Stakes high at Sulphur City Clash Full Medieval Armed Combat Tournament

The heavy metal music seemed tame under the sounds of clashing weapons and armour, and shouts from the crowd.

"Put him down! Get an axe in there! Hit him!"

This was the Sulphur City Clash Full Medieval Armed Combat Tournament. Teams travelled from as far as Auckland and Wellington to take part in a literal fight to be the last man or woman standing.

Sulphur City Clash Full Medieval Armed Combat Tournament

Posted by Rotorua Daily Post on Friday, 10 August 2018

The sport requires team members to wear up to 40kg of armour and fight with metal weapons in a ring.

There are rules controlling the specifications of weaponry and armour, where opponents can strike each other and how many times they can balance themselves, but that doesn't stop competitors from taking big hits.

Another round at the Sulphur City Clash Full Medieval Armed Combat Tournament

Posted by Rotorua Daily Post on Friday, 10 August 2018

"It is brutal," Liz Dufty told the Rotorua Daily Post.

Her husband Chris has been part of the Ohura team, the Steel Thorns, for two years.

Dufty has become a strapper.

"I strap them in the armour. There is a lot to tie up, a lot of buckles too, and weapons to provide where needed."

Competitors face off at the Sulphur City Clash. Photo/Stephen Parker

Team member Justin Stockbridge is a full-time armourer and teaches others to make their own.

His business All Fired Up Armouries sponsors the team.

"It is expensive, about $5000 a set," Dufty said.

She said there were about six tournaments a year in New Zealand, and "people do get hurt".

"The steel armour is designed to be bent not broken, so the wearers do get bruising. People don't normally break bones unless they have fallen wrong. "

Despite this, Dufty said she was not worried when her husband joined the team.

"He can handle himself."

And it is not just men that fight.

Dayna Berghan-Whyman‎ was part of a Wellington team named Felag.

"As you can see, we need so much help when we are on the field and when we are in armour," she said after she was helped taking off her helmet.

She then guzzled back some water in a 10 minute rest between rounds.

"We were going to be back-to-back, that is why they have given us a bit of a break, but we do not get fully unarmoured."

Erika Jack was just going for walk in the park with her family when they came across the tournament.

"At first I thought it was part of the Kuirau Markets," she said.

"I love the costumes! I have never seen anything like this in my life. I did not think New Zealand did this."

Rotorua's Nicholas Matepo Waiariki in his medieval armed combat gear. Photo/File

Organiser and Rotorua fighter Nicholas Matepo Waiariki said he was "really happy" with the turnout at the Medical Officers Reserve beside Mataatua Marae.

"The weather is good. We have some good trophies up for grabs, and we have six teams."

The tournament was held from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The Results for Sulphur City Clash Tournament 2018:

Women's 1vs1Longsword:

1st place Titan's.
2nd place Felag1.
3rd place 0.

Men's 1vs1 Longsword:

1st place Titan's.
2nd place East Auckland Eagle's.
3rd East Auckland Eagle's.

Women's 1vs1 Sword & Shield:

1st place Titan's.
2nd place Felag1.
3rd place 0.

Men's 1vs1 Sword & Shield:

1st place Titan's.
2nd place Felag2.
3rd place East Auckland Eagle's.

Women's 1vs1 Polearm:

1st place 0.
2nd place 0.
3rd place 0.

Men's 1vs1 Polearm:

1st place Titan's.
2nd place East Auckland Eagle's.
3rd place East Auckland Eagle's.

Women's 3vs3 Melee:

1st place 0.
2nd place 0.
3rd place 0.

Men's 3vs3 Melee:

1st place Felag2.
2nd place East Auckland Eagle's.
3rd place Titan's.

10-14 year's mix Soft kit; Melee;(Capture the flag):

1st place 0.
2nd place 0.
3rd place 0.

15- 18 year's mix Soft kit; Melee;
(Capture the flag):
1st place 0.
2nd place 0.
3rd place 0.