This year the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival has added new excitment to the jousting venue with heavy armor competition. Heavy armor jousting was prominent in periods of the 15th and 16th century. The purpose of the competition
is for each competitor to try to dislodge the opponent from his/her horse. Where as in light armor jousting the purpose of this competition is for the comptetior to strike his opponet shield at a designated spot. This jousting was popular in the 12th and 13th century. Both jousting events are dangerous and only for the bravest of competitors.

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History:
The medieval knight is one of the most romantic figures in history. Many stories have glorified their prowess in battle and stressed the ethical code, chivalry that knights introduced to the society of the time. In earlier wars, they were a major and necessary machine of war, along with the archer and sword-wielding foot soldier.


Tournaments:
To maximize the skills and effectiveness of knights and their steeds as a fighting unit, it was necessary to practice. These early skill honing events were called melees and took place in a large field with no barriers between the opposing forces who used their actual weapons. Of course, this led to many injuries. Changes were made to use blunted weapons and tilts (fences). Further reductions in the number of combatants on the list (field) at the same time led to the birth of the joust.
A joust is a form of one-to-one combat between two knights on horseback. Armed with 13' long lances, they gallop down the lists toward each other and score points by unseating their opponent or striking the shield. So many knights were killed in the early jousts the Pope and several kings banned jousting tournaments. English subjects were constantly excommunicated for persisting in the enjoyment of continuing tournaments. Soon the jousting became a contest between two combatants as it was easier to show one's skill outside the melee field. Training of knights began to include many of the exercises now popular with Scottish athletes, in addition to spearing small rings and quintain jousting. The phrase "Watch your back!" was most likely started by a quintain playing jouster.

2008 HEAVY ARMOR JOUSTING PARTICIPANTS (Above pictured are Shane Adams and Charlie Andrews)

Jason Armstrong, Mike Elderkin, Rob Combe, Tim Tobey, Wayne Fletcher, Greg Boxma, Paul Snyder, Radar, Barchan, James Acuff. Patrick Lambky                                                                                                                                                                     

2009 PRIZE MONEY

FRIDAY TOTAL PRIZE MONEY $3350.00

JOUST (Light Armor)$400.00,$300.00,$200.00,$100.00

JOUST (Realgestack Heavy Armor)$500.00,$400.00,$400.00 $300.00

*QUINTAIN $100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

*RING $100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

*SPEAR$100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

SATURDAY TOTAL PRIZE MONEY $3350.00

JOUST (Light Armor)$400.00,$300.00,$200.00,$100.00

JOUST (Realgestack Heavy Armor)$500.00,$400.00,$400.00,$300.00

 *QUINTAIN$100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

*RING$100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

*SPEAR$100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

SUNDAY TOTAL PRIZE MONEY $3350.00

JOUST (Light Armor)$400.00,$300.00,$200.00,$100.00

JOUST (Realgestack Heavy Armor)$500.00,$400.00,$400.00,$300.00

*QUINTAIN$100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

*RING$100.00,$75.00,$50.00,$25.00

*SPEAR$100.00,$7500,$50.00,$25.00

TOTAL PRIZE FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY $10,0500

*REALGESTACK HEAVY ARMOR JOUST INDIVIDUAL OVERALL PRIZES TOTAL PURSE $12,250.00

1/$3000.00 2/$2500.00 3/$2000.00 4/$1500.00 5/$1200.00 6/$1000.00 7/$600.00 8/$450.00

OVERALL TEAM PRIZES REALGESTACK HEAVY ARMOR, LIGHT ARMOR, QUINTAIN, RING, SPEAR,  TOTAL PURSE  $1000.00
1/$500.00 2/$300.00 3/$200.00

*OVERALL CHAMPION PRIZES LIGHT ARMOR TOTAL PURSE $7750.00

1/$1500.00 2/$1200.00 3/$1000.00 4/$900.00 5/$800.00 6/$800.00 7/$800.00 8$750.00

**MOUNTED GAMES   QUINTAIN, RINGS, SPEAR OVERALL PRIZES TOTAL PURSE $1650.00

1/$600.00 2/$400.00 3/$300.00 4/$200.00 5/$100.00 6/$50.00

The jousting at the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival is exciting,
colorful and a trip to the past.
Come and cheer for your favorite knight - or steed, if your prefer.