Kungfoolss
6/28/2005 2:06am,
Blade fells martial arts warrior in War of the Roses
By Michael Horsnell and Liz Chong
June 28, 2005
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/getedimage.aspx?ImageID=275653
A BATTLE re-enactment enthusiast was seriously ill in hospital last night after being hit in the face by a replica sword during a “living history” event.
The injured man, named as Kieran Robb (http://www.dawnduellists.org.uk/gallery/training/kieran_donal.php), was struck during the restaging of the Battle of Northampton. The original battle was between Yorkists and Lancastrians on July 10, 1460, during the Wars of the Roses. Spears, axes, swords and pikes were used during the mock conflict by 150 followers of the Medieval Siege Society at the Twinwoods Arena at Clapham, Bedfordshire, on Saturday.
Mr Robb, 30, from Edinburgh, was taken to Bedford Hospital with a severe head injury. He was later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he was said to be in a critical condition yesterday. He is a martial arts expert and a family man who had travelled to Bedfordshire from Scotland with a group called The Company of Dawn Duellists, who are based in Edinburgh. They were fighting on the side of the Lancastrians. Bedfordshire Police appealed for anyone among hundreds of spectators who might have filmed the battle to contact them. Detective Sergeant John Walters said: “Although the incident is not being treated as malicious, it is important police have as complete a record as possible. The other man involved has co-operated fully with the police but is obviously very distressed and shocked.”
Jim Marsh, who was taking part in the re-enactment, said that a glancing blow felled Mr Robb. He said: “In all the years I have been involved in battle re-enactments, it is the first accident I have seen. It is safer than Sunday league football or rugby. The ambulance was here very quickly and we hope he will make a full recovery.” The society, the largest medieval re-enactment group in Britain, said later that its safety code required followers to demonstrate their ability to handle weapons safely.
David Smith, who organised the Medieval Fayre, said that Mr Robb, a nurse, was struck in the face by a deflected sword blade. He described him as a competent and experienced swordsman. “He was trying to block a blow from the man he was fighting, but the other guy’s steel sword bounced off his weapon and hit him in the face. It was a shock to everyone, not least his opponent, who was in tears about it.” Paramedics in attendance at the event immediately treated his injury. Other medieval enthusiasts were dismayed at the accident. Jenny Maydon, spokeswoman for the Medieval Siege Society, said that Mr Robb and the man who struck him were strangers.
Another enthusiast, who did not give his name, said that he had witnessed the loss of a hand, eyes and the end of a man’s nose during 20 years of attending mock battles.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1671878,00.html
By Michael Horsnell and Liz Chong
June 28, 2005
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/getedimage.aspx?ImageID=275653
A BATTLE re-enactment enthusiast was seriously ill in hospital last night after being hit in the face by a replica sword during a “living history” event.
The injured man, named as Kieran Robb (http://www.dawnduellists.org.uk/gallery/training/kieran_donal.php), was struck during the restaging of the Battle of Northampton. The original battle was between Yorkists and Lancastrians on July 10, 1460, during the Wars of the Roses. Spears, axes, swords and pikes were used during the mock conflict by 150 followers of the Medieval Siege Society at the Twinwoods Arena at Clapham, Bedfordshire, on Saturday.
Mr Robb, 30, from Edinburgh, was taken to Bedford Hospital with a severe head injury. He was later transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he was said to be in a critical condition yesterday. He is a martial arts expert and a family man who had travelled to Bedfordshire from Scotland with a group called The Company of Dawn Duellists, who are based in Edinburgh. They were fighting on the side of the Lancastrians. Bedfordshire Police appealed for anyone among hundreds of spectators who might have filmed the battle to contact them. Detective Sergeant John Walters said: “Although the incident is not being treated as malicious, it is important police have as complete a record as possible. The other man involved has co-operated fully with the police but is obviously very distressed and shocked.”
Jim Marsh, who was taking part in the re-enactment, said that a glancing blow felled Mr Robb. He said: “In all the years I have been involved in battle re-enactments, it is the first accident I have seen. It is safer than Sunday league football or rugby. The ambulance was here very quickly and we hope he will make a full recovery.” The society, the largest medieval re-enactment group in Britain, said later that its safety code required followers to demonstrate their ability to handle weapons safely.
David Smith, who organised the Medieval Fayre, said that Mr Robb, a nurse, was struck in the face by a deflected sword blade. He described him as a competent and experienced swordsman. “He was trying to block a blow from the man he was fighting, but the other guy’s steel sword bounced off his weapon and hit him in the face. It was a shock to everyone, not least his opponent, who was in tears about it.” Paramedics in attendance at the event immediately treated his injury. Other medieval enthusiasts were dismayed at the accident. Jenny Maydon, spokeswoman for the Medieval Siege Society, said that Mr Robb and the man who struck him were strangers.
Another enthusiast, who did not give his name, said that he had witnessed the loss of a hand, eyes and the end of a man’s nose during 20 years of attending mock battles.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1671878,00.html