Page 4 - BOL July 21 Edition

Medieval Festival if you visit the encampment of Cottereaux –
Company of the Dagger. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, we
saw the introduction of gun powder and cannon. Re-enactment
group Condottieri holds all the firepower at the festival this
year and will be firing the cannon on occasions throughout the
Tournament weekend.

Tournaments
There are four tournaments over the Festival weekend –
Games Jousting, Archery, Turkish Oil Wrestling and Skill at Arms. All are
based on traditions of the Middle Ages! Tournament Champions
Games were a big part of recreation in the Middle Ages. Watch are awarded and presented to our patrons during the Finale on
out for Viking re-enactors who might be playing games with Sunday afternoon.
exotic names such as Hnefatafl, Kubb, Nitau, and Halatafl. In the Joust
encampment of Historia, you will see Persian board and card
games being played.
The Order of Artisans and Kindred Spirits will be presenting
children’s games, including Chicken in a basket, Paddle walking
(requires two people), and Frog toss (not really a frog – it’s a
bean bag). Games for young and old can be found throughout
the festival site.

Markets
A stroll through the market at this year’s Abbey Medieval Festival
is a must for those looking for something different and tasty to
eat or some retail therapy. With a wide range of traders selling
everything from candles and herbs to costumes and hats. For
lunch, you might partake in a venison pie or a delicious paella The Joust at the Abbey Medieval Festival depicts a 15th century
or German sausage. Sample some toffee apples or indulge in a tournament.
sweet fruit tart. Australia’s top jousters face off in a round robin format over the
Visit the many craft demonstrators who will show you how to three days of the Festival. There are two sessions on Friday for
make felt, illuminate a medieval manuscript, make a tankard or the Family Fun Day, and three sessions on both Saturday and
spin some wool. Sunday. Points are accumulated to the scoring criteria, then the
three highest scoring jousters will battle in the grand final on
Sunday at 3pm to crown our new 2021 Abbey Medieval Festival
Joust Tournament champion!

Turkish Oil Wrestling
Carried out with traditional rituals and customs of the Ottoman
Empire, the Turkish Oil Wrestling has been a star attraction of
the Abbey Medieval Festival for over 10 years. The Janissary
Barracks take great measures to ensure the authenticity of this
great sport of medieval Ottoman Turkish culture, even the tight
Encampments short leather trousers, called Kispet, are imported from Turkey!
Over 760 medieval re-enactors from some 40 different groups Oil wrestlers from across Australia participate in this competition
will be setting up encampments at this year’s medieval festival. at the Abbey Medieval Festival.
Patrons are invited to explore the encampments which will be
alive with activities. Talk with the re-enactors as they go about Archery
their day preparing meals (medieval style), playing board games, The Archery Tournament is a long-running event as part of the
practicing fighting skills, or doing crafts including spinning, Abbey Medieval Festival.
illumination, embroidery, finger looping, lucet weaving and Hosted by the Traditional Archery Companye, the Archery
naelbinding to name a few. Tournament sees skilled archers from re-enactment groups
compete for the Abbey Tournament Archery Champion title.
Weapons of War The Archery Tournament typically sets three challenges for its
The mighty siege weapons of the Middle Ages, such as the competitors: the running boar to simulate a hunting scenario,
trebuchet, were used in many battles to bring down castle a speed round with armoured knights charging toward the
walls. You will see them on display and in action at the Abbey archers (yes, real knights), and a King’s round.