The clear starry nights of New England may be well known, but the impressive armoury, weaponry, and skill sets of the Historical Medieval Battle (HMB) team, the New England Renegades, are not as well recognized. Members from the Renegades made their debut at the Armidale Autumn Festival on Saturday, April 8, to showcase their medieval skills and entertain the crowds with their impressive displays. Renegades captain Matt Taylor spoke about the team’s history, saying he had been involved with the team for just under three years and was drawn to the idea of medieval history after discovering it online. “I found a video of a medieval battle online and was shocked because I was thinking I would have to travel to the city or another town to be involved, but I discovered there was a team in Armidale,” he said. Taylor’s discovery of the team was fortuitous, as he was introduced to the sport of Buhurt, which originated in Ukraine and is popular throughout Europe and America as well. The primary objective of Buhurt is to eliminate opponents by forcing them to the ground; a combatant is considered dead when a third point of contact, such as a knee, hand, or weapon, touches the ground. ”

Just how hard it is to actually fight and move and breathe in these suits of armour was pretty eye-opening for me,” Taylor said. “

Taylor highlighted the difficulty of adapting to the armour and the weapons, saying that the key was to train oneself to breathe and focus on the task at hand. “The next big event the team is fighting at is Winterfest in July, and then the medieval fair in Newcastle in late August,” Taylor said. For anyone interested in joining the team or trying out the sport, Taylor noted that the club provides armour and weapons, although some members have their own. “We don’t necessarily put the armour on every time we train; we use the soft kits which allow us to practice drills, and for new members, they’re perfect,” Taylor said. Taylor also emphasized the importance of having fun, saying that he didn’t think his inner child would forgive him if he had the opportunity to dress up as a knight and fight with a sword, but it was too much fun.

1. The New England Renegades are a HMB team that participates in the sport of Buhurt.
2. The team’s primary objective is to eliminate opponents by forcing them to the ground.
3. A combatant is considered “dead” when a third point of contact touches the ground.
4. The team provides armour and weapons for its members.
5. New members are welcome to join the team and try out the sport.

The New England Renegades are a unique and exciting team that brings medieval history to life in a new and dynamic way. With their impressive armoury, weaponry, and skill sets, the team is a must-see for anyone interested in medieval history and battle sports. Join the team and experience the thrill of medieval combat.