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Away from the marquees and stages, a performance of a different kind was underway.<\/p>\n
For the 15th year, Glen Lachlann Estate College of Arms (GLECA) returned to the Bellarine with demonstrations and competitions showcasing historical swordsmanship.<\/p>\n
Some of the country’s best swordspeople demonstrated the skill and precision required to wield longswords and backswords.<\/p>\n
Sarah Feely said the competitions always attracted strong interest from festivalgoers. Beyond the spectacle, she said there was another element audiences enjoyed.<\/p>\n
“Lots of people get really interested when the shiny hits the shiny \u2013 it makes a very pretty noise,” she said.<\/p>\n
“From experience, that is very distracting when you are trying to have your own bout somewhere else.”<\/p>\n
Across the weekend, GLECA ran both one-on-one and two-on-two tournaments, with junior students paired with senior students for bouts.<\/p>\n
Feely said that regardless of where they were competing or demonstrating their skills, safety remained paramount.<\/p>\n
“With what we do, we are very, very, very strict with our rules on what we are allowed to do and what certain people are allowed to do,” she said.<\/p>\n
Working within a grading system, she said ensuring students were properly trained and prepared to use each type of sword was essential for everyone’s safety, including members of the public taking part in come-and-try sessions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THOUSANDS passed through Portarlington over the long weekend, singing, dancing and raising a glass at the National Celtic Folk Festival. The three-day event was the biggest yet, with Celtic music, art and culture taking over the coastal town. Alongside beloved and emerging international acts, hundreds of local singers, dancers and musicians took to festival stages […]<\/p>\n