Jousting in Europe

[Fred Piraux]

Hi eveyone !

Since some mention that kind of interest and in order not to interfere withe « Jousting in the USA » thread, I’d rather open this one about jousting in Europe.

FIRST : do it the way you want, but get it organized in the US… Jeffrey Hedgecock has hiw veiw, I support it… others may have their own, could probably support them as well.
The point is plain : the more like minded jousters there will be, the more tournaments, the more intercontinental invitational programs, the more fun !
Some may be interested in flying over to Europe to joust… we Euros may also be willing to fly the other way.


SECOND : I’m NOT certain that Jeffrey ‘s description of the EJL (www.eurojoustingleague.tk) as ready to compromise with styles is correct… The Euro Jousting League has a flexible tournament affiliation program that allows organizors to chose their rules, specs, lances… ONCE the affiliation is awarded (how and why is a different topic) flexibility and compromission stay home. It has to happen as advertized and agreed on.
Historical standards can be less (this is not the League but the organizor’s option) but more and more we see dual affiliation of events IJA/ EJL… I don’t think the IJA has lowered its standards. But this can be left for another topis !


Let’s get to the point….

HOW DO I GET TO JOUST IN EUROPE ?
-Invitational program ?
I will only talk for my own group (Hackamores – www.hackamores.tk - site translation in progress but check Photo galery and note that STAGE means workshop in english !) and some EJL events I get to run.

RETURN INVITATION POLICY
Based on previous visit to foreign groups I got to build myself a rather good list of people I’m more incline to invite over.

My criterias :
MINDFRAME : cool person that will get along well with the other 60 competitors, staff…

flexible person that will adapt rather than expect stardom treatment.
RIDING SKILLS : I’ll never provide a rider less than a GOOD jousting horse (All those who trusted me on that can testify !). I put hard work in their traning and love them very much… I’m not ready to take a gamble on your riding skills. Jousting is not sitting on a mount with a lance and waiting for it to happen. No riding skill,no invite yet… maybe later.

JOUSTING SKILL : After trusting you for my horse, I need to trust you for my buddies. I never met bloodthirsty jousters… though I met not-joust-ready-jousters in the past. If I can’t trust your ability to perform, no invite.

LONG TERM FRIENDSHIP : This is of course a bonus to be invited but those who know me dont rely on that to get in ! They focus on the previous 3 ! Foreign language skills are not expected.

EQUIPEMENT : is not a factor either as we can lend armours as well to a certain extent !
Specially when damned airlines restricts you to 20 kg !


YES BUT WE NEVER MET ?
We sometimes invite people we barely know based on their achievments, credentials, fame !
Having had a very good surprise with Australian competitor last season , we are willing to do it again !

Knock on the door, introduce yourself, contact organizors…
EJL runs it own forum on : http://153882.aceboard.fr/index.php?login=153882
Registered users only. Automatic registration upon request.
Users are not requested to be EJL affiliates.

DOES INVITATION MEANS FUNDING ?
NO. Rather say that than lure and have to back.

We generally provide : horse, accomodation, most meals, cool place to joust…
Your airfaire is your way to show you’re not a tourist but someone willing to take part and support. We will pay our flight to get to you when time has come.

Occasionally a sponsor can be specific about invitation… if he wants you, he’ll be charged and you’ll get the $$$… upon arrival !

PURSE… NO WAY !
We put the money in tournament comfort and trophies.
Events I ran this season gave away : Jousting saddle, armet, gorget, polearms, sword and mace, period seats, wax tablets, cushions…

I DO WCJA/Freelancers’s type.

I tried it and can compare.

Fine, you’ll be safe. We don’t intend to unhorse but it happens.
Just remind that the list is not closed at the end. Ride your horse.
Calling squire can be provided.

I DO SCA’s type.
Well… you know balsa can give you a bonk.
Make certain your suit meets minimum requirements published for each event.

My squire, spouse, kid ?
We run an amateur division, jousting with foam tips.
They may get some fun out of the event as we prepare the future as well !

We run skill at arms division and a behourd (mostly crest melee) division

Other division ?Belgian, German, French events usually run a ground combat competition on the same WE.
This runs a bit like SCA but with steel weapons.

Calendar
We try to run EJL events back to back so that you get the most out of your trip.
Season is mostly from early May to late Septembre.

Many other things could be said but no wasting your time intended.
If you got question, feel free to drop in !

Regards,
Fred Piraux

[adamstjohn]

By criminy, this is tempting stuff.

I used to be horsey, many years ago. I guess I would be looking at several years of re-training to get to jousting level though, and I bet that would cost a fortune in expensive Germany.

Well, something to think about....

[Fred Piraux]

Hi there !

Don't think it's that difficult to get started... specially with groups existing in germany anyway. You need to talk to our german affiliate when you feel ready !!!

Nuremberg is not close to belgian border I agree.
Still we run a jousting workshop on 1st WE of november.
Couple of spot still available.
We provide horse and armour... ain't that cool !

Cheers,
FP

[Jonny Deuteronomy]

The Mrs. and I would be up for some of this. We also have some like minded friends who might enjouy a jaunt across the pond, all are Free Lancer certified heavy combat jousters. (have references) The cheaper the expenses, the more of them who could be interested. We are apt to be travelling with a certain Mr. Barchan.

Happy to conform to all local standards rules and laws, local combat rules and impeccable personal behavior.

Not sporting or fun to win unless its done while strictly playing by the house rules. (because only then do you get full and uncontested bragging rights )

[Fred Piraux]

Hi Trystan !

We usually have room for 1 or 2 internationals in most of our events.
Basically number is according to number of horses we manage to gather (some site can be pretty restrictive !)

2007 calendar will see several opportunity to join for tournaments in Belgium Germany France Poland...

At the moment :
US : Jeremy Oneail and Cliff Basset took part
CND : Jordan Heron
AUS : Luke Binks, Rod Walker, Michelle Walker
NZ : Callum Forbes
Already took part in our circuit.
I have James (+Barb) Merrilees and Barchan on my list for a long time...
With the addition of Justin Holland, Graham Nixon and Jezz Smith,
I'd be glad to add your name to it, knowing that not everyone is available to attend each event.

Calendar gets more precise by January.
To keep in touch most effectively, feel free to hook up on EJL forum where tournaments and invite are openly set up.


If my recalling are exact, it cost Jeremy around 500$ to get to Europe for his first 2 events... then he got invited for more ! Ain't that cool !?

Cheers,
Fred

[adamstjohn]

Still we run a jousting workshop on 1st WE of november.
Couple of spot still available.
We provide horse and armour... ain't that cool !

Fred,

I have not sat on a horse for more than ten years, so I think that would be a bad idea...

What sort of riding level do you need before it makes sense to start learning to joust? (Hmm, how you you measure riding level....?)

[Fred Piraux]

Well... could be seen as tricky question !

It is impossible to compare the various national levels in official horse riding associations... so let's forget about that.

I teach every levels from 12 years old.

What people are able to do confidently with the horse determines what I let them engage into.

Picture this and remember my own horses are very experienced :

If you can only walk...
you can already get in armour and learn to guide him propre (even tricky moves) so that it helps your riding skills and confidence. You can take all weapon and get proper motion drills to be efficient later. You can take part in crest melee where people usually forget their fears of riding by trying to club others !

If you can trot...
We get you in the one handed riding style. We lose the armour because we start focussing on hunting and weapon drills. We start playing skill at arms. You're also instructed in the training-the-horse attitude (What to look for, how to get it). The object is to constantly improve your confidence and knowledge of some safe drills. Melee are still in the program !

If you can canter...
There you get to execute all games in that gate. You get to ride bareback for the previous games, you're then back in armour and get the feel of it.
Lances are now more period than the first dowell you were handed over.


Once you feel ok with all this and not before, I would take you in the joust for a couple of sessions. You'd get to hit targets and fellow jouster for a bit then... no more. Never met anyone who tried and disliked : it is adictive !

If you want to joust, you've got to pay your ticket in the sport : get a mount (loan or rent is fine by me), train it, get a suit, train to joust with what you have learned. Sounds hard at first, I know.
I feel it is in my reach to teach to ride, but I leave it to the riders motivation to go all the way.
Saves us from biker-jousters who'd rather put their money in other hobbies.

My team mates attended workshops...

Cheers,
Fred

[adamstjohn]

Thanks Fred.

I used to be able to canter, gallop (eyes closed, screaming) and jump a little. maybe I should get back on a horse and see how much I remember.

Yours,

[Fred Piraux]

Hi all !

For those interested and in travelling distance...
we have a confirmed jousting workshop first week end of November.

Information on :
http://users.skynet.be/hackamores/Hackamores/
Check the WORKSHOP SECTION.

Cheers,
Fred