Crowds gathered to watch the spectacle and cheered for both teams, showing their support to the knights who met in battle, and also to the maidens and knights who rode their horses around an obstacle course.
Matthew Poehler (Oscar der Drachen) of Inglewood was the captain of the red team. He was pleased to be back at the Stratford battlegrounds after four years.
“The last two events were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We were all pleased to be back at this event.”
Matthew is the captain of the Taranaki Medieval Society (TMS), a role he has held for the last 12 years.
“We’re an umbrella group for fighters of different time periods. It allows for the richness of learning. We range from the Roman times, right up to the black powder [era] in the 1700s to early 1800s.”
TMS first started 20 years ago as a 14th-century fighting club, but changed to representing more fighting eras 15 years ago.
“It’s about having more of a variety to appeal to people.”
He says the medieval event part of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival had the perfect synergy as a finale for the two-week festival.
“We’re very happy to be here. It’s lovely to be back here. It’s one of our favourite events, and we can’t wait to be back at the next one.”