Overseas Clubs - recomends and warnings

[quentin]

Since a few of us seem to be overseas I though it might be interesting to compare places& people to contact ?

I can recommend

Regia Anglorum (in the UK, as at 2003)
Positives
1. Very good authenticity standard
2. Excellent place to learn spear & also line battles
3. Several thousand members all over the country

Negatives
1. Poor place for swords, as swords are classed as advanced training. Also they may not let you carry one, unless the rest of your kit supports the impression of 'wealthly warrior thegn'.
2. They don't fight at Hastings.


The Vikings! (in the UK, as at 2003)
Positives
1. They fight at Hastings 2-3 times a year
2. Very similar 'feel' to NAAMA or most NZ groups
3. Sword and sheild is the norm.
4. Several thousand members all over the country

Negatives
1. Very average authenticity standard by UK standards. More like good NZ.


Anglecyn (in the UK, as at 2003)

Positives
1. Fanatical authenticity.
2. Nicely built early Saxon village to play in

Negatives
1. Fanatical authenticity.
2. Much smaller.


The Exiles (in the UK, as at 2003)
Based only in London so far as I know. They do pure WMA.
But they do it rather well !

[Njal]

I would recommend from the Armidale events

NEMAS - New England Medieval Arts Society
www.nemas.com.au
1 very good authenticity
2 Good strong head blow combat
3 Run the 'Easter Gathering' camp therefore have the benefit of having longhouses to use and live in.


Stray Dogs
http://members.optusnet.com.au/jasarm/index
1 Very good authenticity
2 Good strong head blow combat
3 Very positive group
4 Offers varied activities for group members

NVG - New Varangian Guard
http://www.nvg.org.au/
1 Very Good authenticity
2 Good strong head blow combat
3 Hated enemy of the NZN
4 Several groups throughout Australia

[Rebecca]

Abbey Medieval Tournament, Caboolture.
A good event! It is aimed at the public.
Stayed with NVG great group!

[Stuart]

For the UK scene,

I can`t recommend either Regia Anglorum or the The Vikings, both suffer badly from a culture of autheni-nazis.

The most fun can be had with the following : Brittania ( who did the forest battle in the movie Gladiator.

The Exiles in East London. WMA, but highly skilled re-enactors.

THe Warriors in East Sussex.

The Rye Medieval Society.

South-Coast United Mercenary Battle enactment Group ( SCUMBAG ) -
-honestly I am not making this up. Based in Brighton.

The best place for contact details in "Call to Arms" magagine.

The UK has a tradition of each group hosting a big show to which the general public are invited. They encourage other groups to turn up and
partisipate. It`s very inclusive. All you have to do is make sure your gear is right for the historical period selected. I should mention that no-one has wars.....opps, bit of politics there.

[Njal]

"The UK has a tradition of each group hosting a big show to which the general public are invited. They encourage other groups to turn up and
partisipate. It`s very inclusive. All you have to do is make sure your gear is right for the historical period selected. I should mention that no-one has wars.....opps, bit of politics there."

Can you please advise the difference between a 'War' and any other event?

[Bogue]

Njal

Much as it may pain me to do so I agree with you on that point.
We re-enact / recreate / play at WAR and fighting arts.

Ohh maybe "any other event" covers things like spinning, weaving, smithing, cooking, sewing and suchlike demonstrations but is that what the public want to see.
The best public reaction comes from watching a bunch of warriors wailing on each other with weapons of WARfare.

Cheers
Bogue

[Nathan]

I belive what he was saying is that while WARfare is practiced/reenacted/recreated there is no "Wars" per say between clubs for dominance over each other. ie there is Clontarf but the Irish are not the ruling group because they won last year.

Nathan
Schwertbruden aus Livonia