POWAY - The Poway Rodeo Grounds looked like a scene from the Middle Ages on Saturday.

Top riders from England, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. competed with lance and horse in tests of skill, courage and honor.

Not only was this the first event of its kind held in the United States, it was the first Royal Armoury-sanctioned joust outside the United Kingdom. This is an actual competitive event, not a staged show.

Competitors wore full harnesses of shining steel plate and armor, and scored points by breaking their 11-foot-long lances on the shields of their opponents.

Each competitor wore armor that weighs as much as 70 pounds and costs thousands of dollars.

Despite the evacuations and lingering smoke from Southern California's week of wildfires, about 1,000 guests braved a cool, cloudy day to meet the knights and enjoy the display of mounted skill at arms.

Frederick Piraux from Liege, Belgium, said he has jousted in more than 10 countries, but it was his first time jousting in the United States.

Piraux said he is good friends with his competitors, who travel all over the world to joust. "We've got our bar in San Diego, our bar in Australia," he said laughing.

"You must trust them as your worthy opponent and friend," Piraux said about his fellow competitors. "It's too dangerous an activity to not know the individual you're facing and expect the same respect you give them.

"Hollywood and other joust shows give the wrong impression of jousting," he added. "It's not about points, it's about your overall approach to the sport. Jousting alone is pretty boring."

Jousting, difficult and intense, seems far from boring. The physically fit knights compete in a round-robin style matchups for cheers from the ladies and kudos from the crowd. Organizers also gave out prizes for heraldry (competitive dress) and for the most points and chivalry.

Spectators could grab a pint from the Stone Brewing Co. and a tri-tip sandwich from Hunter Steakhouse. Other vendors included Operation Greyhound, which rescues former racing dogs, The Frazier International History Museum, and Usborne Books.

Exhibitor Brian Stokes of Carmel Valley, who teaches medieval martial arts, said, "Interest in joust is worldwide and growing with leaps and bounds."

Kids enjoyed face painting and games such as musical crowns to a medieval bagpipe. The drum and bagpipe band Teribus performed throughout the day.

"We're bringing old European-style bagpipes back. We're playing music that survived," said E.J. Jones, a Teribus Scottish bagpiper who made his own instrument.

Dominic Sewell, a jouster from Peterborough, England, held back tears as he talked about his experience in San Diego this last week.

"When we got off the plane Monday, we came straight into the Lakeside evacuation camp," Sewell said. "The community spirit … the way people look out for each other is touching, and I'm proud to be a part of it."

Sewell said he decided to withdraw from the jousting session to relieve stress on his horse Packer.

Some of the horses intended for the competition suffered from smoke inhalation, so organizers found horses from areas less affected by the fires. A few horses seemed spooked from being transported and the strain of the activity itself.

Gwen Nowrick, of Ramona and joust sponsor Historic Enterprises, said she still can't get back into her house, but she decided to go on with the show because "everyone has been so fantastic."

Nowrick said she talked to Sewell about canceling before he left England and he said, "Mate, I'm coming over, and I'm either going to shovel up the ashes of your house or joust in your tournament."

Nowrick creates reproduction clothing at Historic Enterprises, she said, and the jousting competition means a lot to her because "my passion is bringing the past and things my ancestors did to life."

Arriving dressed in renaissance attire, sisters Karen and Heidi Hannibel of Paradise Hills said they decided to come to the joust because a good friend gave Heidi tickets for her birthday. They said they came dressed up "because we could."

Bagpiper Richard Kean, from Texas, said, "I suspect this will catch on and do well."

Nowrick added, "We hope to have a two-day 'Sword of Chivalry' World Joust Invitational here in April."