Attn. Jousters

[Gwen]

We are currently compiling a roster of jousters who may be interested in participating in our jousting tournaments. While every year there is a crop of new jousters, not all of them are known to us; in an effort to educate ourselves to who is out there, we are posting this general solicitation. 

The events are organized and run by Historic Enterprises, i.e. Jeffrey Hedgecock, Gwen Nowrick and Luke Binks. We are the sole owners and producers of our events, and we establish and enforce our own standard for armour, kit and skill.

In an effort to present visually spectacular events, the 'theme' for our events are the mid-late 15th C. Europe.  To participate in a Historic Enterprises tournament, you are required to have equipment and kit of a recognizable mid-late 15th C. appearance:

* Full plate armour (historically accurate, of a reasonably high quality)
* Appropriate ecranche (shield)
* Full caparison of period appropriate design (full cover)
* Crest of period appropriate design
* Clothing and accessories of appropriate design and colours (historically accurate, of a reasonably high quality)

Complete information about appropriate equipment and standards may be found in the "Rules" heading on the joust website: http://www.worldjoust.com. If you have questions as to whether your equipment is acceptable, you are very welcome to ask and/or forward a photo. We are happy to discuss this with you.

It should be noted that these are not traditional "reenactment" events; we are sponsoring an historical equestrian sport new to the US, carried out with traditional pageantry and costume, like the Giostra in Italy, or dressage, or even polo.  Additionally, this incorporates aspects of historical theatre of the highest order, and as such the -look- of the equipment is more important to us than fibre content and stitch count.

The events are traditional tournaments a la Rene of Anjou, where participation in the following events are required to qualify for the prize:

-Jousting
-Foot combat (with hard rubber headed pollaxe and/or longsword)
-Mounted club or rebated sword melee
-Military skill at arms

If invited to compete, we will provide a travel allowance, shuttle you to and from the airport, and provide your accommodations and most of your meals during your stay. You will also be treated as our honoured guest during your stay with us.

If you would like to be considered for participation, please submit the following to info@worldjoust.com:

--Your name, address, phone number, email and any other contact information
--A resume of your riding experience, including but not limited to jousting.  please include lessons, other disciplines practiced and other equestrian activities such as polo, rodeo/cattle work, endurance riding, dinner shows, etc.
--A photo of you in your kit (armour and soft kit)

Competitors are judged individually on their own merit. 

Very best regards,

Jeffrey Hedgecock
Gwen Nowrick
Luke Binks

Historic Enterprises, Inc.

[Vulpes]

Is Historic Enterprises still limited to male on stage performers?

[Historic Arms and Armour]

Hi,

We don't have a "stage" per se, but if you mean on the field, we include women in historically appropriate roles.

In our last tournament, we had 4 women on the field-- one mounted lady judge (riding sidesaddle), two lady judges, and one scorekeeper in the gallery. All of our competitors and foot crew were men last time. We did have one women as foot crew on the field at our April tournament. She was dressed in men's clothes, as historically, foot crew men.

Why do you ask?

[Vulpes]

Well, both foot combat and jousting as an "equestrian sport" in competition forms indicate the inclusion of women in contemporary times but I hadn't heard of Historic Enterprises fielding women in jousting or combat in the past.

I thought that it would be pretty amazing if a company like Historic Enterprises, which is known for its celebration of both historic craftsmanship and adaptive global perspectives, had decided to merge our beloved ancient art with its modern existence in order to support its full reemergence of mounted athleticism in the US.

[Historic Arms and Armour]

Jousting and foot combat are not strictly "equestrian" sports. They are -martial- sports and jousting involves equestrian aspects.

Our tournaments are a modern recreation of a traditional historical martial activity. Only male combatants participated historically, so we follow that example.

As a modern martial sport, we have only male competitors, as other modern martial sports allow only same sex combatants to compete against each other.

[BLAKDUKE]

Where and when do you have these events??

[Historic Arms and Armour]

Um......you must have missed the link in the first post:

http://www.worldjoust.com

We've had three tournaments so far:
World Invitational Joust-2007, Saturday Oct 27, 2007
American Sword of Chivalry Tournament, Saturday/Sunday April 26, 27, 2008
World Invitational Joust 2008- Tournament of the Phoenix, Saturday/Sunday November 1, 2, 2008

All in Poway CA, 20 minutes northeast of San Diego.

Most of the info is on the World Joust Tournaments website (link above). We are adding to the site continually.

We have one tentative date for 2009 (tentative because we need a sponsor optimally):
April 18, 19

and a hard date:
Oct 24, 25

Locations are not set, though we have both dates reserved at the Poway venue. We're looking at a much larger coastal venue for one or both events depending on sponsorship.

..........we have some sponsorship possibilities, but if you know of any potential sponsors, please let us know!  ;-)

[Bryan Beard]

Hey Jeff,
Just wanted to wish you luck and say break a lance with your tourneys.

[Historic Arms and Armour]

Date for the Tournament of the Phoenix 2009 is set and production is progressing well.

Tournament of the Phoenix 2009  (and Festival of History)

Friday Oct 23 - 11am-3pm
Saturday Oct 24 - 10am-6pm
Sunday Oct 25 - 10am-6pm

Poway Rodeo Grounds
14336 Tierra Bonita Rd.
Poway CA 92064

Tickets on sale now at
http://www.historicenterprises.com

Event Website
http://www.worldjoust.com


It didn't work out to have the spring tournament, so we're putting everything we have into the Fall event.

---ps.   Thanks for the good wishes, Bryan!