Fightcamp finally outgrew the Grange in Coventry and moved to the massive Newbury Showground this year. This was great news for me as I’m only an hour away and was teaching Bolognese footwork according to Marozzo’s segno. My partner Rick also gave a class on polearms.
Over three days every summer, Fightcamp is a UK HEMA tradition, boasting the largest attendance of any event this year with record 360 people, there were over forty classes and activities, plus several competitions including a melee tournament. The comps are more of an addition to the classes, rather than the main event.
It was very warm and windy, but this did not take away from the experience. The huge hall fitted tons of classes as well as traders – where I picked up my fabulous new cinquedea from Paul Binns, food vans, a bar, social space and tons of space to store kit. The fields outside were used for classes, archery, sparring, and of course camping.
Matt and Lucy of Schola Gladiatoria, plus their army of dedicated marshals, put on a great event once more. There’s some tweaks needed which they are aware of and are to be expected with a new space. Nevertheless I’m already looking forward to 2027.
By the Sword 