POWAY: Jousting not for the faint of heart or wallet

By ELENA CRISTIANO - For the North County Times | Saturday, November 1, 2008 9:01 PM PDT ∞

POWAY ---- Attendees at this weekend’s jousting tournament in Poway are treated to the only such event of its kind in the nation.

The World Invitational Joust 2008 "Tournament of the Phoenix" is the only world-class contest sanctioned by England's Royal Armouries, organizers said Saturday. Other jousts around the country are staged. But the action at the Poway Riders Association arena is real, as is the danger.

Contrary to popular belief, the object of competitive jousting is not to knock the opponent off his horse, but rather to break the 11-foot wooden lance on the shield of the opponent.

The sport started as a military exercise to train knights for real battle. A point system scores where the hit lands, as well as an extra point for a break. To prevent unnecessary injury or death, the tips of the lances are designed to break away rather than penetrate.

But that doesn’t mean there is no risk. Injuries are common and, according to organizer Luke Binks, who moved from Australia to Ramona to help bring real jousting to the United States, one jouster was killed at a tournament in England last year when a splinter got past his helmet and pierced his brain.

Riders from Belgium, Norway, New Zealand and New York, as well as one local man, are competing this weekend.

Jeffrey Hedgecock and his wife, Gwen Nowrick, of Ramona, produce the event along with Binks. They call it the Tournament of the Phoenix because the first event “rose from the ashes of the Witch Creek fire” in October 2007.

According to Hedgecock, one thing that sets the tournament apart is the museum quality of the suits of armor. Each handcrafted, steel-plate set of armor takes a full six months to create and is estimated by Binks to cost between $20,000 and $50,000. Hedgecock says he is one of only five amourers in the country and he produces the garb for museums, historical re-enactors and even the film industry.

Alan Braun of Solana Beach brought his 4-year-old son, Kai, to the event after hearing about it on the radio. He said Kai really likes "knights and kings."

"I like to see jousting," said Kai. He said he finds it a little scary though, "because they might poke someone in the eye."

One area of the grounds that was full of children was the "barrier arena," where the arts of sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat are taught.

Natasha Ence of Rancho Penasquitos volunteered to demonstrate. The 14-year-old freshman at Westview High said she has been studying with Brian Stokes of Carmel Valley for six months at the Schola San Marco, where pupils study and train in historical martial arts techniques. Stokes said Natasha can really "knock me to the ground."

Natasha said she realizes women were not supposed to fight back in the medieval times, which she said she finds fascinating.

"As a girl, I feel very privileged to get to do this now," she said.

The event continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Activities include jousting from noon to 1 p.m. and from 4 to 5 p.m., skill at arms from 10:30 to 11 a.m. and a "melee" from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Games and storytelling for children run throughout the day.

Attendees are also invited to visit with the knights in the Knight’s Camp area before and between shows. Horses will be available in the stable area for 20 minutes after equestrian activities.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for children, seniors and military if purchased in advance online at www.worldjoust.com. The Poway Riders Association arena is at 13446 Tierra Bonita Road. For more information call (760) 789-2299 or visit www.worldjoust.com.

Elena Cristiano is a freelance writer for the North County Times.