Oxford Sword and Staff

24/08/2026

𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦
𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦,
𝘉𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺,
𝘓𝘰' 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘉𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺!

In what has to be an OSS record when it comes to Advance Planning, we are excited to announce that A Midsummer Fight’s Dream 2027 will be on 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟒 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 (because where else?). Since it so happens to fall on America’s Independence Day, expect many, many puns over the next several months.

Additional details to be announced later on, with tickets going on sale in the New Year (likely around January/February). In the meantime, save the date, and we look forward to seeing you all for swording good times, along with fireworks and eagles!*

*For legal reasons, the last three words are a joke, fireworks and/or eagles are not allowed at Radley at time of writing.

04/08/2026

The following items were at AMFD this year. If they're yours please get in contact so we can return them.

02/08/2026

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘭, 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭, 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘭.

The Sun rises, the Sun falls, It rises again! A Midsummer Fight's Dream has been and gone. This year had some astounding things - our first ever Meyer Tetrathlon! Over 50 participants! The brawl for the first time since 2019! Finishing on schedule!

A gigantic thank you too all of our volunteers for making this happen, and for all the competitors for the sharing the violence far and wide!

Our medallists were

Beginners Open Longsword

1st Peter Betts Wivenhoe HEMA
2nd Joshua Dack Academy of Historical Fencing
3rd James Nickelson MK Longsword

Womens/Non-binary/Trans Longsword

1st Elle Hames Mercian Medieval Fight Club
2nd Philippa Stevens Mercian Medieval Fight Club
3rd Valerie Gouldie The School of the Sword Oxford

Meyer Tetrathlon

1st Mateusz Leksander Ausardia HEMA Club
2nd Thomas Sylvester Mercian Medieval Fight Club
3rd James Ferone Ausardia HEMA Club
See you all next time!

Photos by Dakota

12/07/2026

We are THREE WEEKS AWAY from A Midsummer Fight’s Dream! To give you an idea of what the day will look like, here is our rough timetable.

-10am Tetrathlon check-in
-10:30am Meyer Tetrathlon
-11:30am Brawl
-12pm Lunch
-12:30pm Beginners Open longsword
-3:30pm WURG Longsword (listed as WNBT [Women, Nonbinary, Trans] on the timetable)

Note that this schedule may be subject to change - we are hoping to finalise timings in the next week or two. While Tetrathlon fighters must arrive at the start of the day, we encourage all fencers to have their swords checked as early as possible (at minimum an hour before you are scheduled to fight).

If you have any questions, do email us at [email protected].

And on that note, we shall leave you with these insightful words:

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘥,
𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳,
𝘐𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮,
𝘌𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸,
𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸.

08/06/2026

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴,
𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘢𝘳,
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘢𝘵,
𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦,

𝘈 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘭,
𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢 𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘦,
𝘞𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺,
H̶e̶r̶e̶ ̵o̶n̶ ̵R̶o̶b̶o̶t̶ ̵W̶a̶r̶s̶
𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦.

Less than two months away from A Midsummer Fight's Dream! We still have spaces left for the women and underrepresented genders (WURG) longsword tournament. Whether you have won several medals or never done a tournament before, if you are a WURG fencer, sign up via our ticketing page below!

The beginner's open longsword and Meyer Tetrathlon are full, but you can join the waitlist via the aforementioned ticketing page.

We cannot run AMFD without our volunteers, so if you want our eternal gratitude and some free food, sign up for a free volunteer ticket! Spectators are also very welcome with no need to book a ticket - just show up to Radley College Sports Hall and stay clear of the sharp pointy objects.

We can't wait to see you on 𝖲𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖺𝗒, 𝟤 𝖠𝗎𝗀𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝖱𝖺𝖽𝗅𝖾𝗒!

https://events.humanitix.com/a-midsummer-fight-s-dream-2026

03/06/2026

Attention, women/trans/non-binary folks! If you've ever wanted to learn how to sword fight, then we have an event for you!

On 20 June 2026 from 1pm-4pm, we'll be running A Sword in the Hand, an event aimed at promoting women, non-binary and trans folks in HEMA. Our very own Hadrian will be giving a workshop on fighting with the longsword. The event is ticketed via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/a-sword-in-the-hand

Tickets are free, but there is a limit on numbers based on kit, so do sign up! If you've got kit, please feel free to also turn up.

23/05/2026

We interrupt your Bank holiday weekend with some Midsummer Fight's Dream updates (taking place Sunday, 2 August at Radley College, Oxfordshire):

We still have plenty of spaces left for the women and underrepresented genders (WURG) longsword tournament. Unlike the beginner's open, there's no ratings cap and you can still enter if you've won a medal, so WURG fencers of all experiences can compete! Sign up by going to our ticket page: https://events.humanitix.com/a-midsummer-fight-s-dream-2026

Also, given recent events, we want to reiterate that this is a trans and non-binary inclusive event. If that's something you have an issue with, then this isn't the event for you.

The beginner's open and Meyer Tetrathlon are now full, but you can join the waitlist! Again, visit The Holy Ticket Page of Antioch.

We hope you are all having a sword-filled holiday weekend and we look forward to seeing you for sword-filled fun in 10 weeks!

10/05/2026

A Sword in the Hand let's anyone show their skill in arms.

Our yearly introductory workshop for women, trans, and non-binary folks is happening again this year. Come along for a introduction to fencing with the longsword by our very own Hadrian. All equipment needed is provided.

When - 1pm-4pm, 20th June 2026
Where - The Swan School sports hall
Attendance is free, but we do ask attendees to book a ticket as equipment is limited

A introductory workshop for historical fencing for women, non-binary and trans folks.

01/05/2026

𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘺, 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘺,
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘺 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺,
𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘢𝘺,
𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺.

We’re about three months away from the sixth edition of A Midsummer Fight’s Dream! We only have ONE spot left for the Beginners Open, so sign up right away at the link below if you don't want to miss out!

There are plenty of spots available for the underrepresented (URG) tourney. As a reminder, there is no HEMA Ratings cutoff for the URG tourney and you can enter even if you have won a medal before. So if you are an URG fencer, sign up and tell a friend (or enemy) to sign up!

We also have 1 space available for the Meyer Tetrathlon. It is free to enter, but in exchange you are expected to volunteer for the rest of the event and you can ONLY enter the Tetrathlon (you cannot enter the open or URG). Apologies if this wasn't clear in earlier communication.

Any questions, please get in touch at [email protected]. We're looking forward to some swordy fun this August!

A Midsummer Fight's Dream returns for 2026! A low-stress, medium intensity tournament intended for those wanting to try HEMA tournaments,