In Memoriam – Ulrich Kiener

The jousting community lost a valiant fighter recently when Ulrich Kiener passed away on January 12, 2013 from complications of liver failure. Ulrich had suffered from liver problems since he was 6 years old. He had two liver transplants before being able to live out his dream of becoming a jouster. He and his wife were well liked in the jousting community for the all too brief time that he was able to joust. He will be missed by those he left behind.

"His life was the riding and jousting and fighting. I´m very proud to have known him, having him as my husband and being part of his life... The same is the pain to have lost him.” – Melanie Sonja Mayr-Kiener

Ulrich's wife, Melanie, created a Facebook page in Ulrich's honor where she shared a message about Ulrich in both her native language, German, and in English. They are printed below along with a few statements made by others who knew and cared for Ulrich.

Mein liebster Ehemann, Freund und Fürst, Ulrich Kiener, ist am 12.01.2013 friedlich von uns gegangen. Wir erweisen Ihm die letzte Ehre am 23.01.2013.

Stattfinden wird die heilige Messe und im Anschluss (gegen 12:30) die Beisetzung.
Genaue Zeit und Ort gebe ich noch bekannt.

Ich bitte, da für mich das alles noch zu frisch und schmerzhaft ist von Beileidsbekundungen am Grabe abzusehen.

Ich weiss dass es einige unter Euch gibt die Ihm gerne noch etwas mitgeben wollen auf seinem Weg. Dazu stehen einige Möglichkeiten zur Verfügung:
Ich habe eine Kondolenzmappe auslegen lassen in die jeder mitgebrachte zeilen einlegen kann oder auch etwas einschreiben kann. Desweiteren können die die nicht kommen können aber etwas schreiben wollen gerne eine speziell eingerichtete EMail Adresse nutzen. Ich werde die Zeilen dann mit in das Kondolenzbuch binden lassen.
EMail Adresse: fuerulrich.kiener@gmx.de

Uli war es immer wichtig dass man zusammensteht und füreinander da ist. Damit sollte jeder in diesem Kreis willkommen sein.

Ich habe eine gewisse Anzahl Sterbebildchen drucken lassen. Ausserdem kann jeder der möchte und nicht da ist gerne mir auf die Email schreiben wenn er auch eines will.Das werd ich dann veranlassen.

Ich denke man kann in so einem Fall kein allgemeines Treffen danach machen, daher sollen sich die die den Wunsch haben gerne nach der Bestattung selbst zusammenfinden. Ich selbst weiss ganz einfach noch nicht wie es mir an diesem tag geht, und ob ich mich einer der Gruppen anschliessen will und werde.

Ich danke Euch allen wirklich vielmals für Eure Anteilnahme, im Moment habe ich nur nicht die Möglichkeit Euch allen lieben Menschen zu antworten. Das tut mir leid. Ich hole das nach, ich trage Eure lieben Worte fest in meinem Herzen und sie machen die Zeit wenn nicht leicht dann doch zumindest erträglicher.

Eure Melanie Sonja Mayr-Kiener

Ulrich Kiener (photo by unknown)

My beloved husband, friend and lord, Ulrich Kiener, on 12.01.2013 went peacefully from us. We pay homage to him on 23.1.2013.

After Holy Mass will then (at 12:30) be the burial.
Exact time and place I announce yet.

I ask because for me it is too fresh and painful nor refrain from condolences at the grave.

I know there are some among you who would like to give to him a little on his way. These are some possibilities:

There will be a book of condolonce for everyone who may enroll something. Furthermore,who can not write something because of not coming can write to the dedicated email address. I'll let the rows then bind with the condolence book.
email address: fuerulrich.kiener @ gmx.de

To Uli it was always important that we all stand together and for each other . So everyone should be welcome at the holy mass and the burial

I printed a certain number of memorial card. Who wants and is not there should write me on the email. I´ll manage you will get one.

I think such a case, no general meeting thereafter is possible, so if you have the desire to come togetherafter it please arrange for yourself. I myself would simply not know how I feel on that day, and wheter I want to join and become one of the groups.

I thank you all really very much for your words, right now I don´t have the possibility to answer to all of you lovely people. I'm sorry. I make up for it, I'm wearing your nice words in my heart and they make the time if not easy then at least bearable.

Yours Melanie

"I would like to express how sad I was when I heard the news. I met Ulrich and Melanie at Hackaland 2011 and they were wonderful to me. I was hoping to invite them to New Zealand for a tournament that we may be holding later this year and I'm gutted that this will now not happen.” – Callum Forbes

“I also met Ulrich and Melanie at Hackaland 2011. They sheltered us in their tent when a huge storm came through. Ulrich and Melanie were also kind enough to allow me to stay with them for a week during Grunwald 2012. It was a great opportunity to build a strong friendship. I want to express my gratitude to both Ulrich and Melanie for their kindness. It is so very sad to know that Ulrich has passed on. He will live on, though, through our fond memories and photos that will be shared throughout our own lifetimes. Farewell Ulrich. Melanie, my thoughts are with you at this awful time. Take care. Xx” – Sarah Hay

“Ulrich was an example of strength. Every hour spent with Ulrich and Melanie was an hour of good time and laughs. He will remain my friend forever. My condolences, Melanie.” – Audrius Jankauskas

Ulrich Kiener (photo from Tadas Laurinaitis)

“‎"Von Bruder zu Bruder, bis in den Tod.", du weißt schon Uli...” – Matte Farben

“Mir fehlen die Worte ...
ich bin einfach nur bestürzt und traurig :´(
Warum musst Du so jung sterben?? Das ist nicht fair ... Du hattest Dein ganzes Leben noch vor Dir ...
Tränen fließen im Gedenken an Dich ...

Dein Körper ist von uns gegangen ...
aber Du lebst weiter ...
in unseren HERZEN.

Good bye, good fellow
Wir sehen uns in einer anderen Welt wieder”
– Uwe Ahrens

“Und so soll unser aufrichtiges Beileid kundgetan sein. Es ist immer der größte Verlust, einen aufrichtigen Ritter dem Herrn überlassen zu sehen. Doch dort wo immergrüne Wiesen blühen, das Himmelslicht gar am schönsten ist, dort soll er weilen und sich sicher sein, dass er behütet sei fortan...

-in memoriam-
verneigt sei unser Haupt........” – Rajmund Bitowsky von Lichtenburg

“It was a honor to meet him in the field...” – Łukasz Dutkiewicz

"This is real fun" – Ulrich Kiener (photo by unknown)

“Ein wahrlich bewundernswerter mann.....wenn es mehr wie ihn gäbe, wäre die welt lebenswerter!” – Ulrich Steinhauser

“Sterben ist das Auslöschen der Lampe im Morgenlicht,
nicht das Auslöschen der Sonne.

“Möge ein Grosser Mann in Friden Ruhen
Herzliches Beileid an Seine Famillie” – Ewan Blakkarsson

“Wir werd in gedange bei euch sein in der schwern zeit in gedangen und in unsern herzen würd er weiter leben” – Ainè Festum

Ulrich Kiener (photo by Viduramziai.Lt)

CNN Travel Posts a Nice Article About Contemporary Competitive Jousting

From CNN Travel:

World's most extreme sport? The modern renaissance of jousting:
Six places to watch competitive jousting around the world in 2013

By Dashka Slater for CNN Travel 10 January, 2013

Jousting -- the top-drawing sport across Europe for more than four centuries -- is undergoing a renaissance. And not just at renaissance fairs and goofy theme restaurants either.

The pastime has been the focus of two recent television shows: "Full Metal Jousting" on the History Channel and "Knights of Mayhem" on National Geographic.

As a new breed of modern athletes and equestrians exchange hard hits on horseback, opportunities are multiplying for modern spectators to see this most extreme of extreme sports....

To continue reading the CNN article, click here.

To see TJL's list of competitive jousting tournaments around the world in 2013, click here.

Jousting Tournament poster (photo from Order of the Boar)

Charlie Andrews and the Knights of Iron Jousting Clinic

Along with The Knights of Iron, Charlie Andrews, of The Knights of Mayhem tv show and jousting troupe, will be teaching students how to joust at a jousting clinic in Sullivan, Ohio on March 9, 2013. There are 10 spots available for students and unlimited spots available for watching the clinic and demonstrations of jousting.

More information about the clinic and demonstrations can be found by following this link.

Jousting (photo from The Knights of Iron)

Invitation to Joust in Russia

I've recently received information that a tournament in Russia is looking for experienced jousters for their historical festival, "Times & Epochs". You can find out more about the festival on this Facebook page:

Stefan Peetersvandenboschd'olbrecht, a member of "The Jousting Life" Facebook group, posted the following information about the event:

4 hours ago
Dear Stefan!
June 21-23, 2013, in the capital of Russia, in Moscow, in the historic park Kolomenskoye, will joust XV century. Moscow government gives money to spend the best historical event in the world! The main theme - equestrian joust. Main actors: Knights with heralds, squires and servants. Payable trip, maybe transport horses. In Moscow: ladies, food, wood for the historic camp. Arrival is possible from June 20. Joust be brutal. Therefore, the Knights should be experienced, and armor - complete. Please notify this tournament for familiar Knights! Questions - to me. I wil tell details and how to send request.

Is from a good friend Bogdanov Andrey

Russian website for the event (You can click on Google translate to get an English translation of the site.)

Email for the event

Esprit de Corps Dominates at the "Tournament of the Phoenix 2012"

Written and pictures provided by WorldJoust Tournaments:

Esprit de Corps dominates at the Tournament of the Phoenix 2012

The gem cannot be polished without friction nor man without trials.
~Confucius

It is said that a glass is either half full or half empty, depending on one’s perspective. It is also said that every cloud has a silver lining, and every rose has thorns. Since the beginning event that gave it its name, every Tournament of the Phoenix has a theme, and this year it was optimism, hope and fortitude.

The Tournament of the Phoenix had been plagued by various issues in 2009, 10 and 11. ‘I decided at the end of 2011 that 2012 was going to be a great year,’ says event producer Gwen Nowrick, ‘and I kept that idea in the front of my mind no matter what happened.’

The producers spent a year working diligently to plan and prepare for the event. ‘Everything was in place, and we headed into the last 8 week stretch confident in our groundwork.’

Then, things started to come undone. Problems started cropping up with everything from staff and schedules to vehicles to transportation. Undaunted, Nowrick remained positive. ‘I faced each new challenge positively, and began moving people around like Tetris blocks’ laughs Nowrick ‘I guess this was the Universe’s way to saying we all were ready for a change.’

The changes also brought a few newcomers to the event. ‘When our Marshal couldn’t make it, I threw Mike Loades’ name on the table. Mike has been a huge supporter of our efforts with the tournament, so I thought we had nothing to lose by asking him.’ To the producer’s delight, Mike accepted with enthusiasm.

Internationally known author, director, and military expert Mike Loades was the Marshal of the Field at the Tournament of the Phoenix 2012. (Photo by Bob Naegele)

Opening day Friday dawned clear and warm, nearly perfect in every way. Nowrick relates ‘From the first moments the gate was open, it was clear to me that despite adversity, this was going to be a stellar year. The spirit of cooperation and good humour from everyone on site was infectious.’

The initial session of the new Skill at Arms competition went off without a hitch, thrilling the 1,000+ school kids and families on site. In a departure from previous years, competitors were not the knights competing in the tournament, but rather grooms, valets, and other support staff. ‘Most of the staff train for these activities anyway, which makes them so good at their various jobs’ explains Nowrick ‘it was a logical step to give them their own competition so they had a chance to shine, and good fun for the audience as well.’

Stable Master Erin Hill scores full points by carrying the helmet in the Helm Strike event.
(Photo by Amanda Mielke)

The jousting was nearly bang on from the first course. ‘Steve Mallett’s advance work with the horses really showed in their performance, and they were up to speed almost immediately. Some of the competitors took a little longer to get into the groove’ she says jokingly.

Saturday dawned picture perfect as only an autumn day in San Diego can. Crowds lined the rails to cheer on the skill at arms competitors competing in hunting games. Everything was going very well until Head of Ground crew Joel Hill took a spectacular spill in the Drag Target event. Proving that judges can have a sense of humour, Joel was given bonus points for his dismount!

Saturday’s first joust went by the book. The crowds welcomed Jeff Hedgecock with chants of ‘U-S-A! U-S-A!’, and Steve Mallett with ‘Ham-mer - Ham-mer!! The 18 courses were run like clockwork, with many fine strikes and hard hits that had the crowd on their feet cheering and whistling. At the end of the first scored event, Jeff Hedgecock took the lead with a score of 19 points.

Sean George(L) and Steve Mallett(R) create a shower of splinters during a pass while Scoring Judges JP Clamme(R) and Darth Rimmer(L) watch closely.
(Photo by Bob Naegele)

The next scored event was the pollaxe competition. There were many fine fights and impressive displays of martial prowess, as competitors battled round after round in the unaccustomed heat. When it was clear that competitor Toby Capwell was flagging, opponent Marc Hamel yielded the field.

Marc Hamel attempts to yield the field to Toby Capwell. (Photo by Leslie Chappell-Britt)

Although acknowledged as a fine display of chivalry, fierce competitor Toby refused the concession and fought the last point. The bouts continued until competitor Marc Hamel was struck below the eye with a pollaxe. The crowd stood in hushed silence as Marc knelt in the arena clutching his face. The on-site medic ran to his aid, and a sigh of relief swept thru the crowd when it was announced that although the injury was severe, Marc ‘s eye was all right. The battles continued, with Steve Mallett emerging victorious with 4 points.

The second session of jousting saw Jeffrey and Toby jousting for Marc Hamel when the medic recommended Marc not compete any more that day. Jeffrey and Toby ran fine courses, earning a very respectable 13 points for Marc. The session closed with Jeff Hedgecock in first place with 17 points.

Toby Capwell jousts for Marc Hamel wearing Marc’s shield.
(Photo by Leslie Chappell Britt)

At the end of the first day of competition Jeffrey Hedgecock was in front with 38 points, Steve Mallett in second with 32 points, and Marc Hamel in third with 30 points.

Sunday was another gorgeous day, and the crowd was ready. The final day of the skill at arms competition were the martial games of quintain, helmet strike and cut/thrust, which was won by Scoring Judge Darth Rimmer.

Scoring Judge Darth Rimmer display great accuracy as he rides hard in the cut and thrust event. (Photo by Javier Camacho)

Sunday morning, Steve Mallett was overcome by the heat while working with a troublesome horse, and withdrew from the session. Jeff stepped up and jousted for Steve, earning Steve 17 points. Again, competitors landed many hard hits and scored many breaks that sent lance shards and coronels flying high into the air, much to the delight of the enthusiastic crowd. Competitor Sean George found his groove, and scored 19 points to win the session.

The 5th event of the tournament was the Club Tourney. The Lady of Honour exercised her rights and judged that due to his injury Marc Hamel should not compete in this grueling event. She appointed Marc Knight of Mercy; in this role Marc would be sent in to ‘rescue’ any competitor who was overcome, or whose horse appeared to be struggling. Darth Rimmer asked for the honour of competing in the club tourney for Marc. The Lady Judges agreed, and Darth rode for Marc.

Toby Capwell in hot pursuit of Darth Rimmer during the club tourney. Darth is riding for the injured Marc Hamel. (Photo by Bob Naegele)

Marshal of the Field Mike Loades recounts the Club tourney- ‘the mounted club tourney was absolutely thrilling, with the whole pack of riders constantly swarming from one end of the field to the other at a fast canter, belabouring each other with solid blows as they did so. There was great tactical play as the action swirled with unrelenting intent. All became exhausted at about the same time.‘ This event has no quantifiable method of scoring such as blows struck; rather, the Lady Judges rank the competitors according to their horsemanship, horse management, tactical ability and courage. Steve Mallet emerged victorious and was awarded 12 points. Jeff Hedgecock and Toby Capwell tied for second and were given 9 points each.

The competitors entered the last scored event with Steve Mallett in first place with 61 points, Jeff Hedgecock in second with 57 points, and Toby Capwell in third with 50 points. Sean George, Marc Hamel and Luc Petillot trailed with 49, 44 and 35 points respectively.

Once again, the jousters were met with cheers and whistles as they entered the tiltyard as the crowd supported their favorites. The competitors rose to the challenge, scoring the hardest hits and biggest breaks of the event. The crowd went wild as Toby Capwell and his horse Lucas flew into the tilt at a flat out gallop, delivering punishing hits and massive breaks. Luc Petillot was the high scorer of the session, breaking lances with clock like precision. All competitors were in high form, and enthusiastic shouts of
‘Woo hoo!’ could often be heard from inside helmets as competitors streaked down the tilt.

Luc Petillot(L) lands a big hit on Toby Capwell(R) during the final. (Photo by Amanda Mielke)

When the final score was announced, Steve Mallet was the winner, with Jeff Hedgecock one point behind in second place. Having fallen quite hard in practice on Thursday, and then riding 3 different horses on Sunday, for a total of 4 horses over the 3 days of the event, Steve felt Jeff had fought hard and performed well, so asked Marshal Mike Loades and Lady of Honour Kyle to declare it a draw between [Steve] and Jeff. The Judges agreed, and the competition was declared to have 2 winners.

Steve congratulates Jeff and Toby acknowledges the cheers of the crowd as the results are announced. (Photo by Janice Kall)

Tobias Capwell was awarded the Chivalry prize by the Lady Judges, much to his surprise and delight. David Young of Turlock California won the Skill at Arms with 20 points

Producer Gwen Nowrick sums up the event- ‘The term 'esprit de corps' came to my mind time and time again during the course of this event as competitors stepped up for their comrades who could not. Jeff and Toby jousted for Marc when he had been injured. Darth volunteered to ride for Marc in the club tourney, and Jeff jousted for Steve. Like mountain climbers who wouldn’t leave a man behind, the guys pulled each other along to reach the end of the event. I can't even begin to explain how proud I was of every single person who worked together tirelessly, selflessly and without fanfare to make this event happen. It was the most humbling experience of my life, and is a feeling I will always cherish.’

Group shot of the competitors L-R: Steve Mallett - England, Tobias Capwell - England/USA, Jeffrey Hedgecock - USA, Sean George - England, Marcus Hamel - Canada, Luc Petillot - France.
(Photo by Amanda Mielke)