Katz Field Hold

Katz Field Hold
Hold Information
Continent:	Northern
Protected by:	Ista Weyr Igen Hold
Coat of arms:	Palet, beet-red on light green
• About Holds • List of Holds •• Template • Guide filling article Hold •

Katz Field Hold was one of the Minor Holds in the Northern Continent.

Description

A detailed description of the Hold (copied from The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern) established the surrounding countryside, the economy and other relevant features.

Katz Field was located on the tropical peninsula south of Igen. Its flat downs and fine grasses were perfect for racing, and this was the southern meeting place for runnerbeast races. With Keroon so close by across the bay, and the Telgar plain only two or three days easy ride to the north, Katz Field was lively during most seasons of the Turn. Racers were shipped from Fort and Ruatha to Big Bay Hold, which was only half a day's ride to the west of Katz Field, so all of western Pern could participate in the heats.

Katz Field was the chief testing point for distance runners. Its central location made it a good place to hold prize fairs for farm-crafters during Intervals. They always held hauling matches, plowing competitions, and tests to see which runnerbeasts could break and pull so much weight. Betting was rife during the long racing season, with always a promise for turnovers at the next meet. A man who wished to lay a wager would either find his own action or look up the bet makers, distinguished only by their badges, which depicted a crested blue avian. The badge was a rueful joke the bet makers cracked on themselves. The avian, a native bird like the wherry, had a reputation for being a skillful thief.

Appearances

It was mentioned in The Atlas of Pern but nothing more is known.

A man named Jay Katz was mentioned in the Acknowledgements of The Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, in honor of whom perhaps the Hold was named:

Jay Katz, who helped to make the guide possible
 — DLG, Acknowledgments