The 2010 event will again feature not only a re-enactment of the Battle of Edgcote, a little known but significant episode in the Wars of the Roses, but also a unique reconstruction of a tournament arena shown in a 15th century manuscript written by King Rene of Anjou, father in law of Henry VI, where fully armoured knights and their horses will compete in a genuine competition with 15th century equipment and 15th Century rules and risks – no choreographed stunts here! The 2010 tournament aims to be even bigger and better than last year, with a new boarded tiltyard being built especially for the jousting event – all according to King Rene's specifications.
The tournament is the brainchild of local historian Alan Lamb, in whose workshop the arena was lovingly recreated. 'We were delighted by the response to the project last year as not only did it raise the profile of part of our local history, but it was the most complete recreation of a 15th Century tournament yet seen drawing participants and public from across Europe. '
The medieval tournament was a highly colourful event, with banners, entertainers, music, heraldry and ceremony and people will again be able to step into a complete medieval world and watch the lords and ladies cheering on their favourite knights. The arena hosts a variety of events from individual and team foot combats with poleaxes, swords and daggers, to the club tourney where two teams of mounted knights fight it out with the equivalent of medieval baseball bats. The new boarded tiltyard will host the jousting event where a combined weight of 2 tons of horseflesh and armour thunder towards eachother at 30 miles an hour in the ultimate test of skill and courage.
Proceedings culminate in a re-enactment of the Battle of Edgcote, fought in 1469 in the fields around Chipping Warden, one of the bloodiest events in Northamptonshire's history in which most of the Welsh nobility were wiped out in the course of a few hours. Fought between the armies of the King and the Earl of Warwick masqerading as Robin Hood, the Battle is a little known piece of our local history, involving arrow storms, cavalry charges, treachery and betrayal.
All day on the site there will be a huge 15th century Living History encampment with hundreds of re-enactors showing the daily lives of soldiers and their families, as well as the Robin of Redesdale Archery Competition for a golden arrow, a medieval mounted skill at arms competition, demonstrations, a medieval market with everything from armourers to medieval glassware and a wealth of activities for adults and children.
(Last year's event) 'was truly magical - it was almost as though we had stepped back in time'.
The Tournament will be open from 10.30 both days and with advance tickets at £10 for adults and £5 for children and under 5s getting in free, it's a superb value day out . For further information see our website www.edgcotetournament.co.uk, email info@englishtournamentsociety.co.uk or phone 077733 55415
