This was the second year we presented this tournament at the Redding Rodeo Arena. My thanks to Dennis the groundskeeper for keeping this fine facility watered and disked to just the right depth. The weather was better this year than last - not quite as hot!
This tourney saw the most consistent hard hitting jousting I have seen in a long time. Steve Emmett and Clif Bassett both had shields that were too broken up to go on after the event. I myself broke two lances. Everyone was pretty sore after three days and six jousting matches each! That third day took its toll in respect to body wear and tear.
There were two injuries which were fortunately minor ones. One happened when new Alliance Member, Andy Brotherton, did a choreographed fall. Luckily it turned out to be a minor injury to the hip but when the newspaper heard a Knight was injured, with an ambulance taking him to the Hospital, they played it up somewhat. The other mishap occurred the last day when Steve Emmett and Avalon had just finished their match. Steve handed his lance to the squire, which somehow hit the side of Avalon's head and he was off and so was Steve - off the back of the horse, that is! His shoulder received the brunt of his fall, which caused him to withdraw from the last match. Steve was right there in the scoring until his forced withdrawal.
When the jousting scores were tallied after the last matches on Monday, Steve Adams riding Salazar, and Clif Bassett riding the crossbred warhorse, Cody, had tied. They then competed in a tie breaking match which caused yet another tie. The hits were extremely hard - dangerously hard, in fact. To end this tie, as our rules state, they were asked to do two more courses to determine the winner. Things were pretty tense until they had run their last course. It was a relief to all that it had ended safely, with Clif edging out Steve from the top spot by one point. My compliments to both of these Knights. They competed as gamely and bravely as any two men can. Steve had a bit of a handicap as he was jousting with cracked ribs from a previous accident (not jousting related).
This tournament paid out $1,000 in prize money. It was received very well by the patrons and all competitions were close ones.
Last but not least, I would like to say that our Ground Crew of Squires and Men-at-Arms and Women-at-Arms were fast and thorough. Where would we Knights be without them?
May Chivalry Live On!
Tournament Results
Tournament Jousting
1st Place - Clif Bassett - 101
2nd Place - Steve Adams - 100
3rd Place - Steve Emmett - 54
Ring Spearing
Clif Bassett
Spear Throwing
James Zoppe
James Zoppe
Founder and Director
American Jousting Alliance