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 The Free Lancers include three different styles of jousting in their tournaments that are based on historical references describing the many various styles of jousting used in renaissance times. Though some may argue about the exact interpretations of these historical references, it is still a noble endeavor to show the public that there were different styles of jousting used in different periods and places throughout history.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 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.

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!"

Promotional Video for the Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry

New promotional video for the Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry (STALC). STALC is a jousting troupe based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were founded and are led by Radar Goddard, who in addition to being a jouster, is an EMT and a firefighter. She also rescues horses, many of whom become equestrian members of STALC.

This video was created for STALC by Shawn Morrow of Compu-Knights

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