Medieval Golden Boys

MANY damsels dream of being in distress and having to be delivered by a knight in shining armour. Just as many gallants dream of having to be that knight. Some men achieve this ambition by re-enacting Arthurian tournaments in a series of jousts for English Heritage during the summer months.

The spectacle of two armoured horseman is once again becoming popular after half a millennium. At that time the top knights were the golden glamour boys of sport. They could become as rich as today’s top footballing stars. On the other hand, they could lose everything, becoming paupers, cripples or even dead.

Mounted jousting is the most sensational form of medieval sporting combat. A heavily armoured man, gazing through a narrow slit in his helm and clutching a seven foot ash lance under his arm, would urge his horse towards a similarly equipped man. There is only a tilt or flimsy fence separating them. They would crash together at a combined speed of 50mph.

Holding the lance steady taxes the arm muscles and guiding the horse without using the hands has the leg muscles screaming in protest. The rider’s heart is pounding and adrenaline powers its way through his body.

The lance strike the breastplates with a resounding clangour. They shatter in a blizzard of wood splinters. The riders, their heads ringing, desperately try to remain in the saddle.

Both knights have just achieved every little boys’ fantasy of dressing up in armour and risking life and limb in courtly combat.

Many modern knights take part in the National Championships of English Heritage’s Knights’ Tournament that are held in various parts of the country with teams of paladins from the north, south, east and west regions facing each other.

They take part in four types of contest in the championships. They are archery, foot combat, mounted skill at arms and jousting.

As with medieval jousting, the modern day knights attract their share of groupies. Some women seem attracted to the armour, just as a uniform attracts other women. It may the Damsel in Distress Syndrome.

Many riders find that the life of a wandering Knight Errant is not conductive to forming lasting relationships. A number find it difficult to win the hand of a fair maiden, despite all the groupies.

It is not a cheap sport. An authentic reproduction steel armour costs upwards of £5,000 and the lances have to be replaced after every run. There is also the expense of keeping the destrier or warhorse.

Jousting is not choreographed. The blow of the lance cannot be pulled. However they do not fight with sharpened swords or axes as these weapons could take a limb off.

English Heritage stages Knight Tournaments at many of its medieval properties over weekends throughout the summer.

The joust recalls the heady days of English greatness in the times of Richard the Lion-Heart, Edward I, Henry V and even King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. These events now attract many thousands of spectators as they once did in Merrie England in the days of Yore.