Zoey Duncan
Prepare to be catapulted back in time this Canada Day long weekend.
No, not to the time of fur traders and log rollers but further back—to medieval Europe.
Thanks to Jordan York, the Belegarth Medieval Combat Society will be on display, with foam swords cutting through the air, this Saturday (July 2) at the Sorting Gap Marina here.
York, along with fellow Belegarth enthusiast Matt McQuaker, will be on hand to answer questions, demonstrate foam weapon construction, and give lessons on how to play.
As well, they will hold a tournament for those who go through Belegarth training Saturday.
Belegarth is a contact sport where players build their own foam-padded swords, axes, and maces, and wear medieval or fantasy-inspired clothing, in one-on-one duels and larger tournaments.
Some players go a step further and add an element of live-action role playing, where they develop characters and storylines within their local chapters, called “realms.”
York got his start in the realm of “Thunder Guard”—or as we know it, Thunder Bay—when he saw a posting at Lakehead University.
“After doing a little research on Belegarth, I became curious and easily convinced my friend and roommate, Matt McQuaker, to go to a practice,” York said in an e-mail.
“We had a great time and continued to attend practices until we returned home for the summer,” he noted.
“I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to bring it to Fort Frances so I could continue to do it, and let others share in this great experience.”
York now is in the process of teaching locals “foamsmithing”—how to make their own weapons—and has caught the interest of more than 25 people through his Facebook group, Fort Frances Belegarth.
“I think Belegarth can appeal to a wide range of people,” he remarked.
“If you enjoy contact sports, having a good workout, or just wanting to have some fun with friends, then Belegarth could be for you,” he added.
