Women wield longswords as medieval championships go co-ed

Members of the United States team rest in their tent during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Members of the United States team rest in their tent during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A fighter from the Spanish team gets help putting on his armour before a "5 vs 5" competition during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Members of the French team rest after competing during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Polish fighter hits the head of his German opponent with a long sword during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Members of the French team rest at their camp after competing during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Female fighters from New Zealand (left) and Luxembourg compete in a polearm duel during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Polish fighter reacts as a woman looks at his sunburnt neck while resting at their camp during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Supporters of the German team celebrate a victory during a competition at the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People watch a "5 vs 5" competition at the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
People eat by a bonfire at the camp of the Spanish team during the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain on May 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Yasushi Ami from Japan (left) hugs Christoph Unterbuchschachner from Austria after being defeated in their polearm duel at the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain, May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A female fighter from the United States (right) hits her New Zealand opponent with a polearm during a duel at the Medieval Combat World Championship in Belmonte, Spain, on May 1, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

MADRID (REUTERS) - For the first time, two women are now free to whack each other with swords until one of them falls down in internationally sanctioned competition. This is progress.

The first such combat took place in Belmonte, a small town in Spain with a 15th-century castle, about 140 km (90 miles) east of Madrid.

Sixteen countries in Europe, the United States, Japan and New Zealand sent teams. Some 10,000 people showed up to watch.

"We made history for all the women in the world," longsword runner-up Aline Planchon of Belgium said after hugging her winning opponent, Suzanne Elleraas of the United States.

Medieval combat as an amateur sport has been gaining in popularity since it began in Eastern Europe some 15 years ago, according to the International Medieval Combat Federation, or IMCF, which sponsored the event in Belmonte. It sets rules and and specifications, such as the length of a longsword (115 cm, or 45 inches).

The IMCF says it is the world governing body for "full contact medieval combat", a revival of "medieval foot-based tournament fighting", not to be confused with medieval re-enactments or jousting. The combat features fighters wearing up to 30 kg (66 lb) of armour colliding on the battlefield.

In Belmonte, the United States took gold in all three individual women's categories - longsword, sword and shield and polearm - and in the men's polearm competition.

The U.S. also dominated the competition among teams of three, five and 16 players. Poland took the top medal in men's sword and shield and longsword.

"It's one of the most awesome things you can ever do, go out and fight like this," said Jesper, a Danish knight who did not give his family name. "It is major awesome."

The equipment used by competitors is hand-made. The weapons look menacing, but regulations require that edges be rounded. A polearm, incidentally, is a weapon with a blade or a point or both, mounted on a staff that's usually at least six feet long.

"This sport is the best sport in the world. You've got adrenaline, you have men trying to hit each other," said Jay Brooks, a competitor from the U.S. state of New Hampshire.

"It's the most violent thing men can do with each other without really hurting each other. Our ancestors, if they looked at us, they would see it and say 'This is what we did'."

Despite the violent nature of the event, organisers say the injuries are about the same as those in other contact sports. The beatings are brutal in medieval combat, but the armour is also heavy and protective, competitors say.

"Fair play is a big part of this sport. I always find it interesting that everybody thinks it's an incredibly violent sport," Martin Casey, a British participant, said.

"To a certain extent it is, but it's all taken out on the field and as soon as the fight is over we help each other up off the ground, we give each other a hug and go and buy a beer for each other."

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