Paul Schneider Wins the Ravenswood International Tournament 2014 at the Maryland Renaissance Festival

Congratulations to Paul Schneider for earning the title of Grand Champion at the Ravensood International Tournament 2014! The tournament was held October 18 – 19 during the last weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival.

Paul Schneider, Grand Champion of the Ravenswood International Tournament 2014
(photo by Neil Rothschild)

The tournament was organized by Roy Cox and his jousting troupe, The Free Lancers. The Free Lancers include three different styles of jousting in their tournaments that are based on historical references describing the many various styles of jousting used in renaissance times. Though some may argue about the exact interpretations of these historical references, it is still a noble endeavor to show the public that there were different styles of jousting used in different periods and places throughout history. The names and descriptions of these three styles as used by the Free Lancers are as follows:

In Plankengestech, a secondary breastplate is added over the left half of the breastplate. It has a mini buff and wing at the top for protection of the neck and face. The target is that secondary breastplate.

In Welshgestech, a buff and smooth grand guard are added to the jouster's armour. The smooth grand guard is the target.

Realgestech is very similar to Welshgestech except that the grand guard is gridded, typically with nine grids. The grids make it easier for the lance to lock into the guard and create a harder blow. The target is, of course, the gridded grand guard.

Paul won both the Plankengestech and Welschgestech jousting competitions. Larry Peterka won the Realgestech jousting competition.

Larry Peterka, Champion of the Realgestech competition(photo by Neil Rothschild)

Although this was a real, not choreographed, jousting competition, the competitors chose to use stage names during the tournament. Some of the competitors do both choreographed jousting shows and non-choreographed jousting competitions and are probably best known by their stage names. The complete list of winners below includes both the everyday names and the stage names of the competitors:

Overall Winners:
1st place – Paul Schneider (Don Martino Fernandez)
2nd place – Gene Martino, jr (Sir Ian McFarland)
3rd place – Lary Peterka (Sir John Devere)
4th place – Barchan (Sir Barchan)
5th place – Christopher Farmer (Sir Robin Knox)
6th place – Jeff Sotero (Sir Soltoro de Tuscany)
7th place – Leland Coleman (Sir Edmund Howard)
8th place – Radar Goddard (Countess Elvita von Edenberg)

The Jousters of Ravenswood Internation Tournament 2014(photo by Neil Rothschild)

Champion of Plankengestech – Paul Schneider (Don Martino Fernandez)
Champion of Welschgestech – Paul Schneider (Don Martino Fernandez)
Champion of Realgestech – Larry Peterka (Sir John Devere)

On the Friday before the tournament, there was a Squire's Competition based on mounted skill at arms(MSA). Jennifer Ebberts was the winner of that competition.

Jennifer Ebberts, winner of the Squire's Competition(photo by Neil Rothschild)

Photographer Neil Rothschild captured some great photos of the tournament. Click to embiggen.

Paul Schneider jousts Larry Peterka during Ravenswood International Tournament 2014
(photo by Neil Rothschild)




Paul Schneider and Barchan strike their lances tip to tip(photo by Neil Rothschild)

To learn more about the Free Lancers, check out their Facebook page.
Many thanks to Barchan, Jen Zentgraf and Neil Rothschild for providing the information and photographs used in this article.

Related articles:
The Free Lancers Competitive Jousting Tournament at the Maryland Renaissance Festival

Paul Schneider Wins the Gath of Baal Jousting Tournament

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

The Free Lancers Competitive Jousting Tournament at the Maryland Renaissance Festival

On the final weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the Free Lancers jousting troupe held a competitive jousting tournament instead of their usual show.

Gene Martino and Leland Coleman joust at the Maryland Renaissance Festival
(photo by Neil Rothschild)

The competitors used their stage names during the tournament, but the competition was real. Here are the results of the tournament as posted on the Free Lancers Facebook page:

8th place---Sir Rogan Lors with 84 points.
7th place---Sir John DeVere with 86 points.
6th place---Sir Robin Knox with 87 points.
5th place---Sir Barchan with 93 points.
4th place---Sir Michael Stafford with 106 points.
3rd place---Sir Edward of Rigney with 109 points
2nd place--Don Martino Fernandez with 132 points

And congratulations to Sir Ian McFarland with a record setting 148 points!!!!

He is the Grand Champion!

The Free Lancers jousting troupe(photo by Neil Rothschild)

Random Pic

A picture from the 2011 Gath of Baal jousting tournament.

Gene Martino Jr and squires(photo by DWRD Studios)

In Gene Martino Jr's own words, this is what happened:

"I was jousting Leland Coleman, got to the end of the list and could not lower or move my right arm. Lance had skittered across my breast plate, under the RIGHT pauldron and went between and through some of the lames. As I recall Knight Cody Powell even tried to extricate it to no avail. I exited the list, had the pauldron completely removed, but the show was basicall over before I was able to go again. Hence the term: "lame excuse!" I just felt like a bug on a stick! My horse was completely nonplussed and remained calm throughout." -- Gene Martino Jr

Feel free to suggest creative captions for this picture in the comments section for this post.

Also, if you have a picture you would like to submit to be a "Random Pic", please email TJL. Make sure to include the name of the photographer.

Paul Schneider Wins the Gath of Baal Jousting Tournament

The Gath of Baal Jousting Tournament took place Saturday through Monday, May 26 – 28, as part of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. This tournament was hosted by the Free Lancers led by Roy Cox. Roy Cox did not compete in the tournament, rather he acted as a mounted marshal and was final judge on scoring. (Skip to the bottom of this post to see a simple list of the tournament results.)

Roy Cox carries in the US Marine flag on Memorial Day(photo by DWRD)

The Gath of Baal tournament included three different styles of jousting, Plankengestech, Welshgestech and Realgestech – a different style for each day of the tournament. Monday, in addition to being the last day of the tournament, was first and foremost Memorial Day. Instead of riding out carrying flags of their own heraldry, competitors rode out carrying flags representing the armed services that either they or their family members have served in. (click on pictures to embiggen)

(photos by DWRD)

Saturday was the Plankengestech competition. In Plankengestech, a secondary breastplate is added over the left half of the breastplate. It has a mini buff and wing at the top for protection of the neck and face. The target is that secondary breastplate. After three rounds of jousting(each round consisting of four pairs jousting four passes each), the winner of the Plankengestech section of the tournament was Paul Schneider.

Paul Schneider(left) jousts Charlie Andrews(right) in Plankengestech (photo by Kirk Hughes)

Sunday was the Welshgestech competition. In Welshgestech, a buff and smooth grand guard are added to the jouster's armour. The smooth grand guard is the target. After three rounds of jousting, there was a tie for first place in the Welshgestech competition between Gene Martino and Paul Schneider.

Gene Martino(left) and Paul Schneider(right)in Welshgestech(photos by Kirk Hughes)

Monday was the Realgestech competition. Realgestech is very similar to Welshgestech except that the grand guard is gridded, typically with 9 grids. The grids make it easier for the lance to lock into the guard and create a harder blow. The target is, of course, the gridded grand guard. After three rounds of jousting, Charlie Andrews, of the Knights of Mayhem, won the Realgestech competition.

Charlie Andrews breaks his lance against John Byington in Realgestech(photo by DWRD)

The points for the different styles of jousting were always awarded in the same way: 1 point for a touch on the proper target; 3 points for a lance break in front of the pennant; 5 points for a lance break beyond the pennant; 5 points to each knight for a tip to tip strike; and 10 points for an unhorsing.

The lances were all made using a straight piece of wood with a solid (not scored or weakened in any way) balsa tip. The pennant(a small fabric flag) was attached at the place where the balsa was attached to the wood.

Lances with pennants (photo by Lauren Renee-Zartman Martino)

Based on the points won over all three days of competition, Paul Scheider was the Grand Champion of the tournament.

Paul Schneider at the Gath of Baal jousting tournament(photo by DWRD)

Although the competition was real, since the tournament was part of the entertainment for the renaissance festival, the jousters used stage names during the tournament. Below is a list of the stage names followed by the everyday names of the competitors.

Don Martino Fernandez – Paul Schneider
Prince Killem – Charlie Andrews
Sir Barchan Jouster – Barchan
Sir Charles Howard – Leland Coleman
Sir Edward DeVere – Louis Martino
Sir Ian McFarland – Gene Martino
Sir John Byington – John Byington
Sir Rogan Lors – William Garrison

Several of the jousters at the Gath of Baal jousting tournament(photo by DWRD)

Overall Tournament Standings:

Grand Champion: Don Martino Fernandez with 120 points (Paul Schneider)

2nd place: Prince Killem with 114 points (Charlie Andrews)
3rd place: Sir Ian McFarland with 113 points (Gene Martino)
4th place: Sir Barchan with 102 points (Barchan)
5th place: Sir Edward DeVere with 99 points (Louis Martino)
6th place: Sir Charles Howard with 97 points (Leland Coleman)
7th place: Sir Rogan Lors with 87 points (William Garrison)
8th place: Sir John Byington with 55 points (John Byington)

Individual Style Winners:

Plankengestech:
Don Martino Fernandez (Paul Schneider)

Welshgestech:
Tie – Don Martino Fernandez (Paul Schneider) and Sir Ian McFarland (Gene Martino)

Realgestech:
Prince Killem (Charlie Andrews)