Suit of Swords

Below is the feedback link for the event, we would kindly ask that you take 2 minutes to fill it out so that we can make SoS even better for next year!

Suit of Sword 2025: Feedback form

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19F6RKYv88mI1Du1y6ojGe8RgDO_Rt_O_

Although we didn't have an official photographer, the Google drive is accessible if anyone has any photos from this weekend that they'd like to add.

Suit of Swords 2025 - Google Drive

A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who attended, participated in and competed at Suit of Swords 2025 this weekend!
We had nine fantastic workshops, two rated tournaments, a really daft Lady Luck event, several amazing stalls, many brilliant sponsors and a lot of happy faces!

We hope that everyone enjoyed their weekend, and managed to get home safe to their respective parts of the UK (and Europe!)

It was wonderful to have such amazing instructors from all over the UK and Europe teaching at our event; from Scotland Victoria Clow (Saorsa) and Alyson Duffy (Dawn Duellists, who taught for the first time ever at an event and absolutely smashed it)

Our Welsh contingent from Academy of Steel Melissa Hainsworth

Fran Lacuata ( School of the Sword), Kerri Kerz V Tamplin (LHFC and Cambridge) , Jo York (Hotspur School of Defence) , Susan Kirk (British Federation of Historical Swordplay)- a wonderfully skilled and violent collection of ladies based in England.

And coming all the way over from Germany Diana Matthess!

We couldn't have pulled this off without each and every one of you, and we hope that you enjoyed yourselves and learned a thing or two this weekend!

Our sponsors for the weekend:
Jerzy Miklaszewski (Silkfencing)
SIGI forge
The Knight Shop International Ltd
Sparring Gloves
Caledonian Craftsman
Thierry Flekier-Wathen (Thierry the Sword Guy)
Wojciech Włodarczyk (Nine of Knives)
Joe Waggott (Sword Stuff by Joe)
The Institute of Historical Arts (Edgebana)
Tom Ive (Raven Forge)

Our final sponsor for the inaugural 2025 Suit of Swords is Silkfencing, who kindly offered us several vouchers for their broad range of weaponry (a large number of which are owned by The Vanguard Centre fight team!)

Even if you didn't attend Suit of Swords, we would highly recommend checking out their stock!

Jerzy Miklaszewski

Another of our wonderful sponsors who kindly gave us vouchers for our winners this weekend is The Knight Shop, one of the best-known HEMA retailers in the UK!

The Knight (HEMA) Shop is one of Europe’s largest retailers and wholesalers of replica
militaria and associated giftware. As the UK’s market leaders their impressive portfolio
boasts a 1,000 sq. ft. Shop opposite the World Heritage Conwy Castle, a 12,000 sq. ft.
showroom and distribution Centre

The Knight Shop International Ltd

Pools for today's mixed event

There will be a tuck shop available tomorrow run by one of our organizers mums 😅
Everything is £2, and will be cash only. Dietary warnings available on request

Cupcakes, tablet, millionaires shortbread, cookies and more will be available!

Another of our sponsors is Edgebana by the IHA - Scotland's largest longsword tournament held in Dundee

The IHA have offered a free entry to their 2026 URG longsword to the winner of our longsword event!

Many thanks to Mark Wilkie and The Institute of Historical Arts for supporting us!

Unfortunately due to logistical issues, we are not able to offer the sgian dubh by Flett Forge from the previous post as a prize

However, longsword gold will now receive a slightly more interactive prize in a pair of leather bowie knives hand made by Wojciech Włodarczyk from the Vanguard Centre! These knives are sparring safe (with appropriate kit!) and amazing fun to play with

Although only one person can win these, Wojciech will be selling his other handmade leather weapons at Suit of Swords this weekend so make sure to check them

New sword day? Nah! New hammer day!

Our next sponsor is the brilliant Ravenforge run by Tom Ive and Sam Ive

Aside from selling mead and movie replicas, they also make these badass warhammers, one of which will be available as a prize this Sunday!

https://ravenforge.com/

Pools and tournament schedule are now up on HEMA Scorecard
If you don't see your name on the event roster, let us know and we will add you

Workshop timetable out now