Fight Knight: Meet the Scots getting ready to rumble at medieval games

A few centuries have past since the sound of clanking armour and clanging swords rang around Scotland.

However, more than 500 knights in full medieval armour will soon stage mass battles at Scone Palace.

And it’s hoped the full-blooded spectacle – with real swords, axes and maces – will put Scotland on the sporting map of knight tournaments.

The International Medieval Combat Federation World Championships had attracted entries from more than 25 countries as the deadline closed yesterday.

Knights from China, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and America, as well as from all across Europe, will be among those taking part at the tournament in May.

Scott Miller, chairman of the Scottish Knight League, said: “When the championships were staged in other smaller countries like Portugal and Denmark, there was an amazing surge of interest.

“We’re sure the same thing will happen here.”

Dad-of-three Scott, 50, suffered combat stress after serving in the First Gulf War and got interested in the sport after seeing a video of an event during therapy a few years back.

He started a group in his native Shetland, one of three now in Scotland, with another in the process of being set up.

“The armour is all authentic, just as medieval knights would have worn,” said Scott. “It has to be tailor-made to fit perfectly and a full set of armour costs anything from £1000 to £4000.

“They weigh about 35kg and the big things when you are fighting are the heat and the sheer exhaustion. You can easily drink six or eight litres of water during a day of fighting because you sweat so much.”

Visors are kept down for safety, the only real difference from medieval times.

But the weapons are similar, including having blunted swords.

“The knights who took part in medieval tournaments were like Cristiano Ronaldo or Usain Bolt, the top sportsmen of their day,” said Scott. “So they wanted to entertain and to win but not to die.”

The Championships in Perth run from May 10 to 13 with a mixture of events taking place.

They range from one-to-one bouts scored on points up to mass battles where it’s “last knight standing”.

Team Scotland will be competing in the 10 versus 10 battles where a knight is deemed to have been taken out if any part of the body touches the ground. There will also be a 30-a-side mass battle staged just for show. Despite the full-on nature of the battles, Scott says it’s not the bloody carnage it might seem.

“It’s actually safer than rugby as you get the same kind of injuries, just fewer of them,” he said.

“My three sons, who are aged between 17 and 25, are all interested. One already competes and the other two are keen as well.

“I’m perfectly happy to see them involved and I’d love for us all to be in armour together.”

However, dad-of-two Ralph Campbell-Smith, another member of Team Scotland taking part at Scone, admits there can be a price to pay. “It’s full contact, so I’ve been knocked unconscious a few times,” said Ralph, 40, a chef from Crieff. “I’ve also seen someone get a broken collar bone.

“You can train all you like but the first time you’re out on the field for real and someone is coming at you with a sword is terrifying.

“But it’s also an unbelievable adrenaline rush and just great fun. We’ve seen a big surge of interest over the past five years and this event is sure to make more people want to get involved.

“A lot of the newer knights are younger and bigger than me but experience does play a big part when you’re out there.”