Helga Hufflepuff. The founder of the Hufflepuff House of Hogwarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, these are not their real names but the names of the characters they portray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHRIS: No, my name is Chris Pugh and my wife here, Mia Pugh, who so graciously has been with me all these many years. We have had Medieval Fantasies Company together for over 15 years now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through their business, the pair host and assist with medieval, renaissance and fantasy-themed events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHRIS: So how does&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wizardingworld.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Harry Potter<\/a>&nbsp;play into all that sort of thing? The books, they\u2019re just set in those various time periods, through into modern times. And with Staunton being a Victorian city and so much of the Victorian history preserved here, it seemed like the perfect match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pair are only two of the many volunteers at the festival. Besides portraying two of the Hogwarts\u2019 founders, they also officiate&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quidditch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Quidditch<\/a>&nbsp;matches. Their skill sets are perfect for this.&nbsp; And that brings us back to the game, where House Slytherin faces off against House Hufflepuff. &nbsp;For those who&nbsp;<em>haven\u2019t<\/em>&nbsp;read&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/harrypotter.bloomsbury.com\/uk\/jk-rowling-biography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">J.K. Rowling\u2019s stories about Harry Potter,<\/a>&nbsp;or seen the movies, here is how it goes\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12-987x1024.jpg?resize=494%2C512&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4696\" width=\"494\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12.jpg?resize=987%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 987w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12.jpg?resize=289%2C300&amp;ssl=1 289w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12.jpg?resize=768%2C797&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12.jpg?resize=1480%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1480w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12.jpg?resize=67%2C70&amp;ssl=1 67w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-12.jpg?w=1760&amp;ssl=1 1760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Mia Pugh and Chris Pugh prepare for the Quidditch match between House Slytherin and House Hufflepuff. Mia portrays Helga Hufflepuff, along with Chris&#8217; Godric Gryffindor, two of the four founders of Hogwarts. (Photo by Mike Tripp)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MIA: Quidditch is somewhat of a magical game. Seven players from each house. Two houses at a time playing against one another. And they have a set of chasers, keepers and beaters. And the idea is to get quaffle through the rings without being totally knocked off your brooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rings she speaks of are three sets of rings at either end of the field of play, not unlike hoops on a basketball court but upright instead of horizontal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MIA: A quaffle is the main ball in play and that is what we pass between the chasers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chasers are the ones responsible for passing the quaffle and scoring points. Keepers protect the hoops, keeping the other team\u2019s chasers from scoring, not unlike goalies in other sports. Beaters are the ones working with the bludgers \u2026 or slightly deflated dodgeballs. They throw these at the opposing team\u2019s players, seeking to knock them momentarily out of play. Beaters may also attempt to catch bludgers throw at them. Now, we come to the snitch.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13-1024x740.jpg?resize=512%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4697\" width=\"512\" height=\"370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13.jpg?resize=1024%2C740&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13.jpg?resize=300%2C217&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13.jpg?resize=768%2C555&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13.jpg?resize=1536%2C1110&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13.jpg?resize=70%2C51&amp;ssl=1 70w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-13.jpg?w=1760&amp;ssl=1 1760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A seeker for one of the teams runs with the golden snitch in hand. Winning the game depends largely on who is carrying the snitch at the end. (Photo by Mike Tripp)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHRIS: The Golden Snitch. Now of course all the points are collected during the match, and they do count. And it does matter. The issue of getting the golden snitch isn\u2019t nearly as difficult as maintaining possession of the golden snitch<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MIA: A golden snitch is a small golden ball, typically winged. Therefore, making it very difficult to maintain possession of it. Larger than a golf ball, but smaller than a tennis ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the muggle version of Quidditch, the snitch is carried by a player, and it works kind of like an elaborate game of tag. If he or she is caught by the opposing team\u2019s seeker, the snitch changes hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CHRIS: And this continues back and forth until the game is called. And whoever is in possession of the golden snitch, typically that\u2019s the team that wins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And did we mention all of this is done while holding onto a broom? They are supposed to be witches and wizards, after all. &nbsp;So, what\u2019s the response been to the sport in the Queen City?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14-1024x839.jpg?resize=768%2C629&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4698\" width=\"768\" height=\"629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?resize=1024%2C839&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?resize=300%2C246&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?resize=768%2C629&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?resize=1536%2C1258&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?resize=70%2C57&amp;ssl=1 70w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?w=1760&amp;ssl=1 1760w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A chaser for one of the teams takes aim with the quaffle as he attempts to score. But watch out! There&#8217;s a bludger about to hit him. (Photo by Mike Tripp)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MIA: Well, we have had a wonderful response to the Quidditch matches. The first one we had on Beverly Street; the streets were lined with patrons. So, we normally have between two to three individuals per house to join us. And that builds even more excitement because the children always want to get there early so they can get a spot on the team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staunton Parks and Recreation actually held Quidditch clinics during the festival, teaching the positions and rules of the game to festival goers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although Parks and Rec has no specific plans, should enough people express an interest in the sport, they remain open to a possibility of a future Quidditch league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And now that the sport\u2019s season has passed, the Pughs already are looking towards their next event scheduled for the Queen City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MIA: Yes. Our &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/stonewall-jackson-hotel-and-conference-center\/all-hallows-eve-gala\/648864998920524\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All Hallows Eve Gala<\/a>&#8221; is going to be held at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. And by being in the ball room, you\u2019ll be transformed into what a Victorian social would have been in the time around 1870s. So, we will have individuals dressed in grand Victorian attire. And along with our s\u00e9ances and literary readings, we will have music and food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gala takes place Friday, October 18<sup>th<\/sup>. &nbsp;And, not to bury the lead on Quidditch results\u2026&nbsp; House Sytherin defeated Hufflepuff in Queen City Magic and Mischief\u2019s opening round while Ravenclaw defeated Gryffindor. In the end, it was Ravenclaw that came out on top and won the championship.&nbsp; But for the other Hogwarts houses, there\u2019s always next year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Audio story by Mike Tripp for WMRA (NPR) radio. Unless you\u2019ve been living under a sorcerer\u2019s stone, you\u2019ve probably heard of a game called &#8220;Quidditch.&#8221;&nbsp; And you may be aware that it exists not just in the fictional world of Harry Potter, but in real life too.&nbsp; WMRA\u2019s Mike Tripp recently met with one Staunton [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-audio-stories"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/f8explorer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/download-14.jpg?fit=1760%2C1442&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4691"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4699,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4691\/revisions\/4699"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/f8explorer.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}