Here to Help: Medieval Combat

“It’s not a matter of if you get hurt. It’s when, and how much.”

In the South West town of Balingup, Alpin Grant is King. He and his wife, Queen Laura, represent the monarchy at the world-famous Balingup Medieval Carnivale.

The event runs for one weekend each year, but a King’s responsibilities — training, researching, creating — are year-round.

Heavy is the head that wears the custom-made, historically accurate helmet with chainmail attachment. 

Helmets, as well as being part of the outfits, are essential for safety. Swordfights are competitive, with points scored depending on pre-agreed rules.

Alpin and Laura, and their friends Orme, Rigby and Sarah, call what they do a sport, but it’s a contact sport and one with consequences.

The swords are heavy, and cuts, bruises and breaks happen.

“For work, I have to be first aid trained,” says Alpin.

“That (first aid knowledge) is going to see you through a lot of the injuries you’re going to cop (here).”

“I give all new members a warning. It does take special kind of stupid to do what we do.”

Stupid is the wrong word.

Outfits are painstakingly recreated, and members of Alpin’s group, the Kingdom of Grand Athera, have an extraordinary knowledge of medieval history.

Safety-wise, the Carnevale is attended by St John WA Event Health Services, and there are first aid kits at every Kingdom training session.

So, not stupid then. Perhaps a little obsessive, in the best possible way.

“I met my wife through it; I met my best friends through it. It is an adrenaline shot I couldn’t get anywhere else. There’s no other sport that could give me that amount of joy,” says Alpin.

“And it’s as safe as it can be, when you’re hitting each other with steel weapons.”