Joust For Fun: Stick Horse

While waiting for the jousting season to really get going, here's a random picture of Australian jouster Andrew McKinnon riding a stick horse:

Jouster Andrew McKinnon riding a stick horse (photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

Any ideas for a clever caption? Share them in the comments.

UPDATE 3:00pm: According to Andrew McKinnon:

"I am riding the mighty Splinters out of Woody, currently standing at stud. For those interested we have frozen sawdust available."

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

Favorite moments from 2010?? Wasn't this series about sharing Favorite Moments From 2014? Apparently some people don't follow directions very well, but when they go astray this brilliantly, who can object to taking a detour? Here is Australian jouster Andrew McKinnon's favorite memory from the year 2010:

THE ACCIDENTAL INTERNATIONAL JOUSTER’S TALE

written by Andrew McKinnon

In the hot summer of January 2010, I was excited to be packing for the flight from Sydney to New Zealand for the Taupo International Joust Tournament. I was new to jousting, and my job was as team squire, with an opportunity to ride in the mounted skill at arms. I was going to be able to catch up with some new Kiwi pals I had met in the few years before, when I was a wide eyed squire watching these very cool dudes smashing it up together in the lists. I had been training with my sensei Rod Walker for a couple of years and finally felt ready for a bit of melée and the opportunity to murder some fruit with a sword.

Andrew McKinnon(right) breaks his first lance against his instructor Rod Walker(left),
Joust training, Father's Day 2009 (photo by Garry Davenport)

On this trip, I was looking forward to catching up with Callum Forbes, Graham Nixon – whom I had crossed lances with in jousts in Australia previously – and finally meeting this curmudgeonly wrinkled, silvery haired, opinionated, Scots Kiwi, formally known as Jeremy ‘Jezz’ Smith, with whom I had established we shared a mutual love of history, jousting and general piss-taking and tomfoolery washed down with a taste of something slightly alcoholic. Jezz was always very encouraging and gave me lots of tips and motivational gems, interspersed with liberal doses of profanity.

One of the real moments in my jousting career was Jezz, prior to my departure, saying whatever happens, pack your harness, and whilst you are here, I will take you out into a park, and we will have a joust. I was gratified I would finally get to break a lance outside training!

My excitement level was high as we hit the deck at Auckland, passed through customs and jumped in the minibus to drive to Lake Taupo. There were several ratbags of the highest order for company. Justin Holland, the nominal captain of the team, a man of few words and a capacity for libations unsurpassed in another jouster. Amongst the other fine fellows and lassies was Sir Phillip Oliver, whose schtick was to wrap himself in a bright yellow tarpaulin, don an eyepatch and attempt to convince the general populace that the rubber chicken he had gaffe taped to his yellow cape was in fact a falcon named “Allan”. This is in itself worthy of it’s own tale, but that shall have to wait until another time. Suffice to say the hills of Lake Taupo still ring to the sounds of Sir Phillip yelling “Allaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan” triggering the locals to duck down suddenly for fear of being struck by the diving raptor.

Anyway, pray, let us continue the tale. The Australian Team arrived at our accommodation, which we immediately festooned with appropriately cheap plastic Australiana items. We were wild and free and damn! we weren't backward in sharing our festive and rather theatrical fervour. Again Sir Phillip was the instigator of much mirth and diabolical merriment. His antics in the celebrity hot tub with his wily moustache and a gold lamé g-string are again, the stuff of legend.

We mustered on the first day and went through the plans for the tournament, including matching riders with horses, session times, program, etc, etc.... Heady stuff, and the whole time I think my grin was at about the ‘epic’ setting.

At some point, Callum came up to me and said, “Listen, we are a rider short, Andrew. What do you think about harnessing up and being a target, so one of the others doesn't have to ride twice?”

I was thrilled. “Absolutely!” was my reply. How good is this? I thought to myself, being in armour and riding in a real tournament!

Andrew McKinnon in armour with Kym Louise O'Connor at Taupo 2010
(photo by Scott Marks)

Shortly after that Callum approached me and said, “Hey Andrew, Why don’t you at least present a lance for the crowd, so it looks fair dinkum?” I thought, man at least it will look real in the pics. Riding with a lance and getting hit in an international tournament! Awesome….

Andrew McKinnon cantering down the tilt with a lance at the Taupo Joust 2010
(photo by Donna Burt)

At this point Callum interrupts my triumphant reverie with, “Hey Andrew, why don’t you just hit them?”

So there I was, parachuted into my first international tournament. One of the most memorable and satisfying moments of my jousting career even still. The best part was I wasn't nervous, because I had no anticipation of the event. Bang! There I was. Jousting. My first pass was with Jezz, and I broke my first tournament lance on him.

Jezz Smith(left) jousts Andrew McKinnon(right) at the Taupo joust 2010
(photo by Scott Marks)

As I rode off, I heard Graham Nixon say, “That was very tidy man.” I think I had to get the smile on my face surgically removed after about a fortnight.

So there it is. The tale of the accidental international jouster. Our joust careers are filled with stories like these. Opportunity, skill, humour and mateship. This is what keeps me going – the people you meet and the adventures you have with them. Normal folk just wouldn't understand.

Then there was the tale of Team America, the ‘Special’ Bus and speaking Khazakh, but that tale must wait for another time…….

Andrew McKinnon at a jousting practice held on Father's Day 2009
(photo by Garry Davenport)

More tales from the Accidental International Jouster coming... maybe...

A New Jousting Event in Australia: Tournament Australis

Tournament Australis is a new jousting competition that will be held July 5 - 6 in southwestern Sydney, Australia on jouster Sarah Hay's private ranch.

Australian jouster Sarah Hay(photo by The Jousting Life)

Text provided by Sarah Hay:

Tournament Australis is a new concept in Australia. I was inspired to hold the tournament because I've had a vision of creating a more inclusive opportunity for more riders to participate and have fun in medieval horse sports. There are 16 riders and 16 horses participating in this event, which I am really proud of. Many of these riders are riding in their first medieval event, and they are very excited about wearing costume and learning new skills.

I am also very interested in creating different sorts of competitive events for riders to participate in -- a much more difficult mounted skill at arms course than normal, team ground archery, tippet tag, team skill at arms. Another very exciting aspect of this event is that Jen Jobst from Texas, USA is teaching Australia's first Ballet du Cheval performance. We have eight riders participating, and I very proud to be able to host the first of this kind of opportunity in Australia.

Equestrian Jen Jobst who will be leading the Ballet du Cheval(photo by The Jousting Life)

One of the aspects I am most looking forward to is a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony to open the event. A local Aboriginal elder will 'cleanse' the spirits through this smoking ceremony out on the field on Saturday morning. All riders will be there in costume. I hope that this meaningful ceremony will pitch a very Australian sense of good will that will last for the whole weekend. I expect it will be a moving ceremony for all participating.

Aboriginal Elder Uncle Steve who will be performing a smoking ceremony
at the beginning of the event(photo provided by Sarah Hay)

The biggest challenge in creating this tournament is organizing the feast that we are having on the Saturday night down in the paddock. The jousting part is easy! As the event is on my property, the mounted archery courses, jousting list and mounted skill at arms course is already set up. Cooking food for 45 people and managing everything around that after a full day of riding will be challenging, but things are well prepared, so I think it will still work well. The people who have been invited are all the 'helping' type, so I know that everyone will pull together and help make it a wonderful night.

I am really looking forward to riding out on Saturday morning and seeing 16 riders on 16 horses all participating and having fun. I look forward to seeing happy faces on Sunday afternoon at the closing ceremony where the winners will be acknowledged, and all will hopefully have a new bag of fun memories from Tournament Australis 2014.

Tournament Australis(photo provided by Sarah Hay)

Related articles:
Female Jouster, Sarah Hay, Wins "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament 2012"

Andre Renier Wins "The Grand Tournament of St Charles"

More Information and Video from "The Grand Tournament of St Charles"

Random Pic: Camel Jousting

Promotional Video for St Ives Medieval Faire & Tournament

The St Ives Medieval Faire will take place September 20 - 21 in St Ives, Sydney, Australia. There will be a historical village, a traditional archery range and a birds of prey display, but, of course, the most important feature for those of us interested in jousting will the jousting tournament.

Promo video for St Ives Medieval Faire(video by Ben van Koert/Kaos Historical Media)

The tournament is based on the idea that the olde world jousters(those from Europe) will be challenging the new world jousters(those from Australia). In addition to the jousting(with shaped solid lances such as those used in Sankt Wendel), there will also be a mounted melee. The jousters involved will be:

From the olde world:
Petter Ellingsen from Norway
Arne Koets from the Netherlands
Bertus Brokamp from the Netherlands

From the new world:
Rod Walker
Luke Binks
Andrew McKinnon
Phillip Leitch

For more information about the tournament, check out the St Ives Medieval Faire website and Facebook page.

Andreas Wenzel jousts Petter Ellingsen with shaped solid lances
(photo by Ben van Koert/Kaos Historical Media)

"Tournament of St. George" to be held at the Blacktown Medieval Fayre

Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, in Sydney, Australia at the “My Lords & Ladies Medieval Fayre”, part of the “Blacktown City Festival”, Full Tilt will be running the “Tournament of St. George”. In addition to the standard frangible lance joust – which is an open joust subject to application and approval – there will also be a solid tapered lance joust with steel coronels. These are the same kind of lances that were used in the prestigious “Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel”. Only those few jousters already chosen will be competing in the solid tapered lance joust.

Arne Koets(left) jousts Joram van Essen(right) with solid tapered lances with steel coronels at "The Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel" (photo by Hanno van Harten)


Close up of the steel coronel on the end of a solid tapered lance(photo by Ulrike Otto)

Competing in the solid tapered lance joust will be Rod Walker, Arne Koets, Andrew McKinnon and Luke Binks. Rod Walker, is probably best known for being the coach of the winning black team in the tv show “Full Metal Jousting”. He has been jousting competitively for many years and has competed in tournaments all over the world. Rod won the joust at last year's Blacktown Medieval Fayre. He and his wife Michelle run “Full Tilt”.

Rod Walker on his horse Shadow at Blacktown Medieval Fayre 2012(photo by Ross Schultz)

Arne Koets not only jousted in, but also organized the prestigious “Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel” at which, he came in second place overall. He would have come in first, except he persuaded the Lady judges to give some of the points they were going to give to him to Joram van Essen whom Arne had accidentally injured earlier in the tournament. Arne is also the good-natured subject of a widespread jousting jest, the "International I Want To Be Arne Koets Day".

Arne Koets on his horse Maximillian(photo by Franziska Schatek)

Although Andrew McKinnon had never ridden a horse before his 40th birthday, and never jousted competitively until 2010, he has since competed in several international tournaments, including some in New Zealand and France. In May of 2012, Andrew earned third place in the Australian Jousting Championship held at Bathurst. Andrew looks forward to developing his dressage and jousting skills and winning more renown in Australia and overseas.

Video of Andrew McKinnon(in blue and white) jousting Sasha Buchmann(in green and gray) at last year's Blacktown Medieval Fayre(video by mozebasic)

After spending some time in Norway, Luke Binks has returned to his native land of Australia. In order to satisfy his lifelong passion for knights and the middle ages, Luke started to make armour, learn to fight and to ride horses in 2002. Since then, Luke has competed in numerous tournaments in over 10 different countries. He has also taught several jousting clinics.

Luke Binks on his horse Misty(photo by Hanno van Harten)

The above jousters will also compete in the frangible lance joust where they will be joined in competition by Sarah Hay and Ben van Koert. Sarah Hay is probably the best and certainly the most active woman in competitive jousting. In 2012, Sarah won the “Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament” which served both as an international jousting tournament and as the Australian national championship tournament. Sarah won both aspects of the tournament. This was not the first tournament she had won, she has won at least six others, and has competed in numerous tournaments around the globe.

Sarah Hay on the lovely horse Femke(photo by BronwynElliot)

Ben van Koert is probably best known for the wonderful videos he has created of jousting and jousting tournaments through his company Kaos Historical Media. He created the promo video for the “Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel” as well as a video of the tournament itself. For this tournament, however, he will be in front of the camera rather than behind it.

Ben van Koert practicing jousting(photo by Gerlinde Viveen)

You can find more details about where and when the jousting tournament will take place on the “Blacktown City Festival” and the "My Lords & Ladies Medieval Fayre" website. You can find out more about “Full Tilt” on their website.

Rod Walker Wins the "The Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament 2013”

On April 12 – 14, in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, jousters competed for the title of New South Wales jousting champion for 2013. Rod Walker, who you may remember as the coach of the black team on the tv show “Full Metal Jousting” won this year's “Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament” with a perfect score of 60 points.

Rod Walker on his jousting horse Shadow (photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

John King, in his first international jousting tournament, earned second place with a score of 51 points.

Left to Right: Rod Walker, Gunnar Cederberg, Sarah Hay and John King(photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

And Sarah Hay and Gunnar Cederberg tied for third place with scores of 50 points.

Gunnar Cederberg on Charisma jousts Sarah Hay on Femke (photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

Although Rod finished with a perfect score, things did not go perfectly for him on every pass. During one pass, Andrew McKinnon accidentally struck Rod in the head with his lance. In some tournaments, such as “The Grand Tournament of Sankt Wendel”, head shots are allowed and even awarded points. However, the armour requirements for such tournaments are much stricter than for those that do not allow head shots. In the “Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament” head shots were not allowed, and Rod was not wearing the kind of armour best suited for protecting his head from the lance. Fortunately, Rod was not injured, but he was upset, and they did re-run the pass.

Rod Walker(left) just after being struck in the head by Andrew McKinnon's(right) lance
(photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

When asked about accidentally hitting Rod in the head, Andrew had this to say:

“The reason I was staying a bit high was my horse very nervous, and I wasn't going to overcommit to a shot that might potentially go low if the horse balked. So safety was the first consideration.” – Andrew McKinnon

Notice that Andrew was more concerned about the safety of Rod's horse than of Rod's head. If the lance had gone low instead of high, there was a chance it might have hit Rod's horse. In jousting, the safety of the horse is paramount. The jousters have chosen to risk injury by competing, the horses have not. Jousters would far rather get hurt themselves than risk hurting a horse, as Rod succinctly states in the following:

"He [Andrew] did the right thing, better high than low. Unfortunately, it made the marble in my head roll from the Nice Rod side to the Bad Rod side for a few minutes.” – Rod Walker

After the incident, the two resolved the issue...

Rod Walker(left)and Andrew McKinnon(right) shake hands (photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

and headed to the nearest pub to have a cold beer together.

Left to Right: Andrew McKinnon, Rod Walker, Sarah Hay and Gunnar Cederberg
(photo by Bronwyn Elliot)

You can see more pictures from the tournament in Bronwyn Elliot's photo album.

The tournament was produced by Full Tilt Entertainment. You can find out more about Full Tilt on their website and Facebook page.

Random Pic: Camel Jousting

Jouster Sarah Hay on a camel(photo by Eclecstasy)

This is Australian jouster Sarah Hay riding a camel at the "Blactown Medieval Fayre 2012". Will camel jousting become the new trend? What do you think?

(No, she did not actually joust on the camel. She just rode one in armour.)

You can see more pictures from the "Blacktown Medieval Fayre Jousting Tournament" here.

The First Joust in Tasmania Held During the "Burnie-Wynyard Medieval Festival"

Written by Phillip Leitch with pictures by Lisa Leitch:


The first ever Burnie-Wynyard Medieval Festival, was held the weekend of the 15th and 16th of September. It included a mounted skill at arms(MSA) display, a melee and a joust by Australian jousters, Justin Holland, Wayne Riggs and Phillip Leitch.

Wayne Riggs(left) jousts Phillip Leitch(right)(photo by Lisa Leitch)

This was the first joust to be held in Phillip's home state of Tasmania, and it was very well received by the locals.

Phillip Leitch on his Friesian Stallion Valiant greets the public (photo by Lisa Leitch)

Two of the horses used in the event had never jousted in a public display before and stepped up to the task, as if they were seasoned veterans. Phillip's Friesian Stallion 'Valiant' stole the show with his impressive physique and presence. Phillip's wife Lisa was kind enough to lend the jousters her Australian Stock Horse 'Bounty', who had done the least joust training of the three, but he was ridden well by seasoned jouster Justin Holland, and performed brilliantly throughout the weekend.

Justin Holland on Bounty(left) jousts Phillip Leitch on Valiant(right)
(photo by Lisa Leitch)

The third horse 'Hood', owned by Wayne Riggs was shipped over by ferry especially for the tournament and put on a great display of speed and skill, truly a credit to his owner and rider. Wayne, when asked about his horse's breeding will tell you he is a "Mongrel", but whatever his breed, he was definitely worth the effort and expense to bring into the state.

Wayne Riggs on his horse Hood does MSA(photo by Lisa Leitch)

The joust was broken up with pieces of improvised theatrics where the evil "Sir Riggsy" would, chastise, beat and boss "Sir Phillip's" squire "Sam" around, and chase him down the lyst. Occasionally "Sir Phillip" would intervene, pursuing the evil knight or challenging him to further joust passes. The comedic performance of "Squire Sam" is something that the audience will surely remember for a long time.

"Squire Sam" is chased by the evil "Sir Riggsy" (photo by Lisa Leitch)

Over the weekend three joust displays were run and judged separately. Amazingly, each of the jousters won one of the displays! A very close competition indeed.

Justin Holland(left) jousts Phillip Leitch(right)(photo by Lisa Leitch)

It is hoped that the weekend will turn into an annual event, growing in size and involving more jousters in the future. Even so, for a small place like Tasmania, it was a great event that the organizers should be very proud of.

Phillip Leitch, Justin Holland and Wayne Riggs(photo by Lisa Leitch)

Many thanks to Phillip Leitch and Lisa Leitch for providing the text and pictures for this article.

The Professional Jousting League Announces the Australian Jousting Team

The Professional Jousting League was started in Australia by well-known jouster, Rod Walker, the coach of the black team on the tv show "Full Metal Jousting". The mission of the Professional Jousting League(PJL) is to hold large scale professional jousting tournaments presented as a modern sport.

There will be space within the PJL for both experienced professional jousters and those aspiring to become professional. Unlike most jousting tournaments, those sponsored by the PJL are intended to be seen as a modern sport. Therefore sponsors' logos, banners etc. may be displayed on the tilt, the field and/or competitors caparisons if they wish.

The PJL has recently announced the formation of its first official Australian Jousting Team. The Members of the team are as follows(bios and pics provided by PJL):

Team Manager -- Michelle Walker

Michelle Walker has been riding almost all her life in multiple disciplines of equestrian activities. In 1992 when her husband Rod Walker decided he wanted to take up jousting, she thought he was mad, but went along with it and it wasn’t long before Michelle was training the horses to joust and getting her first suit of armour to participate.

Michelle began jousting at public events and it didn’t take long for her to want to compete with her first tournament at Abbey in 2001. Michelle got the joust/tournament bug and started to compete. In 2004 Michelle competed in the American Style in the women’s division at the Dragons Lair Jousting Tournament in Canada and followed this up by coming 3rd at a tournament in Norway, followed by competing in Sweden, but had to withdraw due to injury, then won the Australasian Championship in 2006 where she beat 7 men for the title and helped take the Australian Team to Victory. Michelle also competed successfully at Harcourt Park in NZ in 2007.

Unfortunately later in 2007 at a Jousting event, Michelle had a bad fall and fractured 3 vertebrae in her neck and due to this injury Michelle had to retire from the sport that she loved. Michelle now spends her time running Full Tilt, booking shows and organizing Tournaments in Australia. Michelle has wrangled horses and jousters for many years now and is looking forward to the challenge of keeping the Australian Team fit and ready for any challenges they take part in. (Photo Courtesy of Garry Davenport, Dragon Images)

Team Captain -- Rod Walker

Rod Walker is a founding member of the International Jousting Association and has dominated jousting since he began competing. He has won or placed in every tournament he has entered and has had a huge impact on jousting in the modern era. He has competed all over the world including spending a season on the toughest jousting circuit in the world, the full contact North American circuit.

He is also one of only a few jousters worldwide to have jousted in a fully historical joust using solid lances fitted with steel coronels both in 13thC historical harness (riveted mail) and in 15thC full plate. Rod is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable jousters in the world and is renowned as one of the best and toughest jousters in the world.

He is the winning Black Team Head Coach on the tv show "Full Metal Jousting" having trained the overall winner, the second place getter and the winner of the Teams Choice Joust. After spending three years off from competitive jousting Rod decided to enter the Blacktown Medieval Fair Joust at the last minute, and with no training under his belt, he won it by a huge margin and was only one lance from a perfect score for the whole tournament.

Rod rides in either a late 15thC Gothic harness made by Jiri Lucius or a spring steel Gestech harness made by Alex Scheibner. Rod's motto is: Dominus Suus Cognoscebit, "The Lord will Recognize His Own". (Photo Courtesy of Garry Davenport, Dragon Images)

Team Member -- Phillip Oliver

Phillip Oliver has been riding all of his life in the hack arena, before deciding that he would like to do something more spectacular with his horses. So in 2008 he joined Rod and Michelle Walker’s Jousting Troupe Full Tilt.

Since joining Full Tilt, Phillip has been training hard and has attended many of Full Tilt’s shows throughout Australia. Phillip has come a long way since he started jousting, and he took the jousting world by storm when, in his first jousting tournament, he came 3rd in the joust at the 2009 St. George’s Day International Jousts at IronFest in Lithgow (Australia) - more than holding his own against some of the world’s best jousters.

Since then Phil has competed in Australia and New Zealand, and he has since placed 1st in NZ and 2nd at St Georges Day Jousting in 2010. Phil loves to compete and enjoys entertaining the crowd at Full Tilt Jousting Shows. In 2011, he won both the St Georges Day Jousting Tournament and the Blacktown Medieval Fair Jousting Tournament. Phillip also placed 2nd at the Full Tilt Jousting Tournament (Australian Championships) in Bathurst in 2012 and 2nd at the Blacktown Medieval Fair Tournament in 2012.

Phil looks forward to attending tournaments around the world and showing his hard won skills. (photo by Michelle Walker)

Team Member -- Andrew McKinnon

Andrew McKinnon hails from Sydney's northern beaches and came to jousting later in life after a misspent youth as a rock and roll musician. Andrew is married with three strapping young squires and owns a communications company with his long suffering joust widow, Andrea!

In 2007 Andrew discovered that real jousting still exists, and after training with Rod Walker advanced enough to be able to compete in his first tournament less than three years later, despite having never ridden a horse prior to his 40th birthday! In his debut in Australia at the 2010 St George’s Day Joust Tournament, Andrew placed a creditable fourth, beating some of the world’s best. Andrew was a member of the victorious Australian Jousting Team in 2010 that defeated New Zealand at the Taupo Knights Challenge.

In 2011 Andrew, as Captain of Arms, returned across the Tasman to defend this country’s honour at his second Taupo Knights Challenge. Andrew won the Skill at Arms contest at Blacktown Medieval Faire, May 2012, this tournament also involved four individual foot combats with the longsword after each joust/riding session where Andrew won every session.

Andrew placed 3rd at the Australian Jousting Championships, Bathurst May 2012.
He was also a member of the winning New World Team over the Old World European Team, Neauphle le Chateau, France, June 2012. Andrew won second in the joust at the Winterfest Tournament in Sydney, Australia and first in the skill at arms. Andrew looks forward to developing his dressage skills and winning more renown in Australia and overseas.

Andrew rides in an italian spring steel harness circa 1460 made by Luke Binks. His arms are azure a wolf rampant argent. His motto is Malum aspice fatum, "Evil behold your fate". (Photo Courtesy of Siobhan Elliott)

Canberra Medieval Fair Seeks Jousters

Announcement from the Australian Jousting Team:

Canberra Medieval Fair and Tournament, 27th & 28th October, 2012. (This site apparently needs to be updated.)

Now taking applications for the joust and skill at arms/ melee. Competitors for the joust will need a suitable amount of experience. This event does have funding, and travel stipends will be allocated once the field of competitors is finalized. There may be some opportunity for interstate competitors to borrow a horse.

The event organizers plan to apply for IJL affiliation.

Email Justin Holland of Nova Hollandia Entertainment for more details.

Canberra Medieval Fair and Tourmament (photo from website)

Chat Live with Rod Walker of "Full Metal Jousting"

If you live in Australia, A&E tv has set up a chance for you to chat live with Rod Walker, the coach for the black team on "Full Metal Jousting".

Click on the image above to be taken to the chat site.

"Join us for an exclusive live chat with Black Team Aussie coach Rod Walker. Rod will be online after the show on Wednesday May 30 at 9.30pm (AEST) to answer all your questions about the show, jousting and anything else you want to know! So stop by and join in on the conversation."

For those of you who don't live in Australia, It's not clear whether or not you will be allowed onto the chat, but AEST (the New South Wales/Sydney area) is UTC+10. Here is a link to a time zone converter, so that you can tell when 9:30pm AEST is where you live.

The current time in Sydney Australia is:

Nice TV News Video of Jousting Tournament at Blacktown Medieval Fayre

This news video covers the Blacktown Medieval Fayre in Sydney, Australia, and features the Jousting Tournament hosted by Full Tilt Joust Team. There are brief interviews with Rod Walker of "Full Metal Jousting" and jouster Andrew McKinnon.

Video from Fox News

If the embedded video is not working, you can follow this link to see the video.

Rod Walker of "Full Metal Jousting" Wins Blacktown Medieval Fayre Jousting Tournament

On May 19 & 20, the Full Tilt Joust Team hosted the jousting tournament at the annual Blacktown Medieval Fayre. Rod Walker, from the tv show "Full Metal Jousting", won first place in the jousting portion of the tournament with a total of 70 out of a possible 75 points. Phillip Oliver, the gray rabbit, earned second place with 55 points. And Sarah Hay, the current Australian National Jousting Champion, came in third with 53 points. (Admittedly, she may be suffering a bit from jet lag since she competed in "Lysts on the Lake" in Taylor, Texas, USA just the week before.)

Sarah Hay jousts Rod Walker at Blacktown Medieval Fayre 2012(photo by Ross Schultz)

Other jousters in the tournament were Sasha Buchmann (43 points), Andrew McKinnon (29 points) and Phillip Leitch (18 points).

Phillip Oliver jousts Andrew McKinnon at Blacktown Medieval Fayre 2012(photo by Karin Bridle)

In the Mounted Skill at Arms division, Andrew McKinnon won first place. Sarah Hay earned second place. Phillip Oliver and Nicole Denton tied for third. And Linda Dicmanis finished fourth.

The viewers at the Blacktown Medieval Fair jousting tournament also got to vote on their favorite competitor and horse. Shadow, a 14.3 hand Percheron x Australian Stock Horse mare, was chosen as the favorite horse. Rod Walker was chosen as the favorite knight.

Rod Walker on Shadow at Blacktown Medieval Fayre 2012(photo by Ross Schultz)

A short video of a jousting pass with Andrew McKinnon and Sasha Buchmann:

Video by mozebasic

Full Tilt Jousting Troupe to Appear at The Blacktown Medieval Fayre

The Blacktown Medieval Fayre is part of the Blacktown City Festival. It will be taking place May 19 & 20 at Nurringingy Reserve, Knox Rd, Doonside from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free.

The Full Tilt Jousting Troupe led by Rod Walker (the coach of the black team in "Full Metal Jousting") will be holding a tournament as part of the festivities. Here's a video of news coverage of last year's event:

This year's competition will include:

The Black Knight of no name (UK)
Phillip Oliver -- the Grey Rabbit (Australia)
Fiona Williams -- the Red and Gold Unicorn (Australia)
Andrew McKinnon -- the Silver Wolf (Australia)
Sarah Hay (Australia)
Phillip Leitch (Australia)

And possibly a few others.

Female Jouster, Sarah Hay, Wins "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament 2012"

The "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament" was held this past weekend in Australia as part of the "Royal Bathurst Show". The tournament was the first official tournament of the newly formed Professional Jousting League (PJL) and was hosted by Full Tilt Jousting led by Rod Walker (the coach of the black team from "Full Metal Jousting"). It served both as an international jousting tournament and as the Australian national championship tournament. Female jouster Sarah Hay won both aspects of the tournament.

Sarah Hay is an experienced horsewoman who lives on a farm in the outskirts of Sydney where she looks after a team of eleven horses. She has participated in a variety of equestrian activities, but has lately decided to focus on jousting and mounted archery. Sarah, who is only 5'6" tall and 140 lbs, has been competing in international jousting tournaments for two years.

Sarah Hay at Gniew Castle Tournament(photos by Siri Bjolseth)

During the "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament", Sarah was competing against men and women from both the United States and Australia. One of her competitors was FMJ assistant coach for the black team, American Jeremy Oneail, who "has won over a dozen tournaments in six different countries. Since learning how to joust, Jeremy has competed and placed in more overseas jousting competitions that any other American jouster."

The list of competitors who participated in this year's "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament" included: Andrew McKinnon (Australia), Fiona Williams (Australia), Jeremy Oneail (USA), Katrina Kruse (Australia), Phillip Oliver (Australia), Robbie Hubbard (USA), Sarah Hay (Australia) and possibly a few others.

From left to right: Fiona Williams, Robbie "Breaksalot" Hubbard, Andrew McKinnon, Jeremy Oneail and Sarah Hay(Photo by Rod Walker)

The winners for this dual tournament were as follows:

Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament:
1st place -- Sarah Hay
2nd place -- Robbie Hubbard
3rd place -- Jeremy Oneail

Australian Championship Jousting Tournament:
1st place -- Sarah Hay
2nd place -- Phil Oliver
3rd place -- Andrew McKinnon

This was not the first jousting tournament that Sarah has won(she has won at least six others), and probably won't be the last. At her next tournament during the weekend of May 11 - 13, she will be one of twelve women competing in "Lysts on the Lake" which takes place in Taylor, Texas, USA. She will be facing a total of 45 competitors from 6 different countries.

This will be the largest tournament that she has ever competed in -- as it will be the largest competitive jousting tournament held in modern times according to the International Jousting League. With so many women competing, and the distinct possibility of a woman winning this and/or other upcoming tournaments, it seems like competitive jousting, which was previously perceived as a purely masculine sport, may be changing to include a few more feminine faces.

(photo from the Macarthur Chronicle)

Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament 2012

Full Tilt holds jousting tournaments in Australia each year. You may recognize the leader of Full Tilt, Rod Walker, as the coach of the black joust team on the tv show "Full Metal Jousting".

Left to right: Rod Walker, Shane Adams, Ripper Moore

Full Tilt is known world wide for hosting "The St Georges Day Jousting Tournament", considered one of the best jousting tournaments around. However, this year, the name has been changed to "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament" and it will be held in a new location as part of the "Royal Bathurst Show", April 27 - 29, 2012.

The "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament" is affiliated with the International Jousting League and will be the first tournament affiliated with the newly formed Professional Jousting League.

Below are listed some of the jousters that have confirmed that they will be competing at the "Full Tilt International Jousting Tournament". Several other jousters may participate, but they have not yet been confirmed.

Jeremy Oneail (USA)
Robbie Hubbard (USA)
Phillip Oliver -- the Grey Rabbit (Australia)
Fiona Williams -- the Red & Gold Unicorn (Australia)
Andrew McKinnon -- the Silver Wolf (Australia)
Sarah Hay (Australia)
Katrina Kruse (Australia)

On Left:Fiona Williams jousts Phillip Oliver (photo from Full Tilt)



Promotional video for Full Tilt:

Jouster Phillip Leitch of “Full Metal Jousting” to Appear at Medieval Mayhem in Tasmania

Medieval Mayhem is a family-friendly fun day with all manner of medieval activities and entertainments. It is organized and run by the Huon Valley branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The event will take place in Geeveston, Tasmania on Saturday, April 21 from 10am till 4pm. Admission is free.

According to the Medieval Mayhem blog:

"Phillip Leitch, jouster and master horseman, idol of millions, darling of medievalists on seven continents and close personal friend to royalty, will be putting on his show at Medieval Mayhem. Astride his mighty steed Valiant, he will show the skills that won him his place as a coach on Full Metal Jousting, and when everyone is thoroughly gobsmacked he’ll even pose for photos and sign autographs. What more could you ask? "

Phillip Leitch on Valiant

For more information about this event, check out the Medieval Mayhem facebook page.
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