The Jousting Life

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

English Heritage Announces their Jousting Tournaments for 2015

English Heritage is a charitable company that takes care of over 400 historic sites throughout England. The places they care for span six millennia and include palaces, houses, hill figures, castles, abbeys, industrial sites, Roman forts and even deserted medieval villages. English Heritage works to inspire, entertain and educate people about history ... where it actually happened. Their aim is to create inspirational visitor experiences that bring the story of England to life.


Mark Griffin(left) and Joram van Essen(right) joust at Carisbrooke Castle in August 2014
(photo by English Heritage/Chris Long)

Part of their program of events each year is a series of competitive jousting tournaments that take place at various castles and ruins across the English countryside. This year, they have created a video featuring jouster Dominic Sewell to help promote these jousts.


How to Joust Like a Medieval Knight(video by English Heritage)

You can find out more about these tournaments on the Knights and Jousts events page of the English Heritage website.

Related articles:
Jousting Tournaments

Competitive Jousting Tournament to be Held at Château du Plessis-Bourré

Jousters Featured in Documentary about Richard III

The Tournament of the Golden Chain at the Middelaldercentret 2014

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Lysts on the Lake 2013 Documentary

The Lysts on the Lake 2013 competitive jousting tournament was held October 30 - November 1 in Cedar Park, Texas, USA. Nine jousters competed in jousting, mounted melee, mounted skill at arms and chivalry for the tournament championship. Jeffrey Basham of Texas won both the jousting and mounted skill at arms competitions as well as the tournament championship. Dave Wise, also of Texas, won the mounted melee competition, and Sarah Hay, who came all the way from Australia to compete, was chosen to receive the Award of Chivalry.

Jouster Jeffrey Basham on his jousting horse Pooh Bear at  Lysts on the Lake 2013(photo by Zhi Zhu/The Jousting Life)
Jouster Jeffrey Basham on his jousting horse Pooh Bear at 
Lysts on the Lake 2013(photo by Zhi Zhu/The Jousting Life)

Josh Baker of AzulOx Visuals, who has been photographing the Lysts on the Lake jousting tournaments for several years, videotaped the tournament for the first time. It took a while to edit, but he released the finished video documentary of the tournament in May 2015. The documentary not only features video of the equestrian competitions, it also includes interviews with some of the jousters and ground crew involved in the tournament, as well as tournament organizer Steve Hemphill of a'Plaisance, Ltd.


Lysts on the Lake 2013 Documentary(video by AzulOx)

You can find out more about the Lysts on the Lake competitive jousting tournaments on the Lysts on the Lake website.

Related articles:
Jeffrey Basham Wins Tournament Champion at Lysts on the Lake 2013

An Interview with Jouster Jeffrey Basham, Winner of Lysts on the Lake 2013

DeSignet International Designs Custom Prizes for Lysts on the Lake 2013

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Promotional Video for the Annual Arundel Castle International Jousting Tournament

The prestigious and grueling seven day Arundel International Jousting Tournament will be returning this summer to the beautiful grounds of Arundel Castle in West Sussex, England. The tournament will take place from July 21 - 26, and will feature eight jousters from around the world.


Ben van Koert(left) jousts Jan Gradon(right) at the Arundel Castle International Jousting Tournament 2013(photo by Richard Pearn)

From Arundel Castle:
Under the shadow of the mighty Castle, experience the thrill of the renowned Arundel International Jousting Competition, as revered knights from around the world gather to test their chivalry and skill at mounted combat in full plate armour. 
Set within an authentic Medieval style encampment and supported by the knights and men-at-arms of Raven Tor, Distant Trumpets Story Teller and the musicians of Rough Musicke, this is a unique week long tournament.

A thrilling tournament accompanied by have-a-go archery and a host of craft displays and entertainment; this really is the highlight of Arundel Castle’s events calendar.
The video below provides a taste of what the upcoming jousting and medieval tournament will be like:


The tournament is held as both a team and individual competition. Last year's team champions were Ben van Koert and Per Estein Prøis- Røhjell of the Burgundian Alliance, and the individual champion was Andy Deane. Since he was the individual tournament champion for 2014, Andy Deane will act as the knight marshal(head referee) for the 2015 Arundel International Tournament.


Andreas Wenzel(left), Individual tournament champion of Arundel 2013 and Knight Marshal of Arundel 2014, hands the marshal's baton to Andy Deane(right), individual tournament champion of Arundel International Jousting Tournament 2014(photo by Stephen Moss)

You can find out more about the event on the jousting tournament page of the Arundel Castle website and on the Arundel International Tournament Facebook page.  There is also a Pinterest-style page with photos and information about the 2015 jousting tournament.


Jousters Per Estein Prøis-Røhjell(left) and Andy Deane(right) break their lances against one another during Arundel International Jousting Tournament 2014(photo by ARW Photography)

Related articles:
Interview with Ben van Koert, Half of the Winning Team at Arundel Castle International Tournament 2014 

Interview with Per Estein Prøis- Røhjell, Team Champion at Arundel and Individual Champion at St Olav's 2014

Burgundian Alliance Wins Team Championship at Arundel Castle International Tournament 2014

Arundel Castle International Jousting Tournament 2013


All of The Jousting Life articles that mention the Arundel Castle International Jousting Tournament


Monday, June 22, 2015

Video of St. Hallvard's Jousting Tournament 2014

Back in 2014, from May 23 through May 25, the St. Hallvard's Jousting Tournament was held as part of the Oslo Middelalderfestival in Oslo, Norway. The tournament was organized by jouster Petter Ellingsen of Ridderhest and featured ten jousters from Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia.

Jousters at the St. Hallvard's Tournament prepare to enter the lists for the mounted melee (photo by Renate Skeie)
Jousters at the St. Hallvard's Tournament prepare to enter the lists for the mounted melee
(photo by Renate Skeie)

Jouster Joram van Essen, who was born in New Zealand, but lives in the Netherlands, won the tournament championship. Jouster Luke Binks of Australia came in second place overall, and jouster Wouter Nicolai of the Netherlands was named Most Chivalrous.

Luke Binks(left) and Joram van Essen(right) joust at St. Hallvard's Jousting Tournament 2014 in Oslo, Norway(photo by Renate Skeie)
Luke Binks(left) and Joram van Essen(right) joust at St. Hallvard's Jousting Tournament 2014 in Oslo, Norway(photo by Renate Skeie)

Ben van Koert of Kaos Historical Media (who also happens to be a jouster, though he did not compete in this tournament) created two videos about the event. The first video features the jousters competing in the tournament.


St. Hallvard's Tournament (video by Ben van Koert/Kaos Historical Media)

The second video features behind the scenes footage showing all the work(and the people who do it) that is required to put on a competitive jousting tournament.


Behind the Tournament (video by Ben van Koert/Kaos Historical Media)

Related articles:
Joram van Essen Wins St Hallvard's 2014

The Jousters of St Hallvard's Tournament

Promotional Video for St. Hallvard's Jousting Tournament

Video: Demonstration of Mounted Combat in Armour

Video From Lance Mounted Camera

Photographer Oliver Dunsch: My Day in Sankt Wendel

New Video of The Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel

Friday, June 19, 2015

Joust For Fun: Face Off

A humorous photo from Joust Fest Texas, which recently held a competitive jousting tournament near Houston, Texas, USA, to benefit SIRE Therapeutic Horsemanship. The photo features jouster and tournament organizer Steve Hemphill on his Frisian cross jousting horse and a SIRE volunteer leading a child on a pony.

Jouster Steve Hemphill on his Frisian cross jousting horse faces off against a child on a pony (photo from Joust Fest Texas)
Jouster Steve Hemphill on his Frisian cross jousting horse faces off against a child on a pony
(photo from Joust Fest Texas)

Related articles:
What is Jousting?

Jousters 'Do Something Noble' to Help Goodwill Industries

TV News Coverage of Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Including the Jousters of "Opening 'Knight' of Pin Oak"

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Andrey Kamin Wins the Tournament of St. George in Moscow, Russia

written by Dmitry Savchenko (edited by Zhi Zhu)
photos by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show

"Laissez aller!"

For a long time this phrase will sound in the heads of those who visited The Tournament of St.George which took place on the 2nd and 3rd of May 2015 as the central event of the Ratobor Knight Tournaments series. The Tournament lasted two days and gathered 4,000 people in the tournament stands and about 40,000 visitors in the Interactive Zone. The event was truly international: there were knights from Germany, Norway and Russia, as well as flag-wavers from Italy.

Ivar Mauritz-Hansen of Norway(left) jousts Arne Koets from Germany(right) during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Ivar Mauritz-Hansen of Norway(left) jousts Arne Koets from Germany(right) during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The Military Program:
The Military Program consisted of equestrian jousting with lances, group fights of riders with wooden cudgels (Mounted Melees) and foot combats with poleaxes. The jousters also tilted at very decorative flower rings during the event.

Russian jousters Sergey Zhuravlev(left) and Yuri Bogunov(right) joust during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Russian jousters Sergey Zhuravlev(left) and Yuri Bogunov(right) joust during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The jousters fight in one of the mounted melees held during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
The jousters fight in one of the mounted melees held during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Viktor Ruchkin(left) chops part of the crest off of Sergey Zhuravlev's helm during the poleaxe competition at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia (photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Viktor Ruchkin(left) chops part of the crest off of Sergey Zhuravlev's helm during the poleaxe competition at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia
(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Jouster Arne Koets successfully spears a ring of flowers with his lance during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Jouster Arne Koets successfully spears a ring of flowers with his lance during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The knights scored points by competing in the three contests. After the contests were over, their points were added together to determine the winner of the Tournament. At the end of the second day of competition, the tournament champion was a jouster from St. Petersburg, Russia, Andrey Kamin.

Andrey Kamin, a jouster from St. Petersburg, Russia was the champion of the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Andrey Kamin, a jouster from St. Petersburg, Russia was the champion of the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The results after two days of competition:
Victor Ruchkin (Moscow, Russia) - 13 points
Sergey Zhuravlev (Moscow, Russia) - 14 points
Ivar Mauritz-Hansen (Skotterud, Norway) - 14 points
Arne Koets (Bückeburg, Germany) - 15 points
Alexsey Malinin (St.Petersburg, Russia) - 15 points
Yuri Bogunov (Moscow, Russia) - 19 points
Andrey Kamin (St.Petersburg, Russia) - 27 points
As a prize, the winner received a replica of a XV century tournament cup from Basel, Switzerland – a gold-plated cup made of silver and brass.

Marina Savchenko, leader of the Court of Honour, carries the championship prize, a replica of a XV century tournament cup, for the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia (photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Marina Savchenko, leader of the Court of Honour, carries the championship prize, a replica of a XV century tournament cup, for the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia
(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Manners:
The Knight Tournament of the XV century is not only a military contest, but also a courtly representation, which is why the manners of the knight in the arena(and out of it) are no less important than his skill. During the two days of the jousting tournament the Ladies of the Court of Honour were watching the chivalry of the jousters with specific attention. The story of the Tournament was taken from one of the historical sources (Podarm) of the XV century, and each Lady represented of one of the knightly virtues: Honesty, Youth, Humility, Hope, Magnanimity, Nobility, Modesty and Courtesy. The Lady of Justice led the Court of Honour.

Left to right: Elizabeth Rylova: Humility, Elena Markova: Generosity, Xenia Galilova: Courtesy, Daria Ryzhova: Modesty, Marina Savchenko: Justice, Margarita Zolotareva: Youth, Victoria Borisova: Nobility, Anastasia Radomskaya: Honesty, Elizaveta Ilina: Hope  (photo by Andrew Boykov)
Left to right: Elizabeth Rylova: Humility, Elena Markova: Generosity, Xenia Galilova: Courtesy, Daria Ryzhova: Modesty, Marina Savchenko: Justice, Margarita Zolotareva: Youth, Victoria Borisova: Nobility, Anastasia Radomskaya: Honesty, Elizaveta Ilina: Hope
(photo by Andrew Boykov)

The favorite of many women in both this tournament as well as the jousting tournament held during the 2013 Times & Epochs: Middle Ages history festival, was the jouster from Germany, Arne Koets. In spite of becoming ill just before the competitions, Arne, as a true knight, was true to his word and did indeed participate in the jousting tournament. Although during the first day of the competition, he was forced to miss one evening round of jousting for health reasons. Numerous shouts from the stands of "Where is Arne?" showed that the audience knew this knight and remembered him from the jousting tournament in 2013.

Jouster Arne Koets bows to the Court of Honour while the Ladies of the Court applaud,  Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Jouster Arne Koets bows to the Court of Honour while the Ladies of the Court applaud, 
Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The Cultural Program:
In addition to military competitions, the program included musical groups Schellen, Trebuchet, Teufelstanz and Five Shillings, which played medieval music throughout the festival. There was also the show of flag-wavers from the Italian town of Pistoia.

Italian flag-wavers perform during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia (photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Italian flag-wavers perform during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia
(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The Program for Participants:
Knights, squires, beautiful ladies and other participants/reenactors lived in a closed authentic camp during the festival, where they had a separate cultural program. In the evening of the first day, there was a gala dinner held in the style of the XV century. Dishes were prepared according to medieval recipes, and a theatrical play about St. George’s exploits was shown.

Food for the feast is prepared during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia (photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Food for the feast is prepared using traditional methods during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Participants enjoy a grand feast during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia (photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Participants enjoy a grand feast during the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia
(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

A play about St. George is performed during the feast at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
A play about St. George is performed during the feast at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

At the end of the dinner, there was ludicrous tournament. Clowns mounted on broomsticks, fought with mops for the honorary prize, a mountain of leavings. However, the next morning the participants were again ready for a serious fight and real work.

Summary:
The Tournament of St. George, much like the jousting tournament during the 2013 Times & Epochs: Middle Ages history festival, has shown again the great interest of the Russian public in the traditions and spectacles of the European Middle Ages. We plan to make the Ratobor Knight Tournaments series an annual historical adventure that will involve not only Moscow but also other cities in Russia. So this autumn, we hope to please you with The Tournament of St. Peter. Follow the development of these events on the theme of chivalry on the Knight Tournaments page of the Ratobor website.

For the Future:
We have already begun to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the most recent jousting tournament and have made the following decisions:
- It is necessary to reduce the intensity of the tournament to no more than 2 sessions of jousting each day.
- We need to make sure that the lances break a little more and that the riders are unhorsed a little less!
- We need to re-work the rules for foot combats, and pay more attention to safety issues.

Arne Koets' ecranche is ripped off during a jousting pass against Yuri Bogunov at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Arne Koets' ecranche is ripped off during a jousting pass against Yuri Bogunov at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Tournament Champion Andrey Kamin's dented breastplate at the end of the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo from Ratobor Show)
Tournament Champion Andrey Kamin's dented breastplate at the end of the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo from Ratobor Show)

Alexsey Malinin's visor is knocked loose during a poleaxe fight against Sergey Zhuravlev at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Alexsey Malinin's visor is knocked loose during a poleaxe fight against Sergey Zhuravlev at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

In general, we are very pleased with the work so far and are always open to discussions, constructive criticism and friendly advice.

This tournament was held with the support of the Moscow Government. The coordinator and organizer of the competitive aspects of this event was Dmitry Savchenko, who is also the producer of the annual Christmas Tournament in Khrabrovo and was the organizer of the Times & Epochs 2013 jousting tournament.

Tournament organizer Dmitry Savchenko on the Arab/Trakehner stallion Grey, at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)
Tournament organizer Dmitry Savchenko on the Arab/Trakehner stallion Grey, at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

You can read more about the tournament on the following blog posts:
Jousting in Moscow written by Norwegian jouster Ivar Mauritz-Hansen

Турнир Святого Георгия 2-3 мая 2015 written by Viktoria Borisova, one of the Ladies of the Court of Honour

турнир written by Russian blogger Dmitry Chernyshev

Турнир Святого Георгия on the Ratobor Show website

There is also a Russian interview with jouster Arne Koets: Современный рыцарь Арне Коэтс о седлах, железе и искусстве верховой езды

More photos from the Tournament of St. George 2015:
(all photos courtesy of Andrew Boykov and Ratobor Show.)
Mouseover the photo to see caption. Left Click on the photo to enlarge.

Andrey Kamin jousts at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Andrey Kamin and his wife Catherin Brooks at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Shaped solid lances (aka 'Historical solids') with steel coronels, vamplates and grappers were used at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Arne Koets(left) and Sergey Zhuravlev(right) joust at the Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Yuri Bogunov(far side) and Andrew Kamin(near side) lay each other back after a massive strike. You can see the broken pieces of Andrey's lance flying through the air. Tournament of St George 2015 in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Arne Koets(left) and Viktor Ruchkin(right) joust at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Ivar Mauritz-Hansen(left) and Alexsey Malinin(right) joust at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Ivar Mauritz-Hansen's ecranche is knocked up into his face during a jousting pass at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Sergey Zhuravlev(left) and Alexsey Malinin(right) joust at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Russian jousters Andrey Kamin(left) and Sergey Zhuravlev(right) show their respect for one another at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Wooden clubs used during the mounted melee at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Left to right: Ivar Mauritz-Hansen, Andrey Kamin, Viktor Ruchkin and Arne Koets during one of the mounted melees at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Russian jousters Dmitry Savchenko(left) and Yuri Bogunov(right) fight in one of the mounted melees at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Norwegian jouster Ivar Mauritz-Hansen is smacked over the head by Russian jouster Sergey Zhuravlev during a mounted melee at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Russian jousters Viktor Ruchkin(left) and Yuri Bogunov(right) fight with poleaxes during the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Sergey Zhuravlev's visor is dented. Possibly by a blow from a poleaxe, like the one he is holding. Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Arne Koets(left) and Alexsey Malinin(right) fight with poleaxes at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Knight Marshal Sergey Vislenev closely watches the poleaxe fight between Sergey Zhuravlev(left) and Viktor Ruchkin(right) at the Tournament of St. George in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) The heads of the poleaxes used during the foot combat at the Tournament of St George in Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The stands overlooking the tiltyard of the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

The prize for the champion of the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Sergey Vislenev, knight marshal(head referee) of the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) An image from the feast at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Cooking the feast for the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) Preparing the feast for the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Servers at the feast of the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show) At the table for the feast of the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Tournament organizer Dmitry Savchenko, on the Arab/Trakehner stallion Grey, at the Tournament of St. George 2015, Moscow, Russia(photo by Andrew Boykov/Ratobor Show)

Related articles from The Jousting Life:
Christmas Tournament in Khrabrovo 2015

Jousting at Zhelezny Grad 2014

Christmas Tournament at Khrabrovo 2014

Interview With the Cavalry Brotherhood at Times & Epochs 2013

The Mounted Melees at the Times & Epochs 2013 Jousting Tournament

Pavel "Paul" Kalinkov Wins the Times & Epochs 2013 Jousting Tournament

Monday, June 15, 2015

Productions Arion has a Busy Season of Jousting and Equestrian Display

Written by Caroline LaBrie of Productions Arion

Summer has not arrived yet, but the Productions Arion team is busy working on several projects promoting and displaying jousting and equestrian shows to numerous horse and medieval enthusiasts.

We began the 2015 season in May with a demonstration at a popular horse fair in Québec, Canada, Le Salon du Cheval, which welcomed about 15,000 horse lovers from everywhere in Québec. We offered a mounted skills at arm display performed by local favorites, Marc Hamel and Patrice Rolland, as well as a joust between Caroline LaBrie, President of Productions Arion, and Alison Mercer, a talented jouster from Alberta.

Jousters Alison Mercer(left) and Caroline LaBrie(right) at Le Salon du Cheval 2015  (photo by Marie-Kirya Duff)
Jousters Alison Mercer(left) and Caroline LaBrie(right) at Le Salon du Cheval 2015 
(photo by Marie-Kirya Duff)

For one hour, the crowd was taken back to the XVth century and enjoyed seeing our horses performing these historic disciplines. In addition to the MSA and jousting display, our partner Equimagie offered a wonderful fire show with a bridleless rider performing with a fire dancer.

For the first weekend of June, we organised and hosted a private event called Le Pas de la Marche Argentée at our boarding facility. It included a cross country gauntlet(a type of mounted skill at arms course), a popcorn joust (beginning jousters using pool noodles), mounted archery parcours(supported by l'Escole du Grand Arc), and of course, a competitive joust performed under the supervision of judges from the Montjoie historical group. Fifteen competitors enjoyed putting their skills to the test at this beautiful location.

Many of the jousters and other participants at Pas de la Marche Argentee 2015 (photo by Pamela Lucas)
Many of the jousters and other participants at Pas de la Marche Argentee 2015
(photo by Pamela Lucas)

The winner of the cross country gauntlet was Jessy Dufresne. Éric Charbonneau won the mounted archery contest, and Genevieve Bond won the popcorn joust. The participants in the competitive joust included: Jessy Dufresne, Stéphane Tremblay, Michel Arsenault and Caroline LaBrie. Stéphane Tremblay won the jousting tournament.

Jousters Stephane Tremblay, winner of the jousting tournament,(left) and Jessy Dufresne, winner of the cross-country gauntlet,(right) at le Pas de la Marche Argentee 2015 (photo by Marie-Kirya Duff)
Jousters Stephane Tremblay, winner of the jousting tournament,(left) and Jessy Dufresne, winner of the cross-country gauntlet,(right) at le Pas de la Marche Argentee 2015
(photo by Marie-Kirya Duff)

On June 27th - 28th, Productions Arion has been hired to produce the equestrian portion of the Festival Medieval de Béthanie which will include mounted archery displays and mounted skill at arms competitions (both hunt-based and combat-based), as well as a competitive jousting tournament. The tournament will include jousters Steve R Gagnon, Alison Mercer, Patrice Rolland and Caroline LaBrie. We are happy to include in this festival the comeback of a dressage display called "Le Carrousel des Dames" with ladies of the court performing figures in historical XVth century gowns.

After a quiet July month, some of our jousters will be flying over to Alberta, Canada, in August to compete in or marshal(referee) the jousting tournament at Brooks Medieval Faire. We are looking forward to getting in touch with good friends over there.

Jousters Jean Francois Drapeau of Canada and Nicola Corrarello of Italy at Brooks Medieval Faire Jousting Tournament 2014(photo by Grant Zelych)
Jousters Jean Francois Drapeau of Canada and Nicola Corrarello of Italy at Brooks Medieval Faire Jousting Tournament 2014(photo by Grant Zelych)

We are keeping busy, but that is what passion is made of, isn't it!?

Jouster Caroline Labrie, President of Productions Arion (photo by Marc-Antoine Jean Photographe)
Jouster Caroline Labrie, President of Productions Arion
(photo by Marc-Antoine Jean Photographe)

Related articles:
Favorite Moments From 2014: Part Two

Patrice Rolland and Sean George Win the Team Championship of Tournoi International de Joute du Duché de Bicolline 2014

On The Road to Bicolline

Le Pas d'Armes du Papegault 2014

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Competitive Jousting Tournament to be Held at Château du Plessis-Bourré

Many thanks to  Marion Derouet for providing the following information:

On the weekend of September 5 - 6, a jousting tournament based on the writings of King Rene of Anjou will take place on the grounds of the beautiful Château du Plessis-Bourré, a fifteenth century moated castle with a drawbridge in the Loire Valley in France. Le Tournoi de l'Ordre de Saint Michel (aka the Tournament of the Order of St Michael) will be comprised of both mounted and ground competitions, including: jousting, mounted melee, mounted skill at arms, foot combat and archery. On Saturday evening, there will also be fifteenth century style feast.

Left: Tournament organizer Michael Sadde (photo provided by the Order of St Michael)
The tournament is hosted by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire and has been organized by the current leader of Les Ecuyers, Michael Sadde, who will also be competing in the tournament.
Left: Tournament organizer Michael Sadde (photo provided by the Order of St Michael)

Other members of Les Ecuyers who will be competing in the tournament include Quentin Laurent and Lois Forster. Michael Sadde (Swan crest) and Quentin Laurent (Sunburst crest) are featured in the following video which was created to promote the upcoming Tournament of the Order of St Michael.


Announcing the Tournament of the Order of St Michael 2015 (video by Le Marquis)

The competitive jousting tournament will include a total of six jousters of five different nationalities:
Michael Sadde, French

Quentin Laurent, Belgian

Lois Forster, French

Dominic Sewell, English

Joram Van Essen, New Zealand

Arne Koets, Dutch
The Tournament is based on the idea of the historic Chevaliers de l'Ordre de St Michael(Knights of the Order of St Michael) which was created in the fifteenth century by King Louis II.

An illumination of the original Chevaliers de l'Ordre de St Michael  (image provided by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire)
An illumination of the original Chevaliers de l'Ordre de St Michael 
(image provided by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire)

The re-enactment Knights of the Order of St Michael, Lois Forster, Michael Sadde and Quentin Laurent (photo provided by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire)
The re-enactment Knights of the Order of St Michael, Xavier, Michael Sadde and Quentin Laurent (photo provided by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire)

The 15th century French fortress Château du Plessis-Bourré  (photo provided by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire)
The 15th century French fortress Château du Plessis-Bourré 
(photo provided by Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire)

You can find out more about the jousting tournament on the Tournoi de l'Ordre de Saint Michel website and the tournament's Facebook page. Check out the Les Ecuyers de l'Histoire website to learn more about that organization.

To learn more about King Rene of Anjou's Book of the Tournament, click on the Amazon link below:
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