Medieval event as Scone Palace opens

The drawing of teams for this year’s International Medieval Combat Federation (IMCF) World Championships will take place this Saturday at Scone Palace.

The palace is hosting the event which will run from May 10 until May 13.

Lord and Lady Mansfield of Scone Palace will be joined by deputy first minister John Swinney and dignitaries from the City of Perth including the Provost Dennis Melloy, as well as representatives from IMCF worldwide to carry out the draw at the replica Stone of Destiny on Moot Hill.

William Murray, Viscount Stormont, the son of Lord and Lady Mansfield, who offered to host the 2018 World Championships at Scone Palace after meeting several American and Canadian fighters and the VicePresident of the IMCF while working in New York, will also be in attendance at the event.

The draw coincides with the spring opening of Scone Palace, as it opens its doors to the public for the summer months once again.

Continuing an annual tradition, Lady Mansfield will officially open the palace to the public for the summer by presenting the first visitor through the gates with a grounds season ticket.

Stephen Brannigan, head of house opening for Scone Palace, said: “As we open the doors at Scone Palace for the summer season, we are delighted to be marking it by hosting the draw for the IMCF World Championships.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the event here in May and are looking forward to welcoming visitors and competitors from all over the world to our historic Palace and visitor attraction.”

As well as the official draw at 2pm which all be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube, a Scottish tribal band, heraldic trumpeters, a lone piper and regal storytellers will be in the grounds from noon until 4pm to entertain visitors.

At least 25,000 visitors are expected to descend on the area for the IMCF World Championships which has 500 competitors and 500 officials from 31 countries worldwide.