Azincourt 2009 Newsletter

The Best One so Far!

That's the feedback this year! What did you think?

Thank you to all for making it such a great event this year, without you we could not do it.. Regardless of the previous days weather  visitor attendance was higher again with the gate seeing over 4500 visitors. Their feedback to all your hard work was excellent and the museum's new director Christophe Gilliot was more than pleased with how the event went. This was the second year he has had full control of the museum's involvement and we wish to congratulate him on a very fine effort. 

The weather was not good for the first few days and I began to wonder if it was going to be one of those "Wet Events", but Sunday out came the sun for a more than perfect day. The new barriers added a more professional look to the event site and the provision of extra toilets and removal of Polly-Johns made the campsites look very authentic. We must apologise however for the major logistical failure we have ever had, who empties the toilets? 

Everybody thought that somebody else was going to do it, somebody thought it would be everybody else's job and nobody thought it might not be done so nobody did it either. Confused? So were we, anyway we have been promised that the toilets will be emptied and resupplied daily so if the problem reoccurs please tell us and we will get it sorted out. 

I have also been informed that part of the rather excellent profit from this year's event will be put into the building and provision of showers, hazzar at last they cry, only one but - they will cold water only so I think unless it is very hot the queues will not be too long. Still let us be thankful for small mercies the site aroma will not be quite so authentic.

The battle went exceedingly well running for just over an hour and ended with a standing ovation from the crowd. The entrance of the Joust team during the one minute silence I think added something to the atmosphere we had not achieved before. Next year we hope to include the riders in the battle to add an even greater effect to the event. The archers arrow storm is getting to look really impressive with 65+ on the field this year and under new management. Dirk with his big gun was back again with the addition of pyrotechnic explosions in the French lines, great effects. We also enjoyed the extra support of a trebuchet which was lobbing 2 kilo vegetables into the French lines. Those who forgot information given at the safety meetings paid with the impact of one of these missiles, each one bearing a special message from the English.

Combat was very safe with most fighters saying although heavy it was all very fair with both sides taking and giving hits safety. I was also very pleased with those under my command following orders and for fighting so enthusiastically against both old and new combatants from the French side. This allowed us to follow the script and to not have the usual problems of no action for the public. The arrow collectors did a great job keeping our archers stocked only having problems keeping up towards the end of the battle, when the archers came into their own. The final encirclement of the French went beautifully with everybody wanting at least four attempts at  dying, arrows flew everywhere and the final pile of bodies at the end looked almost real.

The displays given by all the groups involved were of the usual very high quality and with the new display from our friends of The European Medieval Combat Academy the crowd was entertained by a whole new fight style.

And lastly some feedback from one our more qualified clients:

Michael Jones.
Author: Azincourt 1415

More to follow