Sir Tweedsalot (centre) desperately holds off an attack from Jack Welford while Gabriel Quinole looks on. Photo / Wigs Arathoon
Over the summer Chronicle reporters have been trying their hand at something new, under the supervision of experts. Today Mike Tweed has a go at medieval hand-to-hand combat.
Nestled at the end of a Gonville driveway is a clubhouse unlike any other in Whanganui.
Swords, helmets and shields hang on racks, with gym mats at one end and a wall of history books at the other. It is the headquarters of the Nova Zeelandia Vikings where members meet twice weekly to practise medieval hand-to-hand combat.
The top level of competition - buhurt – is a full-contact fighting sport. I was informed of the club by one of my drum students, teenager Jack Welford, after he asked if I had any spare cymbals. “Great, he’s obviously starting to take drums seriously,” I thought. Wrong – the little ratbag wanted to add them to a suit of armour he was making. Jack invited me to a fight training session and I immediately agreed.
When I arrived and was fitted with 12kg of chain mail, I knew it would be a challenging morning. Club founder Angie Rogerson said her passion for fighting began 30 years ago while a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), which researched and re-created pre-17th-century life. “[SCA] is all about history, hand sewing, the dance, the music,” she said. “I would see the guys out there fighting and think ‘No thanks, that looks a bit scary’, but when I had a go, I didn’t look back.” Rogerson said she started a sword club while living on the East Coast, but put her weapons away for years after moving to Whanganui. She eventually returned to them alongside friend Sarah Hopkins – the club treasurer – and Nova Zeelandia now has about 30 members. “There is an amazing group of people from all walks of life,” Rogerson said. “We wanted to create a combination of the SCA – encampments, crafting, a bit of the dancing – as well as the fighting. “Part of it is getting our teens to understand, respect and honour – those old-fashioned values that can be a bit lacking these days.”
Hopkins said the club covered a lot of bases and “everyone in the village has a value”. “They could be great storytellers and historians or they might be weavers or sewers,” she said. “Then there is woodwork, carving, metalwork and cooking. “The only thing we don’t have is animals for a shepherd. There are small children, does that count?” Rogerson said club membership was free and people of all ages and abilities were welcome. “You put your current life aside, step back in time and connect with your ancestors. “Or, just connect with a persona you want to make up. Be who you want to be.” After being taught some basic defence and attack by club captain Jesse De Vincentis, the time had come for my showdown with Jack. I survived for a while by waving my sword wildly and hiding behind my shield but, eventually, Jack couldn’t resist bringing his blade down heavily – and deservedly – on the top of my helmet.
Technically speaking, it was the first time Sir Tweedsalot had been defeated in a sword fight. Rogerson, still a master with sword in hand, quickly came to my defence and backed Jack into a corner with a huge grin. She said while the sport seemed dangerous, injuries were few and far between. “Initially, there is a lot of drilling – going through strikes and guards,” she said. “You cannot fight angry. The moment you go in there mad, you’re going to get eaten up.” Club members build up their armour over time.
Jack’s will eventually feature my cymbals and part of Jesse’s is made from an old wok.
Rogerson said the club regularly met up with others, with the next major event – Clontarf – being held in April alongside an Irish group from Feilding. “We’ve got proper viking tents and the biggest one goes over the top of a caravan,” she said. The group will also be in action during Whanganui Vintage Weekend on January 17-20. Hopkins said fighting and buhurt – “armoured MMA” – was a critical part of the club, but it couldn’t happen without the support of the village. “That’s right down to the little ones who do the squiring and carry the armour around,” she said. “Everyone has a part to play.” My time at the club was rounded out by watching two experienced members, Tylar Rogerson and Gabriel Quinole, let loose on each other in a buhurt fight.
It got heated, with Tylar unleashing an elbow and Gabriel responding with a well-placed headbutt to his (helmet-covered) face. After a minute, Jesse separated them and the combatants shared a hug and fist bump. Rogerson said buhurt was always amazing to watch and I had to agree. “It gets the blood pumping and it’s great for the guys who have really upped their skills,” she said. “Watching someone like Jesse on the battlefield is pretty incredible. “Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked.” It turns out New Zealand even has a national buhurt team – the Steel Blacks – who compete in a transtasman tournament every year. Something for Tweedsalot to aspire to? We shall see. For more information, go to the Nova Zeelandia Vikings Facebook page or email novazeelandia2024@gmail.com. Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.