Wisconsin 1 Day Joust Tourney - this Friday

[Lloyd]

This is from the Bristol Renaissance Faire Facebook page - and I will be competing for the first time since 2007. Wish me luck!


On Friday, July 30th from 11am to 3pm the Bristol Renaissance Faire will host a television filming of the nation's highest ranked jousters to determine a new champion.

This is an unscripted, full armor joust and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the top competitors in the country do what they love to do. The event costs $25.

This event is open to the public on a first-come first-serve basis. Tickets are available online and must be purchased in advance of the event. Food and drinks will be available on site - full bar with brats/hot dogs and hamburgers, however the majority of the faire will NOT be open. (For example, the standard weekend merchants will not be on site.) This event highlights the jousting and as such only a limited area of the park will be open to the public during the event.

Since this is a filming for the premier episode of a reality tv show - you may be recorded or interviewed at the event.

Again - this is your opportunity to be part of a select group of people at Bristol during the week! Come see jousting as you've never seen it at Bristol before!

[^]

Does it list any competitors?

[Black Swan Designs]

Knights of Mayhem

Knights of Mayhem is a new reality television show which follows two professional jousting troupes, The Knights of Valour (lead by the East Coast Jousting Champion, Shane Adams) and The Knights of Mayhem (lead by the West Coast Jousting Champion, Charlie Andrews). Both groups of rugged athletes--trained in Medieval and Renaissance warfare--boast the very best in jousting, showmanship, horsemanship, and period-style entertainment. The show follows them in their public and private lives as they attempt to take jousting from the theatrical world of the Renaissance Faire into the arena of real, even Olympic, sport, shining a light on the intense dedication, brutal training, and severe personalities needed to survive the fierce competition of this bone-crushing sport.

Looks like Charlie, Shane, Patrick Lambke, Matt Mansour and Lloyd, among others.

[Rod Walker]

Oh dear.

[Peikko]

Oh dear.

I'll second that

[Rod Walker]

Hehe, I know all these guys and except for Lloyd and maybe Matt, the rest are perfect fodder for an incredibly cringe worthy reality TV show.

Heck, I don't care about what else they are up to, macho-man jousting, accuracy etc.

I'm the guy who has a KnightRiders League kicking off

[Lloyd]

Knights of Mayhem

Knights of Mayhem is a new reality television show which follows two professional jousting troupes, The Knights of Valour (lead by the East Coast Jousting Champion, Shane Adams) and The Knights of Mayhem (lead by the West Coast Jousting Champion, Charlie Andrews). Both groups of rugged athletes--trained in Medieval and Renaissance warfare--boast the very best in jousting, showmanship, horsemanship, and period-style entertainment. The show follows them in their public and private lives as they attempt to take jousting from the theatrical world of the Renaissance Faire into the arena of real, even Olympic, sport, shining a light on the intense dedication, brutal training, and severe personalities needed to survive the fierce competition of this bone-crushing sport.

Looks like Charlie, Shane, Patrick Lambke, Matt Mansour and Lloyd, among others.

Different show entirely. Charlie and Shane have been filming their show for sometime. Other than Steve Cowan, Matthew Monsourr, Bill Burch, Steve Schindler and myself I'm not sure who is jousting. I know that the producer spoke with Shane, Charlie and Greg Hopla, but I don't know if they are attending.

And, please, don't group me with Shane, Charlie and Pat. I don't joust that style any longer and I don't glorify brutality.

[Jonny Deuteronomy]

What styles are they using?

If it had been more publicised them you might have had more competitors.

[Lloyd]

Tryst, I still don't know. All I know is that we are using shields. I am supposed to find out more later in the day.

[Equestria]

While I think that any attention paid to the jousting world is fantastic, at the same time, I would have hoped that something of this scale would have been marketed literally nation-wide as to attract more than just the precious few who are religiously involved. It hurts my feelings a little.......

[Black Swan Designs]

Hey Lloyd-

The advert says-

'...the nation's highest ranked jousters to determine a new champion.

This is an unscripted, full armor joust and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the top competitors in the country... '

Since Charlie has gone on record saying he and Shane are the top jousters, I figured this must be part of their deal.

Interesting that Greg Hopla will be there. Last time I spoke to him he was just doing shows, same with Matt Mansour. Huh.

This is great, kind of like watching guys fighting over the crown of England-

'I am the king!'

'No you're not, *I* am the King!'

'Oh yeah? Who sez?'

'I sez!'

'Oh yeah?'

Can't wait to see the lineup and the results!

Gwen

[Equestria]

This is great, kind of like watching guys fighting over the crown of England-

'I am the king!'

'No you're not, *I* am the King!'

'Oh yeah? Who sez?'

'I sez!'

'Oh yeah?'

Can't wait to see the lineup and the results!
Gwen

LMAO Gwen! Too funny! I am interested as well to see how things turn out. Good luck Lloyd.......

[Jeffrey Hedgecock]

...nation's highest ranked jousters...

Oh yeah? Who ranked 'em??

I'm so sick of reality tv's "flavor of the week", I could just puke. Jousting will be the latest to receive the "reality TV treatment" and come out with the short end of the stick.

Give me strength.

[Mike England]

Very peculiar. neither Lloyd nor Matt seem to know many details on this or who all the competitors are. The fair discussion and Matt both see it as the first of a series about following jousters through a season but it is a one day event.

[Black Swan Designs]

Lloyd, question for ya.

A friend of mine and I were talking last night and he joked about having to run a separate 'Seniors division' at one of our events at some point, so the 'old guys' could still compete but leaving the main event to the younger guys. Although it was a funny comment and idea, it got me thinking.

I'm looking at the age of the guys listed as 'champions/best' here in the US, and let's say I was suprised that they're all sort of a bit older than I might have expected, ranging from early 40's to mid 50's.

Given the nature of the activity (physically demanding, punishing), I would have expected to see a bunch of fit, hotshot guys in their late 20's and early mid 30's listed as 'the best', and competing in a championship.

Are there any young guys getting involved in this type of jousting? Are there any notable names, 'stars of the circuit' kind of thing? I watch the RenFaire forums and suchlike to keep up with who is doing what, but all the guys seem to be a bit older and established. I have not seem any new guys making a name for themselves.

As someone who is watching what's happening with jousting worldwide, I'm really interested in this phenomenon.

Thanks!

Gwen

[Equestria]

...nation's highest ranked jousters...

This statement, in and of itself, makes me want to puke........really getting sick of this.....

[Equestria]

[quote
Are there any young guys getting involved in this type of jousting? Are there any notable names, 'stars of the circuit' kind of thing? I watch the RenFaire forums and suchlike to keep up with who is doing what, but all the guys seem to be a bit older and established. I have not seem any new guys making a name for themselves.

As someone who is watching what's happening with jousting worldwide, I'm really interested in this phenomenon.

Thanks!

Gwen[/quote]


Gwen, though I am not a "guy", I started training for this style of jousting under Roy, and more importantly, Kate Cox over 10 years ago. I was a fresh 21 when I started. Though, I admit, you probably have no idea who I am, I can agree that I am not immediately aware of any up and coming young jousters, male or female. I feel like this "full contact" thing is just getting way out of hand, and thus turning off future potential jousters......

[Lloyd]

Seeing as I have not taken a single joust pass in 3 years, I'm pretty much going to have fun (and try not to look like an idiot). Even if I was in top shape and on top of my game, I have really given up caring about winning and losing, and don't honestly care if I win. I love to joust, period. I don't get the opportunity to do this - I trade lessons and work around a stable to even get riding time - and I jumped at the chance.

I don't honestly care too much for the WWF hype - it never worked and only brought in the "wrong" type of spectators in my opinon (the people that want to see real blood and real injuries). As for who is a "Joust God" and who isn't, I don't really care. I don't have anything to prove to anyone, I joust for my own reasons - none of which are predicated on inflating my ego. This is a taping for a new reality show that they are trying to sell. There is no compensation; no room/board; no prize money. So I suspect that most of the people participating will be Hanlon Lee riders, me, Steve Schindler and maybe a few others.

Its interesting that a simple comment I made on the Bristol (ren faire) Discussion board has generated a great deal of discussion. If you are interested, you can view it HERE. It pretty much lays out my thoughts on faire joust shows.

I owe the management of Bristol a lot, and when they called and asked me to participate, I agreed. These people are my friends and I thought it would be fun.

[Jeffrey Hedgecock]

You can't read the Bristol forum unless you register. Your link sends the 'nonregistered' to a login page.

[Lloyd]

Lloyd, question for ya.

A friend of mine and I were talking last night and he joked about having to run a separate 'Seniors division' at one of our events at some point, so the 'old guys' could still compete but leaving the main event to the younger guys. Although it was a funny comment and idea, it got me thinking.

I'm looking at the age of the guys listed as 'champions/best' here in the US, and let's say I was suprised that they're all sort of a bit older than I might have expected, ranging from early 40's to mid 50's.

Given the nature of the activity (physically demanding, punishing), I would have expected to see a bunch of fit, hotshot guys in their late 20's and early mid 30's listed as 'the best', and competing in a championship.

Are there any young guys getting involved in this type of jousting? Are there any notable names, 'stars of the circuit' kind of thing? I watch the RenFaire forums and suchlike to keep up with who is doing what, but all the guys seem to be a bit older and established. I have not seem any new guys making a name for themselves.

As someone who is watching what's happening with jousting worldwide, I'm really interested in this phenomenon.

Thanks!

Gwen

Gwen, I may be wrong, but I think that most of the younger jousters are sticking to the more theatrical jousts (the Lees, Noble Cause, etc.) as they are less punishing on the body. I haven't jousted full time, as a job, since 1999 - but the jousts I did with Shane during the 00s took a toll on my body. Was it worth it? Yes, and no. Would I encourage new jousters to joust in this fashion? HELL NO.

Competitive balsa jousting, or solid lance jousting like the kind that Rod has been doing, not only are more historically accurate (which actually means something to me) but they are infinitely safer as well. There is no reason to destroy one's body, just to participate in our sport. I hope, now that I have come back, that I can get a period kit again so that I can qualify to joust in some of the IJL, IJA, and Rod's jousts in the future. Had I jousted in this style, I would have never accumulated the number of major injuries that I suffered.

You guys are on the right path and I hope that I can convince our up coming crop on new jousters not to follow in my footsteps (I know that I will be called a wimp and worse by the Heavy Armour folks, but, ya know, I've been there, got the T-shirt, gave it away and had an epiphany - so screw them).

[Black Swan Designs]

Hi Equestria!

You're right, I don't know who you are, and your profile information is pretty slim.

You said-

I feel like this "full contact" thing is just getting way out of hand, and thus turning off future potential jousters......

which is interesting because I've heard it before. In the NYT article Shane eludes to the phenomenon by saying he couldn't get any new competitors- '...nobody wants to play with us,...we'll have to beat up on each other'.

Thanks for the link Lloyd, I'm headed over to have a look at it now. Do you know who the production company for the show is?

Gwen

[Lloyd]

You can't read the Bristol forum unless you register. Your link sends the 'nonregistered' to a login page.

Oops, sorry, Jeff.

Here is the gist of the post:


Holly wrote:
Bests:

- The jousts. Holy mother of... The knights really were on their game today. By far, the best joust to the death I have EVER seen in all my years of visiting Bristol. The blood was flying everywhere. And I was shocked when they brought out the flaming whip and whatnot. There were actually a number of new elements in the jousts, which was great. And the evil knights were just fantastic. Loved the squire who got hit in the face and then came out to the next joust with a nasty looking gash on her cheek.
- Getting a sore throat from screaming, "STAB HIM," "GO FOR THE EYES," "OFF WITH HIS HEAD," and similar sentiments during the last joust. Best way to get a sore throat, really.


Lloyd wrote:
Wow, I really have lost touch with what kind of joust the crowds want. I wonder if its even worth trying to put a new troupe together.

There were many responses about the violence and blood and I wrote this:

Hi All,

Wow, I never realized that my comment about being out of touch with what the crowds want would start such a discussion. It was not meant to.

Always remember that the faire is an entertainment venue. Even when I worked at Bristol and we had my Knights of Gloriana, I always said that people coming to the faire to learn history were misguided at best. St. Mikes, St. George and St. Lawrence all do a fantastic job not only entertaining the patrons, but giving them a highly underrated dose of history as well. The joust, on the other hand, is mostly pure entertainment - and the Lees do a fantastic job at this. They are the number one troupe on the circuit for a reason, they provide a great show, and have for 30 years.

I've done "blood and death shows", I worked under Bill Burch in the last year of Heroes and Villains, and was a knight for 3 years at Medieval Times. But, just a personal choice, I don't wish to ever do those shows again. I don't feel that they are good for the kids, who get entirely too much violence on tv, in the movies and in video games. I really don't want to add to that and would rather not perform than to do so.

I always have it in my mind about that 5 year old child that is looking up at you, in your armour, and believing that you are a real knight. I would, and always will, rather portray the best ideals of knighthood and not the worst (or most historical). That is one of the reasons that I left Bristol, I didn't want to do a good guy/bad guy show - KOG was a show about honor. Yes, we had quite a brutal baston course and our jousts were hard hitting, but we ALWAYS helped the opponent up and shook hands after each contest.

Extreme Jousting It the response of the child in this article, who wanted to see someone else paralyzed along with Holly's comments that made me wonder if I should go through all of the work, outside of my real job and family, to put a historically "accurate" joust back together. If this is not the type of show that the crowds want, it would be a waste of time and money to work on it. Also, you will note that the type of jousting in the article is a tournament style (called realgestech by its practitioners) that I did for 6 years. I won't joust in this style any longer because I value having a decent quality of life when I finally am finished with jousting once and for all - and this style is to brutal on the body to do for very long. Again, I have nothing against the folks that do it, I still have a lot of friends that do, but personally the risk outweighs the benefits way too much for me to chance it.

Again, I thank those that have expressed their support for the shows that I have put on, but I didn't make my comment to, in any way, denigrate another joust company or show. When it comes down to it, it is the shows that put the most butts in the seats and, as I was told by a Bristol management person in the past - the crowd doesn't really know the difference between a good joust and a bad joust (which I still disagree with).

Encourage families to attend the first 2 shows and just let them know that the last show, is pure entertainment and has theatrical violence. Bristol is still the best faire that I have ever worked for and all of you should be proud of the show that they (you) put on, I know that I was and still am of that show.

There is a definite divide between people who want a more historical faire and those that want more fantasy. Actually, I don't see the reason for not having a good helping of both - Ren Faires are for entertainment. Also, I have nothing against the guys doing violent theatrical joust shows, I'm just not going to play.

[Black Swan Designs]

FYI Lloyd, IJL has a sport division where kit requirements for jousting are less stringent. Not less safe, it's just OK to have a mix of time periods and less flash kit than in the historical division.

Our next WorldJoust Tournament in Quebec in September has a sport joust division competition in addition to the Lys d'Argent tournament.

Gwen

edit: Just read your post above. Wow.

The complete lack of interest in what we're doing with WJT makes me believe Holly's comments reflect the sentiment of a lot of the Faire crowd- which is why we're not marketing to them.

Your average person on the street wants to see knights as the ultimate good guy, believes in sportsmanship and fair play, and loves the colour and pageantry of the middle ages.

Jeff and I and our associates who are working to put on historical jousting events believe there is a market for historical jousting, just not in the Faires.

JMO, YMMV.

[Equestria]

My profile info is slim on purpose . j/k....

In my personal opinion, I dont think you will come across the Shane and Charlie types so much anymore b/c times are more progessive. Back in the day when I was training, there was this pride thing. You never, ever, backed down, from anything, even when you were hurt. It showed nothing but weakness if you did. What they wanted to see was "intestinal fortitude". This is how so many people have become infamously hurt also. Which is another reason why you wont see as many women. Its hard enough to compete this way, much less if you are a woman. Women have to fight to get respect, fight to maintain her physicality, then fight to gain any status at all as a jouster. I am sad to NOT hear more about women jousting, ESPECIALLY "full contact".

Nowadays, there are new, better, different ways to joust and have fun. People are starting to recognize that and learn from it. It is my hope that the style does not die altogether, but grow and adapt for many, many reasons.

[Lloyd]

Yeah, but I was finally "there" with my 15th century kit (except for the wrong visor on the bascinet) when I retired. I had to sell everything since then and am only now slowly getting a few pieces together at a time.
I want to joust in the historical division - that is my goal

Equestria - I am training 2 new women jousters right now (and have 5 more chomping at the bit). My joust partner the last couple years of my active career was Cassandra Adams, a lady and damn fine jouster. I am very proud of them and can't wait to see them in a tourney or show.

Yep, a whole lot of people get a lot more hurt because they joust injured. I lost count of how many times I did shows with my right hand so swollen from broken bones that I could barely grip the lance. AND, as for "infamous injuries" I would like to point out that I WAS ALSO CROTCHED on that pass! Our tips hit and both lances went down (because we were both jousting with broken hands), I just happened to have my brayette in place

Also, back in 2005 after suffering a concussion the first weekend of August, I have no memory of anything between then and the end of October. During this time, I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON A HORSE, but I was and a horrendous injury resulted to my squire. It was the "suck it up and joust" attitude that a lot of jousters had then (and some still have).

[Lloyd]

8:30 - 9 AM JOUSTING AND FIGHTING BEGINS


Lee Morrison
Joe D'Arrigo


Steve Cowan
Matthew Mansour


Bill Burch
Steve Schlindler


Steve Cowan
Lee Morrison


Matthew Mansour
Joe D'Arrigo


Steve Schlindler
Tom Nader


Lloyd Clark
Bill Burch


Lloyd Clark
Tom Nader

[Equestria]

Lloyd, I cant thank you enough for being an equal opportunity trainer. I have met Cassandra, and am well aware that she no slouch in the saddle. The only female that I can think of that is better than Cass, is Kate Cox. To this day, that woman is one of the FINEST jousters in the world, IJL, IJA, WCJA, full contact, WWF(just kiddin on this one) any style, undoubtedly. I guarantee you wont be reading any articles, or watching any shows about her, though its a crying shame cuz that, my friends, is a REAL story........

[Black Swan Designs]

It's good to have a goal, but anyone with safe armour can joust in the sport division. If you love to joust, almost anyone can jump into it NOW, instead of waiting.

There are quite a few women who joust in the IJL. As a matter of fact, there have been 2 jousts in the last 6 weeks or so that fielded 'Amazon', women-only teams against male teams.

Nikki Willis (ENG) jousting at Hackaland (Belgium)



Ann Shilling (USA) at the same event-

[Equestria]

Gwen,

Thanks for posting the pix! Were those jousts held in the US? Honestly, I have never competed in IJA, or IJL.......when is the next one in the US? Would that be your tourney..?

[Lloyd]

Lloyd, I cant thank you enough for being an equal opportunity trainer. I have met Cassandra, and am well aware that she no slouch in the saddle. The only female that I can think of that is better than Cass, is Kate Cox. To this day, that woman is one of the FINEST jousters in the world, IJL, IJA, WCJA, full contact, WWF(just kiddin on this one) any style, undoubtedly. I guarantee you wont be reading any articles, or watching any shows about her, though its a crying shame cuz that, my friends, is a REAL story........

My Mom raised me without a husband, I have always been firmly pro-equality. Kate is a great lady, I met her at 2 of the Dragon's Lair jousts (both times breaking my hand, hmm, I wonder if there is a connection) and she was very cordial and a top-notch jouster.

Another great woman jouster is Michelle Walker, Rod's wife, I love to watch her joust and I can't wait for the two of them to visit us again.

This sport, especially the more historically-based jousts, aren't about muscle and power, but lance and horse control, which women actually seem to have an advantage in both. (As for male trainees, there is only one male rider at our stable, other than myself, and he is 9 - I do have him going on games though. I am hoping that my upcoming clinic will attract a few more male riders, if not, I have no trouble training women)

[Equestria]

Der, sorry, I just saw the event name.........anyways, when is the next one in the US?

[Lloyd]

Here are a couple pics of Cassandra:

[Black Swan Designs]

More IJL female jousters (and fantastic riders as well)-

Caroline LaBrie, CAN


Caroline Egemalm (Sweden)
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs102.snc1/4555_87749917943_751887943_1990690_2744921_n.jpg[/img]

Sarah Hay, AU-


Equestria, maybe you should check out the IJL if you want to joust without having to deal with bad attitudes and having to 'prove' yourself!

Gwen

[Equestria]

Lloyd,

Did Kate compete at the Dragon's Lairs you were at? Just curious. I know in the first years of that tourney, she came in second place, beating Shane and all of his consorts......I am her "protege" and am very proud to say so. I have an immense respect for her.

I have Michelle Walker's old suit of armour, though it really isnt what I need for "full contact" jousting. I have never seen her joust, but have heard she is well respected in Australia.

I would love to see an all women's league or team form in the US. I would definitely want to be on it!

[Equestria]

Thanks guys
When is the next IJL tourney in the US?