Calling all archers.

And cosplayers.

A man with long hair and a beard wearing a green costume with leather arm guards, holding a bow and arrow, standing against a black background.

Would you like to win £1,000?

Archery Competition

Calling all adult longbow archers!

You could win £1,000!

The two-day World’s Edge Archery Competition is a test of your skill with the bow. Compete alongside 47 other archers in fantasy or historic dress to win World’s Edge Archer of the Year.

You’ll be put through your paces with a series of challenges, from standard King’s Colours targets to 3Ds, a blunt shoot and an adapted ‘Waring’ round.

  • First prize: £1000
    Second prize: £500
    Third prize: £250

  • World’s Edge Fantasy Fayre 2026 – Archery Competition Rules

    General rules

    Dates: 13 and 14 June 2026 (you must attend both days)

    Maximum number of entrants: 48

    Minimum age: 18

    Bow type: Longbow

    Max bow weight: 60lb (marked weight on bow, not at archer’s drawlength)

    Dress: medieval or fantasy, this is a requirement of the organisers and must adhere to the Fayre's Cosplay Regulations. Please pay particular attention to the weapons section for when you are enjoying the Fayre during breaks.

    This is a mixed-gender competition.

    Archers must supply their own sharps (minimum 6). Blunts can be provided, just inform the organisers on arrival.

    Pre-competition checks will be made at 0900hrs each day. Any archer not making this time will be eliminated.

    A timetable of the competition will be provided on Day One and there will be ample breaks within which you may enjoy the Fayre. The organisers will provide safe storage for your equipment during non-shooting times as you will not be allowed to walk around the Fayre with your weapons.

    Cash prizes: 1st Place £1000, 2nd Place £500, 3rd Place £250. Prizes to be issued by the organiser with 30 days of the competition by bank transfer.


    Entry

    Entrance to the WEFF2026 Archery Competition is via the online application form and entrants will only be admitted after completion of this form and payment of the entrance fee by invoice.


    Photography

    Visitors agree to be photographed, filmed or recorded as part of the audience by the Paladin Events team.

    All video, photos and audio material acquired at the Fayre by Paladin Events is subject to be used in promotional materials for future events without any limitations of time and space and at the sole discretion of the Fayre and Paladin Events.

    Day 1

    Round 1

    National 40 as per Archery GB rules

    8 ends of 6 at 40 yds followed by 4 ends of 6 at 30 yds, standard Imperial scoring.

    4 archers per boss shooting in pairs in two cohorts (half of the entrants per cohort)

    Round 2

    3D Shoot

    3 ends of 3 per archer in groups of 4 with archers selecting a token for a random peg (6)

    Targets to be of varying size and shape at distances from 5 yds to 30 yds

    Round 3

    Blunt Shoot

    1 end of 6 shots taken individually in random order.

    A target range with knock down targets at ranges from 20-40 yds with differing difficulties.

    Day 2

    Round 1

    The Eliminator

    10 ends of 6 at 30 yds using the Waring score system, (see fig 1.) This system apportions points according to the size of each ‘ring’ of the coloured circles and can be found in Thomas Waring’s 1847 text A Treatise on Archery (page 39)

    4 archers per boss shooting in pairs in two cohorts (half of the entrants per cohort)

    After this round has been totalled up it will be combined with the scores from day one and the top 16 archers will proceed to the head-to-head.

    Round 2

    The head-to-head

    All archers will shoot one end of 6 at 50 yds with the highest 8 scores going through.

    The top 8 archers will repeat with the highest 4 going through.

    The top 4 archers will repeat with the top 2 going through.

    The losers of the 4 way head to head will shoot for 3rd place.

    The top 2 will shoot for 1st and 2nd places.

    N.B. If there is a draw in the head-to-head at any phase that affects who is eliminated, a single arrow shoot-off between the drawing parties will decide the issue, repeated as necessary until all eliminations that are required for the round to continue have been decided.

    The organisers, Paladin Events, will appoint a judging team to this competition. The judging team will have absolute authority over the competition and will adjudicate in the case of any disputes with their decision being final. Any competitor found to be cheating or arguing with the decisions of the judging team will be disqualified without refund.

    Figure 1. Scoring system for the Waring shoot. Day 2, round 1.

    Gold (centre) 9

    Red 3

    Blue 2

    Black 1 ¼

    White (outer ring) 1

  • Complete the entry form. We will be in touch via email to collect the £40 entry fee.

    Archers do not need to purchase a ticket for the Fayre separately, just pay the competition entry fee. You will be free to enjoy the Fayre during breaks.

    Please note, there are only 48 spaces for archers. Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cosplay Competition

Our two-day cosplay competition invites visitors of all ages to bring their favourite characters to life at the World’s Edge Fantasy Fayre. Judges will be looking for creativity, character, and craftsmanship, with prizes for a range of categories. Come and show us who you’ve become for the day.

The effort that most impresses the judging panel will win £1,000.

  • First prize: £1000
    Second prize: £500
    Third prize: £250

  • Dates: 13 and 14 June 2026 (you must attend both days)

    Entry: Entry to the competition costs £10. All entries are to be paid for at the point of booking your Fayre ticket via our partner, Ticket Tailor.

    The entry fee covers the costs of the competition, including professional photography for everyone who enters.

    Age: All entrants for the prizes must be 16 or over. Entrants aged 15 and under are welcome to be judged but will not be eligible for our cash prizes.

    Decisionmaking: Prizes will be awarded by a judging panel appointed by the organiser, Paladin Events Management Ltd, and their decision will be final.

    Judging panel: To be announced.

    Judging criteria: Creativity (30%), character (30%), craftspersonship (40%).

    What can I wear? Costumes must be made by or modified by the entrant by at least 70%. Certain pre-made costume parts, e.g. tights will be allowed.

    Your portrayal must be based on a character from popular culture - no original/roleplay characters, sorry. The character can be drawn from any film, game, series, book, comic, manga or other popular media. Historical characters are also accepted.

    Costumes must be appropriate for a family audience. Please refer to our Cosplay Regulations for further guidance and contact the Organiser via the website for clarification as required.

    The judging

    The competition will take part in two parts. On day one of the Fayre, all contestants will be asked to come and chat to the judging panel. You’ll need to show a little evidence of the basis for your character, which may include photos, artwork, written materials and any other reference material. It doesn’t have to be professionally presented - printouts or photos on your phone are completely fine!

    After you chat to the judges, a professional photographer will take your photo - you’ll be sent a copy to use as you wish.

    On day two, everyone who enters the competition will be welcomed to join a parade through the site to the main arena. There, the top 20 cosplayers (as selected by the judging panel) will be introduced and be asked to do a lap (walking or wheeling) around the arena.

    If you wish, you may play up to the crowd or enact scenes from the character’s background (remembering the need to be family friendly). If you don’t want to act anything out and would rather just show your costume, that’s OK too - introverts are welcome at World’s Edge!

    Winners will then be announced and prizes will be awarded.


    Prizes

    Prizes to be issued by the organiser with 30 days of the competition by bank transfer.

    1st prize - £1000

    2nd prize - £500

    3rd prize - £250

    Photography

    Visitors agree to be photographed, filmed or recorded as part of the audience by the Paladin Events team.

    All video, photos and audio material acquired at the Fayre by Paladin Events is subject to be used in promotional materials for future events without any limitations of time and space and at the sole discretion of the Fayre and Paladin Events.

  • Purchase your tickets for both days, including the £10 competition entrance fee. Weekend tickets are available.

    You will be free to enjoy the Fayre - the competition will not take up your whole day!

    The fee covers the costs of the competition. Please note, numbers for the competition are limited! Spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.