Our ancestors built a great culture that has influenced events and nations around the world. As heirs of the glorious Bulgar clan, today we have the honour to revive the greatness of the past and to set the beginning of a new era in the battle to preserve the Bulgarian historical memory and traditions. Thanks to the recent "International Ancient and Medieval Festival "New Beginning", we took a big step in this direction, for the Historical Park and the festival "New Beginning" are places where the words: men, honour, dignity and unity, have value... A place where we gather people with people. A place where we truly live.

More than 280 reconstructors: warriors, craftsmen and artists from Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, France and Ireland, took part in the revival of history during the three festival days, from the 18th to 20th of June 2021.

As part of the program, in the three days of the festival, the Tournament of Medieval Military Arts was held - the "Veliky Sytch" (the Great Clash), organised by the "Bulgarian School of Military Arts - Velichie (Majesty)", at the Historical Park. It included:

• The tournament "Стрѣльцы/Stryltsy (the Archers)" - archery with traditional bows;
• The tournament "Стрѣльцы доброконници/ Stryltsy Dobrokonnitsi (The Mighty Horse Archers)" - horse archery;
• The tournament "Меџеноша/Mechenosha/the Swordsmen" - Armed Combat Competitions.

In the tournament competitions, the participants showed their remarkable fighting skills. They proved to themselves and to the audience who is the best archer on land and horseback, who is a master of the sword and shield, and who is a master of the sober. The battles displayed at a high level, blood was spilled, but this did not prevent the competitors from maintaining mutual respect.

Participants from different countries took part in the tournaments, namely:

Participants from Bulgaria:

• Bulgarian School of Ancient Military Arts "Velichie", from the Historical Park
• Group for traditional archery "Siva" (Maglizh, Bulgaria)
• Association "Tarnovtsi" (Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria)
• Mercenary team and historical fencing group "Baradj" (Pazardzhik, Bulgaria)
• Association for Restoration of Bulgarian Traditions "Avitohol" (Varna, Bulgaria)
• Proto-Bulgarian survival school "Bagatur" (St. Zagora, Bulgaria)
• "Madara Horseman" Equestrian School (Sofia, Bulgaria)
• "Ratina" Medieval Military Arts Club and Griffin KBI (Sliven, Bulgaria)
• Marian Manyovski (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Participants from overseas:

• Krystian Psuyek's group - "Druzyna Watra" (Sanok, Toruń / Poland)
• David Dunikowski's group - "Woczina Rarog" (Krakow, Poland)
• Alexandru Matei's group - Nokoros (Bucharest, Romania)
• Janos Mesteller's group "Keleti Szövetség" (Hungary) together with fighters from the groups:
• "Nyugati Gyepűk " (Hungary) ","Sarospataki Lovagog "(Hungary)," Windur "(Hungary); "Norde Gard" (Hungary) "Hrafenbrader" (Romania)
• The Company of the Brown Bear (Romania)
• Deus Vult Group (Oradea, Romania)
• Draconolui Company (Romania)
• Association White Eagles (Serbia)
• Nicolo Giacomuzzi (Italy)

On the third day of the festival, there were also team fights "Buhurt" 3 on 3, as well as fighting games "Circle of Honour" and "Circle of Traitors". At the end of the day, the mass battle "the Great Clash" took place - a mass battle of medieval formations, "army against army".

After many emotions and hardly-fought battles, here are the winners in the tournaments:

Tournament "the Archers"

Category "children":

Ist place - Stilian Kyuchukov (Griffon)

IInd place - Maria Terzieva (Siva)

IIIrd place - Lesi Mihailova

Category "women":

Ist place - Yoanna Nyagolova (Velichie)

IInd place - Svetla Peneva (Avitohol)

IIIrd place - Franceska Dimitrova (Velichie)

Category "men":

Ist place - Sorin Stroia (Nokors / Romania)

IInd place - Ilian Stanchev (Velichie)

IIIrd place - Alexandru Negrut (Nokors / Romania)

"the Mighty Horse Archers" Tournament

Category "children":

Ist place - Maria Terzieva (Siva)

Category "women":

Ist place - Nina Yankova (Velichie/Siva)

IInd place - Iva Mihailova (Madara Horseman)

IIIrd place - Galina Simeonova (Siva)

Category "men":

Ist place - Dimitar Trukanov (Madara Horseman)

IInd place - Bozhidar Lalev (Velichie) and Nicolo Giacomuzzi (Italy)

IIIrd place - Simeon Nedelchev (Avitohol)

"the Swordsmen" Tournament

"Master of the Sword and Shield" - Duels:

Ist place - Petar Vladov (Baradj);

IInd place - Krystian Psujek (Druzyna Watra / Poland)

IIIrd place - Silagy Adam (Deus Vult / Oradea, Romania)

"Master of the Saber" duels (sabre duel and other one-handed weapons, with fencing masks):

Ist place - Bozhidar Lalev (Velichie);

IInd place - Hristo Yordanov (Baradj);

IIIrd place - Pierre Leonard (Velichie/Nyugati Gyepűk);

Buhurt matches (shield and sword matches - full contact):

Ist place - Petar Vladov (Baradj);

IInd place - Nenad Zuckovic (White Eagles / Serbia);

IIIrd place - Zarko Stanic (White Eagles / Serbia).

Team battles "Buhurt" (team battles 3 on 3, with shield and sword - full contact):

Ist place - White Eagles (Serbia);

IInd place - Baradj (Bulgaria);

IIIrd place - Brown Bear (Romania).

Military games:

Ist place "Circle of Honour" - Hristo Yordanov (Baradj);

Ist place "Circle of Traitors" - Nikolai Kostov (Baradj)

"Великъ сѣчъ" - The Great Clash

Eastern Force (Bulgaria, Romania) against Western Force (Poland, Hungary):

Draw: 3 to 3 wins.

The winners of the battles received diplomas with honour insignia - gold, silver and bronze seals bearing the title "Воинъ Ратопобедникъ" (Victorious Warrior). All the warriors-participants in the equestrian games "Ristanie", tournaments and the "Great Clash" battle were honoured with similar copper seals.

HAIL TO THE VICTORS!