Two well-known reenactors duke it out in an unscripted medieval combat to raise money for their favourite homeless charities.
Ben and Ashley tell us more.
On 28th March, two internet-famous reenactors will duke it out on a field in Hereford; using authentic medieval armour and steel weapons to duel each other in an unscripted combat.
This means that every blow, parry and block will be real; that no one will pull any punches, and people who view the event will get to see two well-trained combatants obliterating each other in a relentless melee; using period-accurate techniques to pummel each other into submission.
Tickets to watch the fight can be bought at www.fightforthehomeless.co.uk and all proceeds go to homeless charities chosen by the combatants.
Who’s fighting? Ben “the Anvil” Quick A local resident and minor internet celebrity who runs the Hereford branch of national Norman reenactment society Historia Normannis.
Ben Rose to fame in 2020, when he was featured in a viral internet meme.
He’s been training reenactors to fight since 2015 (6 years of experience) and he’s 6′ 7″ (basically a giant).
You may have seen him and the rest of his reenactment group training in Bishops Meadows on a Sunday afternoon (before lockdown anyway!)
Ashley Phillips (aka Goatsworn Armband) Viking reenactor and internet meme who lives in Devon. Ashley writes/draws a popular reenactment comic, and he’s also been featured in a viral internet meme. He’s smaller than Ben (6′ 0″) but he has 10 years of combat experience and he’s a dab hand with a wooden chair…
How are we raising money? The event will be filmed by a local director using professional cameras/drones, and the footage will be uploaded to our dedicated website (www.fightforthehomless.co.uk).
People can buy tickets to download and watch the footage (making the event Covid-compliant). We’ve already raised £475 and we’re hoping to raise a lot more!
Why are we doing this? The pandemic has had a profound impact on homeless people. We want to alleviate their suffering and bring attention to their plight by hosting an event that’ll appeal to any (and all) members of the public: An authentic medieval duel, watchable from the comfort of your living room, where all proceeds are donated to a good cause.
Who are we donating too? 50% of the proceeds will go to St George’s Crypt; a homeless charity that provides beds, counselling and support for people who are forced to sleep rough. Ben’s dad is a chaplain at the charity and his sister works there too, which makes the cause very dear to him. The other 50% of the proceeds will go to Path Devon; a similar charity that offers beds and support to homeless people.
What does a medieval duel entail? This isn’t the chaotic brawl you might be expecting. The duel will be broken up into 5 one-minute rounds, and each round will be scored according to a well-established, points-based system (Eastern style / conroi).
Combatants gain points based on killshots, although they can also win by knockout or submission. This will be more akin to the duels seen on films like a Knight’s Tale, where finesse and skill are celebrated.
These are unscripted duels with no predetermined outcome and there will be a trained referee to adjudicate. How can you help? Any publicity is helpful. We’ve already raised £475, and we’re hoping that we can raise a lot more.
