The Jousting Life: Favorite Moments From 2014: Part Seven

And now, the last in our series of favorite moments from 2014...

... from Jan Gradon of Poland:

In 2014, I was not very active in jousting like in previous years, but still have very good memories and fantastic experiences. First of all, I again co-organized the Tournament of King John III in Castle Gniew.

Jan Gradon, acting as Knight Marshal at the Tournament of King John III, keeps a close eye on jousters Steve Mallet and Jeffrey Hedgecock (Photo by Studio A)

This year was a new experience for me as I was asked to marshal the tournament. I got to know that the job is really tough and a heavy responsibility. Sometimes we, jousters, do not recognize how difficult is the judging, both for the scoring judges and the Knight Marshal, and that the decisions are difficult to make. Especially when you are friends with most of the competitors.

Jan Gradon, holding the baton of the Knight Marshal at the Tournament of King John III,
Gniew Castle (Photo by Marta Kitta)

Besides jousting, we had a very good time, and it seems that all the competitors enjoyed their time spent in Gniew, which is most important for me, because, as I have said a number of times, tournaments should be social events. I'm glad that jousters like Gniew and want to return to our tilt yard and party hall.

The second great experience was the Arundel International Tournament. It was my second appearance on the grounds of this beautiful Castle. Last year I was asked by Andreas Wenzel to be his team mate in the Holy Roman Empire Team. This year I was asked to form my own team and joust under the banner of my home country. When we arrived at the castle, I saw two huge banners with my photo from last year hanging on the castle walls and the same photo on the leaflets. This was so cool!

Jan Gradon, in front of Arundel Castle and the banner featuring his image
from the previous year's jousting tournament (photo by Stephen Moss)

I came together with my friend and fellow Polish jouster Jarek Struczynski, with whom I made a team that we called the 'Joust Brothers'.

The Joust Brothers, Jan Gradon and Jarek Struczynski, Arundel 2014 (Yes, they are wearing sunglasses inside their helms) (photo by Stephen Moss)

For me it was very touching to follow a banner with Polish White Eagle, and be encouraged by Polish visitors too.

The Polish banner along with banners from the other jousting teams in front of Arundel Castle, 2014 (photo by Stephen Moss)

The Polish banner along with banners from the other teams in front of Arundel Castle, 2014
(photo by Stephen Moss)

I am also happy that I won the Mounted Skill at Arms competition and got a beautiful hunting horn made by Matt Bayley.

Jan Gradon holding the Hunting Horn awarded as the prize for the Mounted Skill at Arms competition, Arundel 2014 (photo by Stephen Moss)

Jousting in Arundel is always great, due to the fantastic set of people and horses, this year thanks to Mark Atkinson and Nicky Willis. Arundel was also great this year, because I was given a chance to bring my family.

Polish jouster Jan Gradon with his wife and daughters, Arundel Castle, 2014
(photo by Stephen Moss)

We all really enjoyed the fact that we could spend a week in the castle together, and it gave me a lot of strength when being watched and cheered for by my wife and daughters. The best session of the whole week was the one on Friday, during a storm and rain! Thunderstruck!

Jan Gradon jousts Phillip Leitch during a storm at Arundel 2014 (photo by Stephen Moss)

... from Arne Koets, born in the Netherlands, but living in Germany:

In front of the Riding hall at Bolsover Castle, the residence of William Cavendish, duke of Newcastle, author of a famous riding treatise of the 17th century, I joust for my long standing and good friend Dominic Sewell and against my even longer standing and very dear friend Joram van Essen.

Arne Koets jousts Joram van Essen, Bolsover Castle 2014 (photo by Stephen Moss)

But this is not the most amazing thing I did this year. My actual best moment is this...

Arne Koets beats Wouter Nicolai(with a little help from Tournament Master Wolfgang Krischke) during one of the crest tournaments at Schaffhausen 2014 (video by Felix Walder)

The very end of one of the 'Nachturnier' at Schaffhausen, where (after having fought three 'charges' of the Kolbenturnier) the crests become the target. The riders were very tired by this point, but I am quite proud of my horse Maximilian in this clip.

... from Magnus Andersen of Sweden:

The height of happiness is probably the small moments when you become one with the horse. No knight is better than his horse. When it works, it's fantastic. One of the highlights this year was Rikstorneringen 2014 (Swedish Jousting Championship), another was the Mounted Skills at Arms races at Falsterbo Horse Show. Rikstorneringen was incredibly fun, many knights and amazing friends – a competition but also a willingness to help each other to perform at their best and have fun.

Magnus Andersen on his AQH gelding Teals Jayjay, Rikstornering 2014
(photo by Pella Photo)

When you start, and the crowd shouts, then you live. Forgetting all the training in bad weather, early mornings and late evenings. One forgets the time, becomes one with the horse and focuses forward – speed and precision, trying to win, to maintain the feeling forever.