“It’s the most fun you can have with your clothes on – actually lots of clothes on,” is how Chris Fogwill describes historic medieval battle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The strapping ex-army officer was one of several fighters from across Australia and New Zealand to take to the Ballarat Polocrosse fields on Saturday to show off his craft at the Victorian Goldfields Medieval Faire.
PE/history teacher Adam Miller said historic medieval battle combined both his loves of olden times and sport.
“The rules are based on medieval manuscripts and, when the crowds get closer, they realise it’s real medieval combat and is full contact with steel weapons,” Mr Miller said.
Mr Fogwill said he had always been interested in medieval fighting and had previously done some re-enacting and live action role playing.
“There’s a real comraderie between fighters even though when we’re out there it might look like we’re trying to murder each other,” Mr Fogwill said.
Archaelogist Sandy Sempel brought his Vetland – or pre-Viking – collection to the fair, including throwing spears, salt bowls, jewellery, spindles, tweezers and even a padlock he rescued from a dumpster and agricultural tools that had been ploughed up by Swedish farmers and hung on barn walls.
He said the collection had taken 24 years to amass but also said there was no better feeling than unearthing a hidden treasure.
“There’s the adrenaline rush when you feel it, and brush it off and do all the usual archaelogy things, and then you realise you’re the first person to pick that up in a 1000 years,” Mr Sempel said.
Stallholder Colin Esford of Esford Swords & Armoury said he mainly imported his Viking headwear and swords from India, which were used in the hit TV series Spartacus filmed in New Zealand.
“We have from early Greek to World War II pieces,” he said.
“We mainly sell to re-enactors, collectors and for people to hang as artwork on their walls.”
Fair re-enactment liaison officer Susan Mitchell said the event had tripled in size since it started last year.
“I think it’s because of the influx of shows like Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Vikings and this gives a tactile, hands-on experience for them to come in and see craftspeople at work,” Ms Mitchell said.
“It also allows us to gather our medieval family together.”
She said there were 25,000 registered re-enactors in Australia and 15,000 non-registered.