Hundreds of knights from around the world are getting ready to rumble at Game of Thrones-style clashes in Perthshire.
The historic crowning place of Scottish kings will ring out with the sound of clanging steel this summer, as more than 500 armoured warriors compete in the International Medieval Combat Federation (IMCF) World Championships.
Scone Palace will welcome around 25,000 spectators for the full-blooded spectacle in May. It is the first time the games, using real swords, axes and maces, has been held in the UK.
The four-day contest will feature full-contact medieval battles, duelling, team fights and archery.
This weekend, the palace’s Lord and Lady Mansfield were joined by local dignitaries – including Deputy First Minister John Swinney and local provost Dennis Melloy – at a team draw ceremony at the replica Stone of Destiny on Moot Hill.
William Murray, Viscount Stormont, the son of Lord and Lady Mansfield, offered to host the 2018 championships after meeting several American and Canadian fighters, as well as the IMCF vice president, while working in New York.
“It was quite the spectacle, like watching boxing in armour,” he said. “It was hugely entertaining to watch and not for the faint-hearted.
“I was brought up watching the film A Knight’s Tale, so I found myself completely taken by the sport.”
A taster event was held at Scone Palace last summer, featuring some genuinely bloody moments. One injured competitor was stretchered away by paramedics, while another needed treatment for a facial injury.
Knights from China, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico and America, as well as from across Europe, will be among those taking part 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.”
The father-of-three, from Shetland, got interested in the sport after seeing a video while undergoing therapy for combat stress a few years back.
“The armour is authentic, just as medieval knights would have worn,” he said. “It has to be tailor-made to fit perfectly and a full set of armour costs anything from £1,000 to £4,000.”
During bouts, visors are kept down to help protect competitors.
The championships run at Scone Palace from May 10 to 13.
Stephen Brannigan, head of house opening at the palace, said: “We are thrilled to be hosting this event. It is truly a fascinating sport, immersed in medieval history which fits beautifully with our rich past stretching many hundreds of years.
“It will be like stepping into another time.”
THE COMPETITORS
Male longsword
Pool A – Austria, USA, Thailand, England, France
Pool B – Sweden, Luxembourg, Scotland, Spain, Italy.
Pool C – Denmark, Wales, New Zealand, Estonia, Lithuania
Pool D – Canada, South Africa, Norway, Mexico, China
Pool E – Poland, Australia, Argentina, German
Pool F – Chile, Ukraine, Belgium, Ireland
Male Polearm
Pool A – Sweden, England, Poland, Denmark
pool B – France, Norway, Scotland, Austria
pool C – Argentina, Portugal, south Africa, New Zealand
pool D ,- Ukraine, Canada, Wales, Spain
pool E – USA, Australia, Quebec
Pool F – Chile, German, Luxembourg
Male S&S
Pool A – England, Germany, Portugal, China, Norway
Pool B – Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Australia, Chile
pool C – Ukraine, Canada, Quebec, Wales
pool D – Spain, Argentina, Poland, Luxembourg
Pool E – Sweden, Ireland, Austria, South Africa
Pool F – France, Scotland, USA, New Zealand
Female Longsword
Pool A – South Africa, New Zealand, Poland, England
pool B – Belgium, Austria, Mexico, Ukraine
Pool C – Ireland, Australia, USA, Sweden.
Pool D – Quebec, Italy, Canada
Female Polearm
pool A – Poland, USA, Denmark, South Africa
Pool B – Canada, Ukraine, England, Quebec
Pool C – Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, Germany
Female Sword & shield.
Pool A – Australia, Canada, France, USA
Pool B – Sweden, New Zealand, Ukraine, South Africa
Pool C – Finland, Mexico, Estonia, England
Pool D – Denmark, Germany, Italy
Pool E – Quebec, Ireland, Poland
pool F – Belgium, Austria, Spain.
3v3
pool A – south Africa, France, Quebec, Ukraine, Australia
Pool B – Finland, Argentina, USA, England
5v5
Pool A – Ukraine, Italy, France, Spain
Pool B – Ireland, Poland, South Africa, Scotland
pool C – England, Austria, Sweden, Wales
Pool D – Norway, Germany, Argentina Denmark
Pool E – Quebec, Finland, USA, Australia
Pool F – Mexico, China, Luxembourg, Canada.
10v10
pool A – France, Poland, Sweden, England
Pool B – Scotland, USA, Canada, Denmark
Pool C – Finland, Ukraine, Australia
Pool D – Mexico, Germany, Spain
16v16
Pool A – Ukraine, USA, Poland
Pool B – France, Australia, England
