An Cruinneachadh 2024 - Glengarry Broadsword Festival

An Cruinneachadh 2023 will take place in historic Alexandria, Ontario at the beautiful Island Park, in the heart of Celtic Ontario. An Cruinneachadh ("The Gathering" in Scottish Gaelic) is a combination of training event and competitive tournament focussed on the traditional Highland and Scottish fencing disciplines of Broadsword, Single Stick and Small Sword. The seminar workshops taking place on Wednesday, August 2nd are open to both beginner and intermediate to advanced fencers, with classes for children, youth and adults. Workshops will be lead by some of the best instructors in North America. Tournaments in Single Stick and Small Sword will take place on Wednesday, August 3rd, with adult and youth divisions . The event will culminate with the Highland Broadsword tournament on Thursday, August 4th. A key note speaker will be featured at An Fhèill ("The Feast"), our supper open to all participants and the general public taking place on Tuesday evening, August 1st. Spectators are welcome to the tournaments. Camping and other accommodations available. Contact organizers for details. Looking forward to seeing all of you there!

Event Registration

Please see Eventbrite Registration to register for the event. You can register for the entire event (workshops and tournament) at a discount, for the fencing workshops, or for the tournament alone. Registered Event and Tournament Volunteers have free access to the Workshops and meals.

358756894_964521571458540_7424996650807700713_n_edited.jpg

Seminar Workshops

A full day of training (fencing) workshops on Friday, July 26th, lead by some of the best fencers and in instructors in North America and beyond! An Cruinneachadh 2023 is very proud to have Patrick Bratton, Francesco Lodà, Kévin Cote, Xian Niles, Callum Carmichael and Matt Biondo leading the series of workshops. Please click here to see Bios, Workshop Description and Schedule

Tournaments

This year's Tournament consists of seven competitions in three disciplines over two days. Adult fencers are eligible to participate in one, two or all three of the tournament competitions. Small Sword and Single Stick competitions will take place on Saturday, July 27th, and Highland Broadsword on Sunday, July 28th. Please note that entry into the Highland Broadsword competitions is contingent on participation in Single Stick this year, or in any of our previous tournaments (2019, 2022 or 2023). Children's (U12, or Age 8-12) competitions in Small Sword and Single Stick take place on Saturday, July 27th. Youth (U17, or Age 13-17) Small Sword competition will take place on Saturday afternoon, July 27th. The Youth Single Stick competition will take place on Sunday afternoon, July 28th.

Meals

Glengarry Broadsword Feast / An Fhièll Supper! - Thursday, July 25th: Open to all event participants and the general public, Key Note Speaker Patrick Bratton will be presenting on 'The Small Sword and the Enlightenment', which will touch on the various national styles that emerged in Italy, Spain, France, the British Isles, and Scotland in particular. The evening will also include Highland Dancing, Fencing Demonstrations, Celtic Song, and Haggis!

Training Workshop Supper / Lathan Fhièll Supper! - Friday, July 26th at 6pm in the Sandfield Centre, an informal supper for Workshop particiapnts and volunteers. Event participants will enjoy the supper hosted at the Sandfield Centre in Island Park, and with Guest Speaker Simon Kemp (renowned Osteopath) speaking on common injuries to the arm for Broadsword and Sabre Fencers, how to condition to prevent them, and how to recover. This will be followed by a Panel Discussion with all our Guest Instructors and Judges, open to questions from the participants on the journey to mastery for fencers and instructors, amongst other topics;

Claidheimh Breakfasts Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 26th to 28th from 7:00-8:30am at the Alexandria Restaurant for all Training Workshop participants, Torunament Competitors, Volunteers, Guest Instructors and Judges.

Bio's - Principle Instructors and Staff

The Canadian Broadsword Association is very pleased to announce the slate of principle instructors, judges and other staff for An Cruinneachadh 2024 (The Glengarry Broadsword Festival), who are amongst the best historical fencers and instructors in North America and beyond! Patrick Bratton, Francesco Lodà, Kévin Cote, Xian Niles, Callum Carmichael, Matt Biondo, André Hajjar and Abu-Isa Webb will lead a full day of workshops on Friday, July 26th. Patrick Bratton is, additionally, our key note speaker for the Glengarry Broadsword Feast / An Fhièll Supper on Thursday, July 25th. Renowned Osteopath Simon Kemp will speak at the Training Workshop Supper / Latha Fhèll Suppers on Friday, July 26th, followed a Panel discussion with our Guest Instructors and Judges.