24/05/2026
Alastair has received his Invicta belt number! He is #77 ⚔️
Ally's buhurt roots go way back in the UK scene, with him first getting into the sport in 2013 when there was only a single team in the country: Battle Heritage. Coming from a 14th century reenactment background, he wanted something with a little more intensity... and apparently getting hit with polearms in a muddy field seemed like the logical next step 🪓
He helped found the Wessex chapter of Battle Heritage and went on to compete at the 2015 IMCF World Championships in Malbork, Poland. Back then, the UK scene was tiny and ranks could be filled with anyone willing enough, skill level considered as a secondary concern. Despite that, Ally still came home with silver in the 10v10s. 🥈
After stepping away from the sport in 2015, Ally eventually found himself pulled back in almost a decade later after playing Kingdom Come Deliverance and wanting to show his daughters what he used to do. (And because no one ever truly quits buhurt, they just take very long recovery breaks.)
His return tournament was Loxwood 2024, where he took gold with the Invicta Lancers. Originally he came back intending to focus more on duelling, particularly sword and shield, which he considers the most chivalrous discipline... But the adrenaline and camaraderie of team fights have pulled him back in to enjoying group fights as well. A prime example has been Invicta Unhinged, our chaotic intra-team events with games like zombie infection and quidditch with buhurt rules, which Ally has organised.
And through all of it, one thing has remained constant: he is still wearing the same Battle Heritage gambe from 11 years ago. According to Ally himself, it now smells like p**s. True medieval authenticity 💛
