Carnival comes alive on the battlefield
It was swords, beards and chainmail aplenty when Hamilton took a step back in time.
Hundreds of people were drawn to Rototuna on Sunday to take part in the Medieval Carnival at Waikato Waldorf School.
Past the craft village where whittlers were at work, beyond the knights’ training that was getting under way, was the village where a handful of people stayed.
Tents, pavilions and marquees decorated in banners and bunting were erected in the back field of the school, transforming the grassy paddock into a campsite for the hardcore historical reenactors.
Among them was Ann Dugmore, who was sitting outside her tent handstitching a pair of shoes as roaring and banging from the mock battle over the hedge continued.
The 67-year-old is a member of the Northern Horde Medieval combat and culture club in Tauranga. She’s been taking part in events like this for the past 12 years.
‘‘We call it re-enactment, but we’re not actually acting so much as living history. It’s kind of like experimental
17-20 archaeology.’’
She was up at 6am getting her fire ready to cook breakfast for the other campers. It was while living in Whangarei that she first got a taste for it.
Her son, who was 12 at the time, wanted to get involved and joined the sword fighting at a local carnival.
‘‘It’s usually a bit young at 12, but that was okay, because I was there.
‘‘So I sat on the side and watched and after probably five minutes, I thought, to hell with this. I picked up the stick and started. You can’t just sit and watch.
‘‘I used to practise with him until he got too good.’’
She doesn’t sword fight anymore – she is getting too old for it. The swords used for the fighting are heavy.
They’re not sharp, but they can cause bruising.
She’s moved on to archery, but also enjoys making items for her camp.
‘‘I enjoy doing everything: painting, making the clothes, cooking. I’m going away from the fighting a little bit.’’
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