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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Favorite Moments From 2014: Epic Moment at Brooks Medieval Faire

American jouster, Stacy Wasson, shares a lovely and informative essay about her favorite experience of 2014:

Epic Moment at Brooks Medieval Faire

By Stacy Wasson

Stacy Wasson at Brooks 2014
(photo by Grant Zelych)

Last winter in a rare and fortuitous evening of bumming around on Facebook, I was contacted by someone I’d always wanted to meet – none other than Radar Goddard. Although there are countless ladies riding successfully at Renaissance Faires across the U.S. doing various types of theatrical jousting at a multitude of venues, there are relatively few women doing competitive balsa jousting internationally. Of these women, before this summer, I’d only had the pleasure of meeting and riding with Sarah Hay of Australia and one other young Norwegian woman, a protégé of Petter Ellingsen, Lisa Holar. I had heard Radar’s name and seen photos of her on many occasions and wondered what she was like, if we’d have anything in common, would she give me the time of day?

Imagine my surprise when she asked if Jeff and I would like to come to Canada that summer and joust in an international tournament. I had to pinch myself. “Really?” I’d asked her, “You wouldn't tease me would you?” Instant messaging can be a wonderful thing, and Radar was both charming and witty as she put me at ease and told me that she’d always wanted to meet Jeff and I. Arrangements were made, and the wait and wondering began. We had never been to Western Canada before and although most of the competitors were known to us, most of them we had never actually met.

When the appointed time came, we were met at the airport by a vanguard of cheerful Canadians waving heraldic plaques with our devices at the arrivals gate. Radar herself proved to be every bit as funny, friendly and knowledgeable as she’d come across the internet. Over the next few days she introduced us to her little corner of Canada, amazed, we couldn't help but smile at the boundless energy and enthusiasm of the people who surrounded her. Radar had managed to round up eleven experienced jousters.

Stacy Wasson(left), Nicolo Corrarello(center) and Sarah Hay(right), Brooks 2014
(photo by Grant Zelych)

Besides myself, of the internationals there was my ever stalwart and talented husband Jeffrey Wasson, Sarah Hay of Australia, Nicola Corrarello of Italy and Ole Nielsen from Denmark. For her Canadian compatriots, Radar had mustered Alison Mercer, Dale Gienow, Jean-Francois Drapeau, Jean-Sebastian Drapeau and Marc Hamel. Keeping us all in line and presiding over the officiation was the formidable Fred Piraux, while the ever clever Jordan Heron was Master of Ceremonies.

It was a brilliant combination of talent, good humor and cooperation. Preparing for the tourney and getting to know each other better was a real treat, I could go on and on about the skills and superlatives of each and every one of the jousters, as well as the folks on the ground. Included in that number I would be remiss not to mention our own daughter Emma. Emma is not only a talented rider, but after being raised in the shadow of the list like it or not, she has become an outstanding squire.

Emma Wasson hands a lance up to a jouster at Brooks 2014 (photo by Paul Keely)

The tournament was awesome, the heat, the horses, the wildly enthusiastic Canadian crowd. It was a weekend to remember, but for me, the most glorious moment came at the final tourney of the weekend during my match with Alison Mercer. All of the matches consisted of four passes, Alison and I had started our match earlier in the tournament but after two successful breaks, we’d had to stop due to equipment failure. Alison had a strap blow on her ecranche and had gone off to replace it with another. As the other matches continued, I waited and gathered calm about me. I was concerned. These next two passes would be my last for the tournament, the way everyone involved would remember me perhaps forever. Who knew when I might see some of these stellar competitors again?

To truly appreciate the moment, you must understand that before this particular tournament, I was almost sick with concern over the lances. Go into a room with 5 jousters and you’ll likely get 5 different opinions as to how to design the perfect lance. For those of you who are not familiar – the ideal form for execution of a jousting pass is called “the levée”. It's the slow graceful lowering of the lance, perfectly timed to meet your opponents shield as you cross in the center of the list. After engaging your opponent, with your lance broken or not, you proceed to just as elegantly raise it so that it is in an upright position when you reach the end of the list and hand it neatly to your awaiting, able-bodied squire.

For me at 5’5” and roughly 120 pounds (a featherweight in the world wide jousting line-up) the crux of the lance issue is this, that the fore end of the lance must not be so tip heavy that it plummets forward in the first stages of the levade. Remember that room of jousters? Most if not all of them will be strong men who don’t give a fig that the lance they designed may be tip heavy, they are able to muscle it in place easily and it doesn't concern them. There are ways of designing a lance that create a better balance hence making it more manageable for a variety of riders, but most of these guys aren't engineers and as I said before, it’s not their issue.

So for me, there is always that big question mark when packing for a trip. Who designed the lances? What type of tips are being used, will we get to practice with them? The implications are grave, for someone who does not handle their lance well, the results may be injury to themselves, their opponents or the unthinkable – the horses. Even in the most ideal circumstances, accidents can happen. No packing job is complete without a few roles of chewable antacids and a box of Zantac for good measure.

I won't lie, with their frangible pine tips, the Brooks lances had been on the heavy side for me, I’d been managing but it had not been easy. The heat had been oppressive and keeping hydrated had been a challenge for all of us. Every knowledgeable athlete knows that dehydration is the thief of strength. I took a few deep breaths and visualized a mantle of calm over myself and Willow my young inexperienced mount.

Stacy Wasson on the horse Willow. It was Willow's first jousting tournament
(photo by Twyla Brower Wehnes)

Finally, Jordan called Alison and I to our respective ends of the list. He reminded the crowd of our two successful passes earlier in the tournament and wittily remarked that “Here in Alberta when we say Hit Like A Girl it means Really Hard!” (I thought this was hilarious, even better when Jordan explained to me later it was a reference to a women’s hockey ad campaign – a joke that was obvious to all the Canadians.) At my end of the list, I steadied Willow and received my lance – the salute and take-off was a blur. Willow is small and quick, and so is Alison’s horse Siggy. My target, Alison’s black and gold ecranche approached rapidly and the impact was, as the Canadians are fond of saying “Epic”.

The frangible pine tips had been proving to pack a wallop, and good contact had been having a field day with our knuckles. Somewhere in the back of my mind it registered that my knuckles had been abused, but I was too pumped up to worry about it. Something was very odd about the weight of the lance, but it took a few moments for the primitive-lizard part of my brain to sort all this out as Willow and I came to a halt. Honestly, I don’t know if the crowd was going wild, I just remember the moment I realized that I might have broken the whole lance. In disbelief, I still had to stupidly ask the squire “Did I break it?” as I handed off the remains of my lance and raised my visor.

Stacy Wasson's(left) and Alison Mercer's(right) epic jousting pass(photo by Paul Keely)

“Are you kidding me?” he asked with a grin, “Take a look at this!” All he had in his hand was the grip and shattered wooden vamplate of the lance. I was still in disbelief. In 12 years of jousting this was a feat that I’d rarely seen, and then, only by men who are surely in the ranks of jousting demi-gods. Was I joining those ranks? Surely not, but no matter --- This no one could take away from me; on this day, in this tournament, at the Brooks Medieval Faire, Stacy Wasson had shattered her entire lance.

This no one could take away from me; on this day, in this tournament, at the Brooks Medieval Faire, Stacy Wasson had shattered her entire lance.

It was a benchmark, perhaps the high point of my jousting career. Our second pass was also a success, although overshadowed by the previous. Alison had broken both her lances as well and we grinned like idiots as we greeted each other for the traditional handshake of honor.

When the final scores were calculated, I was astonished to learn that Willow and I had won that tournament. Even though I had never been concerned with scores and winning, I must admit, to have won a tournament in such company – I was elated.*

Later as we were cleaning up, two young Canadian men approached Penny Pisano (a loyal STALC member) and myself. They presented to me for inspection a section of lance that they had somehow acquired. “Is that a piece of my lance?” I asked them. Oh yes, they assured me – not only was it mine, but it was part of the one that had broken so spectacularly. It had flown high up into the air and come down where they were sitting in the upper part of the grand stand.

“I had to duck,” said the shorter one. “And then I caught it,” chimed in the other. I must have grinned like a double idiot then – not only had I won the tournament, but I’d hit a home run as well.

“Wow... Would you like me to sign it for you?” I heard myself ask. (All this while part of my brain was thanking god nobody got hit,  and at the same time wondering if this was how Babe Ruth had felt.) The response was a resounding affirmative from both young men, who looked as if they’d won a great prize. Wow, Canada --- How could you not love the whole country?

*My win was one of four tourneys that comprised the entire competition; at the end of the weekend, Ole Nielsen of Denmark was the overall Champion.

Alison Mercer(left) and Stacy Wasson(right) beaming over Alison’s battered ecranche
(photo by Jeff Wasson)

Editorial note: In case you are wondering; the writing around Stacy's ecranche(which you can see in the photo at the top of this article) is her personal motto, which reads:
"Meme une petite fleur peut mettre a genoux un valeureux"
"Even the smallest flower can bring bring the valiant to their knees."

Do you have a favorite moment from 2014? Please share it in the comments.

Related articles:
Favorite Moments from 2014: Part One

Favorite Moments from 2014: Part Two

Favorite Moments From 2014: Photographers Andrew Wickens and Hanno van Harten

Favorite Moments from 2010: The Accidental International Jouster's Tale

Favorite Moments from 2014: Part Five

Favorite Moments From 2014: Part Two

This is the second of a series of posts where jousters, ground crew and photographers share their favorite memories of the 2014 jousting season. You can see Part One by clicking on the link.

Alison Mercer (photo by Azul Ox)

Canadian jouster Alison Mercer of Calgary shares her favorite memories of the 2014 jousting season:

In a wonderful season of tournaments, it can be challenging to choose a moment that sticks out.

For me, I can trace it back to a morning in January when I got a message out of the blue from Justin Holland in Australia, with an invitation to ride at the Abbey Medieval Festival Tournament in July. It was a surprise; apart from Lysts on the Lake in Texas 2012, I had never ridden outside of Canada and didn't expect to again so soon. On the heels of Justin’s note, came a message from Sarah Hay with an invite to her tournament one week prior to Abbey.

Seven short months later, I was on a plane headed across the Pacific, armour in tow, with snippets of advice from friends: “Don’t pet the insects,” etc... After riding Sarah’s splendid Tournament Australis, we packed up and started the trek to Abbey Festival outside of Brisbane.

Abbey was an absolute delight. The tournament was spectacular – clockwork organization, excellent venue, wonderful crowd, and an MC that made you feel like a damned celebrity. Integral to this all were the ground-crew, who knew their business inside out. It was a lightening fast, hard-hitting tournament and while jousting constitutes the ‘meat’ of these experiences, it was the people who really made the trip for me.

Watching Justin ride, precise and deadly, was one thing. Working with and getting to know Sarah over two and a half weeks was another. From my introduction to the sport in 2010, I always thought she was the bees-knees – fine rider, brave, determined, and with very nice kit. But If I had to pick a specific moment, it would have been on the road between Sydney and Brisbane when we stopped for the night at the Grafton fairgrounds. After the horses were settled, I remember looking up at the Southern Cross and thinking, for the first time, just how far this sport had brought me. (Getting to know a certain MH at Brooks Medieval Faire was an added bonus…)

Looking forward to 2015!

Alison Mercer(left) jousts Sarah Hay(right) (photo by Dreamcoat Photography)

Another Canadian jouster, Marc Hamel of Quebec, talks about his favorite moment:

I could say that winning the Scrothym Cup at Revel Grove was an amazing moment, but my favorite of the season was at Brooks Medieval Faire International Tournament (Alberta,Canada). Got myself injured on the first day and was done for the tournament.... However ... I was fraternizing with a fellow jouster, Alison Mercer, and discovered that we had more in common than just the jousting. I can proudly say that meeting her was a revelation and truly my favorite moment of my jousting season.

Alison Mercer(left) and Marc Hamel(right) at Brooks Medieval Faire 2014
(photo by Grant Zelych)

Caroline LaBrie helps Nicola Corrarello
with his armour, Brooks 2014
(photo by Twyla Brower Wehnes)

Jouster Caroline LaBrie(also of Quebec, Canada), has fond memories of acting as ground crew for the Brooks Medieval Faire International Tournament:

Summer passed by so fast. I was caught pretty early at the beginning of the year in the organization of both Les Pas d'Armes du Papegault and the Tournoi International de joute du Duché de Bicolline.

During my numerous exchanges with other competitors, my "Facebook friend" Radar Goddard (whom I had never met in person at that time) was also taken by the organization of the Brooks Medieval Faire International Tournament. Due to a cancellation, they were missing a judge, and we spontaneously arranged a trip for me to Alberta, where I would discover a different part of the country – as well as other fellow jousters – and reunite with old friends.

These were my only days off from work, and it was such a pleasure to help out the best I could in a tournament environment. It was simply amazing to meet others who shared my passion and to develop strong bounds with some persons. It reminds you every time of why we are doing this hobby, and why we are attracted by the middle ages and some of its romantic symbols. Within the whole wide world, a community sharing the same passion and similar values, the creation of a faithful bond between such quality persons. It does make a big world smaller. Again, I would like to thank Radar and STALC's wonderful crew for this precious opportunity!

Some of the crew and jousters of Brooks International Jousting Tournament 2014
(photo by Twyla Brower Wehnes)

Patrice Rolland holds aloft the Prize for Chivalry,
Arundel 2014 (photo by Stephen Moss)

Continuing with our Canadian jousters, Patrice Rolland of Quebec shares his favorite memories of 2014:

Last December I moved with my wife into our new place, a hobby farm, so finally our horses will be home, what a new challenge! But in July there was a bigger one, my first overseas trip; to Arundel Castle with my teammate Steve R. Gagnon. We were representing the French team for the tournament held at the foot of the castle. We lived there for one week, a dream come alive. What an experience! To top it all, the Lady of Honour chose to give me the Prize of Chivalry. What an honour!

As if this was not enough, coming back to Quebec to get ready for the first international tournament produced by Arion at the Duché de Bicolline, with seven nights, four teams and a big, big happening. A first for my Canadian horse Porto. Together we managed to win the Master Jouster 2014...

Patrice Rolland holds the prize for winning the jousting competition at Bicolline 2014
(photo by Eric Dube)

... and also the Team Championship with Sean George as my teammate.

Patrice Rolland and Sean George Team Champions for Bicolline 2014
(photo by Eric Dube)

A wonderful time, a great tournament, a great year!

To conclude, well, there's nothing like home, and when I joust I feel like home! I hope that the next year brings all kinds of new memories and new challenges.

We go from Canada to the UK to hear from Patrice's teammate at Bicolline, Sean George:

I would firstly like to thank The Jousting Life for the continued support and interest in this fine arena of Jousting! We appreciate it! [Editorial note: Thank you, Sean!]

For me, 2014 was a fantastic year of Jousting! I have many fond memories, some great events and a lot of camaraderie amongst my fellow Jousters, both on the Jousting Circuit and also with my teammates from Destrier at Bosworth Battlefield.

I have a couple of fine moments that really shine for me, and both of them were abroad at WorldJoust Tournaments.™ One was at Tournoi International de Joute du Duché de Bicolline in Quebec. We were welcomed and treated well by our hosts, and along with my fine teammate, Patrice Rolland, we became Team Winners!

Patrice Rolland and Sean George Team Champions for Bicolline 2014
(photo by Eric Dube)

My other very fond memory and overall fantastic experience was at the Tournament of King John III - Gniew Castle in Poland. Both myself and my good friend Steve Mallett as Team England became Team Winners!

Sean George and Steve Mallett, Team Champions at the Tournament of King John III Gniew Castle 2014 (photo by Studio A)

We had amazing hosts who really took care of us all and made our visit a fun and cherished memory.

– Seán George, Jouster

Sean George jousts Wouter Nicolai at Gniew 2014 (photo by Studio A)

More Favorite Moments coming soon!

Do you have a favorite moment from 2014? Please share it in the comments.

Related articles:
Burgundian Alliance Wins Team Championship at Arundel International Tournament 2014

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

Interview with Sean George, Half of the Winning Team England at the Tournament of King Jan III at Gniew Castle 2014

The Jousters for the Brooks Medieval Faire Jousting Tournament 2014

The Brooks Medieval Faire Jousting Tournament will take place this weekend, August 9 & 10, in Brooks, Alberta, Canada as part of the 11th annual Brooks Medieval Faire. A number of international jousters will be competing and a local news show interviewed Australian jouster Sarah Hay and Danish jouster, Ole(Will) Nielson who are already in town preparing for the competition.

Interview with jousters Sarah Hay and Ole Nielson(video from globalnews.ca)

The other jousters who will be competing include:
Canadian jousters:
Alison Mercer from Calgary
Dale Geinow recently transplanted to Alberta from Ontario
Dale Thwaites from Calgary
Jean-Francois Drapeau from Stoneham Quebec
Jean-Sebastian Drapeau from Stoneham Quebec
Lacey Hadford from Medicine Hat
Marc Hamel from Quebec
Radar Goddard from Calgary

International jousters:
Jeffrey Wasson from New York, USA
Nicola Corrarello from Rome, Italy
Ole Nielson From Vyborg, Denmark
Sarah Hay from Australia
Stacey Wasson from New York, USA

Sarah Hay and Stacy Wasson strike tip to tip during the Grand Tournament of St Charles 2013(photo by The Jousting Life)

For more information, check out the jousters page on the Brooks Medieval Faire website and the Brooks Medieval Faire Facebook page.

Jousting in the News 7-25-12 through 8-4-12

7-26-2012
TV Midt-Vest.dk: Ridder Ole er i finalen ved EM i Ridderdyst (news video of Ole Bach competing during ECS at Spottrup Borg)


(video from article)

Reuters: Travel Postcard: 48 hours jousting in Sulmona, Italy (somewhat confusing article about some sort of jousting competition in Italy, probably a translation)

Get Surrey: A jousting good time at Loxwood Meadow (mentions jousting at a medieval festival)

7-28-12
TV Midt-Vest.dk: Ridder Ole Bach fra Viborg blev nummer 2 til EM i Ridderdyst pa Spottrup Borg (news video of ECS aka EM i Ridderturnering featuring Ole Bach, also shows Steve Hemphill getting his helmet knocked off by Gunnar Cederberg's lance)


(video from article)

Heste-nettet.dk: Et brag af en finale med mjød, riddere og skønjomfruer(Nice article with very good pictures about the Bishop's Market medieval faire and EM i Ridderturnering at Spottrup Borg) (I recommend google translate to read articles in foreign languages)

Heste-nettet.dk: Interview med Ridder Ole (interview with Danish jouster Ole Bach of Viborg)

7-29-12
Winnipeg Free Press: Medieval Festival is more than joust for fun (Nice article about Cook's Creek Medieval Festival featuring jousters Jordan Heron, Alison Mercer and Shawn Morrow, includes some nice pictures)

Jordan Heron and Alison Mercer (photo by Melissa Tait)

7-30-12
The Columbus Dispatch: Jousting tournament gives fairgoers a knight to remember (article features American jouster Thomas Nader and has a nice video as well as a photo slideshow)

(video from article)

The Columbus Dispatch: Photos: Jousting tournament at the Ohio State Fair (a direct link to the aforementioned photo slideshow)

Toronto Sun: 48 hours jousting in Sulmona (the same article as earlier, but this one includes a picture)

Jousting in Sulmona, Italy (photo from article)

Horseyard.com.au: Want To Get Medieval With Your Horse? (announcement of a jousting seminar in CAMDEN led by Rod Walker of FMJ and Full Tilt jousting)

8-1-12
CNN I Report: International Jousting League admires the Gniew Castle (brief article about Gniew tournament, mentions Frederic Piraux)

8-2-12
Horseyard.com.au: Victoria's Turn To Get Medieval (announcement of a jousting seminar in VICTORIA area led by Rod Walker of FMJ and Full Tilt jousting)

The Reporter Online: Hear ye! Hear ye! (announcement for a renaissance faire that has jousting)

Little Hampton Gazette: {photo from front page of paper} (picture of jouster Dominic Sewell on the front page of a local newspaper)

(newspaper photo by Stephen Goodger, photo of newspaper by anonymous)

8-3-12
DailyMail.co.uk: The Knights of Mayhem: Full contact medieval jousting aims to become the latest U.S. extreme sport (Interesting but rather inaccurate article about the sport of modern jousting)

The Ladies of the Lysts: Female Jousters Are Making Their Presence Known at this Year's "Lysts on the Lake"

There are twelve women competing in this year's "Lysts on the Lakes". That is more female competitors than there are competitors at many jousting tournaments. There are a total of 45 competitors at this year's tournament, which means that women form more than one quarter of the total competitors. That is a a pretty significant percentage of feminine participants for a sport generally thought to be almost exclusively masculine.

For a few of these females, jousting is still a fairly new experience, and they don't expect to necessarily do very well in the standings. This will be the first time Lady of Honour Dawn Hemphill will actually be competing in any tournament, and she will only be participating in the Mounted Skill at Arms(MSA) portion of the tournament.

For other competitors, such as Sarah Hay from Australia, who will be competing in the Melee a'Cheval as well as the Joust a'Plaisance, there is a chance she could win the entire tournament. She just recently won the Australian National Jousting Championship, and she has won at least six other jousting tournaments in the past few years. However, whatever the final standings are, simply by showing up to compete, the women competitors at "Lysts on the Lake 2012" are challenging the assumption that jousting is a "man's sport".

So here is a list of this year's Ladies of the Lysts:

Alison Mercer

Competing In: Joust a'Plaisance, Skill at Arms
From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Started Jousting: 2010
Motto: Tene Mensuram et Respice Finem - Be moderate and consider the end

"Alison started with historical equestrianism back in University, studying the equitation and weaponry of Alexander the Great's cavalry and the horsemanship of the Red River Mètis in the mounted buffalo hunt. After doing an MA in Canadian Military History in 2008, she decided academia didn't pay enough and got a job instead. She now works as the curator at the Air Force Museum of Alberta. Having been a history buff and a re-enactor for years, Alison decided to give jousting a go, feeling it was a more authentic form of living history since the hits are real. She is particularly keen on the history of the joust in the court of Maximilian I. Lysts on the Lake will be her first international tournament and she is thrilled to be riding against and learning from the established 'pros.'"

Bobbie Patterson

Competing In: Skill at Arms
From: Longview, TX, USA
Motto: dorso alis in equum habeo -- On my horse's back I have wings


"Bobbie Patterson has loved horses all her life and this love has carried over into many different aspects of horse activities. She has shown horses for over 30 years and trained for more than 20. She loves all horse breeds and never could pick just one. At present she has over 10 breeds at her East Texas ranch. Her love has been passed onto her two sons, Steve and Dusty Martel, who also are here at Lysts on the Lake and the reason for her involvement in jousting. She has been involved in the training of the joust horses in the Order of the Argent Spur and has personally participated at Skill at Arms for 8 years."

Dawn Hemphill

Competing In: Skill at Arms
From: Leander, TX, USA
Motto: Concinnitas est aeterna -- Style is eternal



"Dawn begged her parents for a pony as a little girl, but never got one. As an adult, she was finally able to fulfill her dream and started riding 10 years ago. Since then, along with her husband Steve, she has been instrumental in promoting jousting as a sport in North America. Dawn was the Lady of Honour at last year’s Lysts and is repeating the role this year. When not watching knights in shining armour, she competes in dressage and eventing on her Quarter Horse, Chocolate Moose. Dawn is also on the Board of Directors for The Baron’s Men, an Austin-based theatre company focusing on pre-17th century plays, allowing her to exercise her award-winning costuming skills. Additionally, she is a designer for a local home builder."

Kellyn Burtka

Competing In: Joust, Melee aCheval, Skill at Arms
From: Howell, MI, USA
Started Jousting: 2011
Motto: Potius ingenio quam vi -- Rather by skill than by force


"Kellyn has been riding and showing horses since childhood, and started her career as a professional trainer in 2000. She has always valued versatility in riding, and has competed in various equestrian sports including jumping, eventing, dressage, western pleasure, barrel racing and driving. She sees jousting as a new and exciting discipline for her and her horse to explore."

Kristin Flitcroft

Competing In: Skill at Arms
From: Cut and Shoot, TX, USA
Started Jousting: 2010
Motto: In omnia interritus -- Be fearless in all things


"Kristen is a native Texan and currently resides in Cut n' Shoot Texas. She earned a degree in Wildlife/Fisheries and Animal Science from Texas A&M University and works in a small and large animal veterinary clinic. She has been an active member of the SCA for 20 years and the last 5 has been spent with horses and medieval games. She has ridden horses all her life, with different types of riding instruction, and enjoys riding many types of horses in many environments."

Nicole Fourtzialas

Competing In: Joust, Melee aCheval, Skill at Arms
From: Haverhill, MA, USA
Started Jousting: 2005
Motto: Tu canis est, ut omnes -- Is that all you got, Dog


"Nikki is a member of, and US Liaison to, the International Jousting Association (IJA) (www.ija-usa.com), a co-founder of the New England Jousting Association (NEJA) and the Academy of Knightly Arts. Nikki competes in events with the IJA, NEJA, Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), and International Jousting League (IJL). She rides a 19.1, 8 Year old Percheron, Grassy Notch Thunder Ripper. AKA Thunder, a big horse with a big heart. Professionally she is a desk jockey, Sr.V.P of a technology division for the financial services industry. Jousting and Sword fighting have proven to be great stress management tools in her life."

Radar Goddard

Competing In: Joust, Melee aCheval
From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Started Jousting: 2003
Motto: Girls JOUST wanna have fun!


"Radar originally trained with the “Freelancers” jousting team lead by Roy Cox Team and debuted in Waxahachie, Texas at Scarborough Fair April 2003. She is the founder of the Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry, founder and competitor at the Calgary Stampede Sheridan Hughes Memorial Tournament 2005 (At the time, the biggest international Tournament held in North America), joust team leader, competed from Estes Park Colorado (three times) to London Ontario, Renaissance Faires from Langley BC to Winnipeg Manitoba. Her goal is to joust in Europe and Australia over the next two years. Her degree is in prehistoric Archeology, she's a Certified Fire Service Technician (Firefighter), Fire Service Instructor and jousting enthusiast."

Robin Daniel

Competing In: Skill at Arms
Height: 5'0" Weight: 155 lbs.
From: Houston, TX, USA
Started Jousting: 2010
Motto: Modo Fac -- Just do it

"Originally from Torrance California, Robin came to Texas as soon as she could! She has competed in Polo Crosse for 16 years and is currently still umpiring for the sport. She has been involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (the world’s largest historical medieval living history organization) since 2010 and holds 4 equestrian championships within the organization. She has been married for 33 years and has 2 children. Aside from horses, she loves everything Disney!"

Samantha Matyas

Competing In: Joust, Melee aCheval, Skill at Arms
From: Howell, MI, USA
Started Jousting: 2011
Motto: A cœur vaillant rien impossible - To a valiant heart nothing is impossible

"Samantha has been riding for the past several years. Although a late comer to horses she immediately developed a passion for riding, and is often found jumping, running barrels, working with new horses or on the trail. In 2010 Samantha was asked to assist in training horses for jousting and from the moment she mounted in armor she knew she had to compete."

Sarah Hay

Competing In: Joust, Skill at Arms
Height: 5'6" Weight: 140 lbs.
From: Pheasants Nest, NSW, Austrailia
Motto: Courage. Passion, Integrity.


"Sarah lives on a farm in the outskits of Sydney, Australia. She currently looks after a team of 11 horses. Sarah has ridden all her life across a range of disciplines, but now dedicates her riding to jousting and horse archery. Sarah has been enjoying competing internationally for two years. She rides in a 1450s spring steel English harness made by an Australian armourer."

Theresa Wendland

Competing In: Melee aCheval, Skill at Arms
From: Denver, CO, USA
Started Jousting: 2011
Motto: Per aspera ad astra -- Through thorns to the stars


"Theresa Wendland is a horsewoman, scholar of the Chicago Swordplay Guild and member of the Rocky Mountain Swordplay Guild. She has been riding horses for over twenty years, focusing mostly on classical dressage. She has been working to combine her knowledge of horsemanship, of the biomechanics of riding and of equine behavior with the practice of western martial arts to interpret and reconstruct mounted combat, including wrestling, sword and spear from horseback. Theresa has been extensively researching historical horsemanship and mounted combat with a focus on the Italian and German medieval fighting manuscripts of the 14th and 15th centuries. In addition to her studies of mounted combat, she has recently begun to learn to joust."

Tiffany Geisendorf

Competing In: Joust, Melee aCheval, Skill at Arms
From: Midland TX, USA
Started Jousting: 2008
Motto: We are the Music Makers and We are the Dreamers of Dreams.

"Still a West Texas girl, Tiffany has always been a tomboy and very active in life. On top of being a proud mother of 2 children, Alex and Caylie, she is a seamstress, tiler, manager, and a jack of many trades. She served two reigns as Queen of Ansteorra (Texas and Oklahoma) in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (the world’s largest historical medieval living history organization) and 8 years ago, became the 23rd female to achieve knighthood within the society over its 38 years of history. Thanks to a wonderful horse name Plum, she overcame her fear of horses and now after a physically challenging two years, is looking forward to the continuance of her quest to hone her equestrian skills and living her love of the beauty of the joust and melee a' cheval. Ah, to live life to the fullest!"