Jousting
by Katherine O. Rizzo T e sport of jousting has deep roots in Eu-
rope, so it is no surprise that the sport came to the U.S. during colonial times, although it did not gain popularity until after the Civil War. In 1962, the Honorable Henry J. Fowler, Sr., a Delegate from St. Mary’s County (home of Maryland’s fi rst colony), introduced a bill into the Maryland House of Delegates propos- ing jousting as the offi cial state sport. T e bill passed both chambers by an overwhelming vote and was signed into law by Governor J. Millard Tawes on June 1, 1962. Maryland became the fi rst state to adopt an offi cial state sport.
Maryland’s State Sport for 50 Years
Governor J. Millard Tawes signed the bill that made jousting the offi cial Maryland state sport on June 1, 1962.
Now 50 years later, the sport here in Maryland continues to be popular with local jousters com- peting within the Free State and nationally.
Knocking a Man From a Horse
When most people hear the word “joust,” they think of knights in heavy armor charging at each other with huge lances trying to knock another knight to the ground. T at form of jousting be- gan during the Middle Ages. It got its start as a battle strategy during wartime—a man knocked from his horse is less likely to kill you. From the battlefi elds to the tournament fi elds, jousting turned into a way for kings and queens to showcase their most skilled knights. Today, this form of jousting can still been seen at such events as the Mary- land Renaissance Festival or Medieval Times. However, the competitive nature is now more for show. Interestingly
enough, the fi rst form of jousting made a reappear-
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ance in a competitive way with the show “Full Metal Jousting” that de- buted on the History Channel last year. In the show, the object was to earn enough points (from hits on various parts of your opponent’s armor or knocking the opponent off his horse) to advance to the next round. In the end, one “knight” remained. Former Marylander Jake Noder, who moved to Cali- fornia but comes back to Mary- land to teach several times a year, participated in the show. “I’ve en- joyed a diverse riding career, ev- erything from dressage to barrel racing, so jousting sounded like a wise next step. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into,” Jake said, adding, “I remem- ber despising many an instructor for making me ride without stirrups, but doing it in 85 pounds of
Jake Nodar (in red) took part in The History Channel’s “Full Metal Jousting,” which was an elimination-style competition based on the original form of jousting.
So what is it like to get a chance to joust as they did in Middle Ages? Challenging for sure. “And yes, being ‘unhorsed’ in armor does hurt, it hurts really bad,” Jake said.
A More Civilized Sport With the invention of gunpowder, lances
armor made me vow to never complain about stirrupless riding in regular rid- ing attire ever again. After a week of target training, and jousting for rings, we graduated on to our fi rst impact.” Jake was a natural at the rings part of jousting and fi gured the next step, impact training, would be a cakewalk. However, he said, “T ose thoughts quickly changed as I found myself galloping full speed to- wards a large man in armor on an equally large horse, pointing a solid 11-foot lance directly at me.” Jake explained, “T e ac- curacy that goes into jousting is diffi cult enough, trying to hit a moving 10” x 10” target, but doing this with very limited vi- sion and the move- ment constraints of the armor,
all the
Corey Minnick is the current State Champion and has also won three national titles. He was also honored with MHIB’s Touch of Class award this summer.
while galloping on a rather wide horse, gave me a whole new level of respect for both jousters and the horses that take part in this challenging sport.”
were no longer needed on the battlefi eld. Al- though they were still used at tourna- ments, knights began to hone their skills by aiming their lances at small metal rings in- stead of at each other. When Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore,
founded
Mike Virts, Sr. (Knight of St. Marks) has earned 10 na- tional championships and 19 state championships over a span of 31 years.
the fi rst colony in Maryland in 1634, he brought the sport, typically called T e Ring Tournaments, with him. T rough the years,
the sport transformed from one restricted to the wealthy or mem- bers of high society to an open form of com-
petition. Today, the traditions and pageantry of the Middle Ages still prevail but with a more modern twist. Jousting has become a family sport, open to both sexes and any age level. T e object of modern day jousting is to spear up to three rings while riding your horse through three arches from which hang the rings. Beginners can participate in leadline or walk classes where rings are almost two inches in diameter. More advanced jousters gallop at top speeds spearing rings only a quarter inch in diameter. T e track is 80 yards long and the fi rst arch is 20 yards from the starting point.
continued... DECEMBER 2012 | THE EQUIERY | 41
Jackie Rosenthal
Maryland Jousting Tournament Association
Maryland Jousting Tournament Association
Zach Dilgard
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