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West Devon Swords attended the South West Youth Games, Sunday, 9th July at Simmons Park, Okehampton.

Introduced as part of the Millennium Games in 1999, where every county created a Youth Games of their own, in the South West it has been going for 18 years. The South West Youth Games is now the largest community sports event for children and young people in Devon and Cornwall, offering over 20 sporting competitions on one day.

WDS was there with the plastic Go Fence! kit for children and adults to try.

Around 2,500 competitors, supporters and public attended the event at which we got unexpectedly sun-burnt.

Amidst the ultra-competitive Youth Games athletes who came to taster sessions between competitions, our youngest fencer was 5, the oldest 65.

West Devon Swords attended the Bluebell Sunday at Okehampton Castle on Sunday May 15th, 2017.

Dodging the downpours, we held a few taster sessions with the safe, plastic mini-fence kit during the day.

Safe under cover for the rest of the event, West Devon Swords gave a series of presentations loosely themed as ‘900 years of swords in six minutes or less.’ Children and adults were able to try on some medieval armour and get the feel of real steel weapons.

English Heritage, which runs the castle, gave a talk on Okehampton’s past – as well as collecting memories of the castle and Bluebell Sunday for the 100th anniversary of the castle’s donation as a public monument.

Find Okehampton Castle via the English Heritage website.

Image: Freddy in chainmail, © Robin Catling
Image: West Devon Swords at Okehampton Castle, © Vicki Pritchard

West Devon Swords will be attending Bluebell Sunday at Okehampton Castle on Sunday May 15th, 2017.

Running taster sessions with the safe, plastic mini-fence kit during the day, novices can try fencing in 20 minute sessions with Vicki and Robin.

Visitors will be able to enjoy free entry to the historic site, music, morris dancing, a butterfly hunt, and pond-dipping throughout the day. English Heritage, which runs the castle, will be on hand to share tales of Okehampton’s past – as well as collecting memories of the castle and Bluebell Sunday for the 100th anniversary of the castle’s donation as a public monument.

Find Okehampton Castle via the English Heritage website.

Image: Okehampton Castle, creative commons, courtesy of Jenikya’s Blog

WDS attended FightCamp XIII – 12th-14th August 2016, once again at The Grange, Balsall Common, outside Coventry.

With the usual packed programme of classes, Fight Camp was again one of the best HEMA events in the UK.

Classes included several schools of longsword, rapier, sidesword and more unusually broadsword and targe.

The second May Melee weekend HEMA event was held once again at the Holford Arms, Knockdown, 27-28th May 2016.

Run by Virtus Sword School, HEMA clubs from across the South-West and beyond gathered for a weekend of classes and sparring alongside general revelry.

Both of WDS instructors attended, but, plagued with injuries, could contribute little this time aside from good humour and moral support. We’re hoping for better fitness for next year.

West Devon Swords attended the May Melee at Knockdown, Gloucs. …

WDS at May Melee 2015Read More »