 Photo by Montse Alvarado
Annette Best Blades of Glory |
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Author: Susan Pomfret
Photos: Montse Alvarado, Beautiful Images by Montserrat March 2019 |
Annette Best is the only female warrior in the Blades of Glory Knighthood, and it’s all because of a broken washing machine. Her facilities being out of order, she repaired to the local laundromat where she fortuitously met Harry Heydon, founder of Blades of Glory (BOG), who was in similar straits that day.
Annette defines herself as a “hands-on” person and she was looking for engaging exercise she could put her heart and soul into. She had been sidelined from the wrestling team at her former high school with a broken collarbone suffered during the first few minutes of a match. Knightly combat offered the perfect challenge requiring cardio and strength. She is 18 years old and she’s been training for just over a year.
Annette Best is the only female warrior in the Blades of Glory Knighthood, and it’s all because of a broken washing machine. Her facilities being out of order, she repaired to the local laundromat where she fortuitously met Harry Heydon, founder of Blades of Glory (BOG), who was in similar straits that day.
Annette defines herself as a “hands-on” person and she was looking for engaging exercise she could put her heart and soul into. She had been sidelined from the wrestling team at her former high school with a broken collarbone suffered during the first few minutes of a match. Knightly combat offered the perfect challenge requiring cardio and strength. She is 18 years old and she’s been training for just over a year.
She will graduate Campbellford District High School this spring and attend Fleming College where she’s been accepted into the Welding Techniques program. Hailing from Port Perry, she settled in Hastings two years ago, and she will move on to Peterborough while attending school. As one of the professional swordfighters of Blades of Glory MACE (Medieval Armoured Combat Entertainment), Annette has pledged allegiance to continued training in Peterborough come the fall.
BOG opened its second sword fighting school in Peterborough in January 2019 to complement its ongoing classes in Campbellford. Blades of Glory is an established education and entertainment company based in Hastings, providing historical curriculum for students as well as countless events throughout Northumberland County, including the renowned Medieval Festival held in Hastings on Labour Day weekend.
Annette carries herself with the confidence of one who has experienced and achieved. She is an accomplished equestrian, musician and knight. The shining armour worn by a knight can be a heavy burden. Depending on the chain mail, Annette says, full armour can weigh 80 to 150 pounds. The suits have no ventilation and no lining, so they can feel like a hot tin roof on a warm day.
“For some training sessions”, she says, “I get away with boy’s armour. It’s lighter. I wore some hand-me-downs that Harry Heydon Jr. wore when he was about 12.”
She will be wearing the full adult regalia when she appears in her first official tournament, Battle Knights at The Venue in Peterborough, on March 30th. Annette’s excited about her debut. She will fight two opponents, one of whom is her mentor, Matt Carr. Due to the immense physical demand on the combatants, rounds are kept to two minutes in length and the fights are staggered to ensure that each warrior has time to recover between bouts.
There are no historical records of female knights. “Of course they existed,” Annette says with certainty, “but their stories are gone. Funny thing, though, only the poor had horses back then. Now, only the rich have horses.”
Sword Fighting class in Campbellford with Harry Heydon
Today’s society makes her position as the sole woman much more comfortable than it would have been in medieval times. “Things can be a bit awkward sometimes when we’re all changing armour,” she grins, “but otherwise it’s great.” Do the men go easy on her? Not a chance. Do they spoil her with concern for her welfare? They do. Everyone at Blades of Glory has been incredibly supportive, she says. Although she explains that a couple of young woman have come out to try their hand at swordplay since she’s been with the company, none of them have committed to learning the skill. “Maybe they don’t like bruises,” she laughs.
Promo photo, Blades of Glory
The company encourages girls and young women to train in the medieval martial arts, and to experience the skill and challenge of combat as a knight. Although before Annette’s time, there have been two other female knights in the history of the company. Dawn was a member of the founding circle when Blades of Glory was born in 1994. Later, Natalie went on to join the medieval Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) after training with BOG for many years.
Harry Heydon Jr. and Sr.
“It’s fantastic,” says Montse Alvarado, co-owner and Lady of the Realm. “I think Blades of Glory has always been progressive. And now we are privileged to have Annette. She is such a good sport and never complains no matter how uncomfortable the conditions.” Case in point was a recent photo shoot for the upcoming Battle Knights event, held outdoors on a particularly frigid day with all of the knights sporting full armour.
Annette has a passion for music. Although she took piano and singing lessons for some time, she taught herself to play the saxophone. Thanks to a loan program at school that allowed her to borrow musical instruments, she can hold her own on guitar, drums and flute as well. A graduate of the Loyalist College cooking/baking program, she is also a talented foodie who is good, she says, at pretty much everything except math.
Her blended family life has been complicated and she has a close relationship with four siblings of varying ages as well as a best friend who’s always been there. Annette became an aunt on March 12 when her sister, Shantana, gave birth to daughter Belle. Brooke, Annette’s youngest sister, is only three years old. Her 13-year-old brother has special needs including autism. “My rule,” Annette says, “is to disregard what people who don’t care have to say.”
This self-possessed young woman is clearly a warrior on and off the battlefield. To quote Montse Alvarado, “she makes the right choices.” Annette is planning to attend the first Blades of Glory Medieval Masquerade Ball in April, although she has not yet firmed up her choice of attire for the elegant affair at the newly restored Grand Maple in Hastings. Unlike some of the women guests who are undoubtedly hitting the shops in search of the perfect medieval gown, Annette is unconcerned. “If I can’t find anything,” she says, “I’ll just wear my armour.”