In a few weeks, Lethbridge will host the “only knightly live steel combat event,” as the Coulee Clash Medieval Tournament gets underway May 25.
Brian Boisson, team captain of The Company of Black Spears for the Lethbridge Historical Armoured Combat Sports Association, says the full-contact event got its start last year. “Because we wanted to get Lethbridge on the tournament circuit for guys that want to do the knightly combat.”
Other teams and localized organizations host similar events in High River, Okotoks and Calgary.
“People are going to be able to see one-on-one duels with weapons,” adds Boisson. Weapons will include swords and axes. “Some big guys are doing two-handed axes that are six-feet long.”
Boisson notes the event will feature a mixed schedule of entertainment, including professional fighting, which is similar to “MMA in armour.”
With the increased popularity in historical and fantasy media, Boisson says, a lot of families come out to medieval events. “The kids absolutely love seeing knights in full armour smashing each other with swords and axes.”
“It sounds like it’s a rough and tumble sport, which it can be, but our guys are in full suits of armour and it keeps our guys safe,” says Boisson.
According to Boisson, the local team has 35 members and in Alberta there are close to 250 members who take part in armoured combat. “In the winter, we practice once a week and in the summer we do two practices a week where we train with different weapons in different categories. We’ll also train in slightly different combat techniques. Many of our members also compete in different organizations in different types of fencing clubs.”
“We also do historical re-enactments and we go to events where everything has to be of a certain time period. We also do a lot of different medieval and renaissance crafts. We have people that do carpentry,” says Boisson.
Lethbridge, Boisson adds, has quite a few blacksmiths that specialize in medieval blacksmithing. “We have one of Canada’s best medieval helmet makers. He’ll make any type of armour, but he specializes in helmets.”
The event will also feature fighters returning from Mexico, where the world championships in medieval armoured combat is being held.
For ticket prices and more information visit The Company of the Black Spears Facebook group page. The event will be held at the Cavendish Farms Centre Curling Rink from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.