English Heritage staged one of its most exciting and heart pounding spectacles of the year at Pendennis Castle in Falmouth during August. The Knights’ Tournament will challenge four teams of ‘15th-century’ knights to demonstrate their costume, colour and ceremony whilst competing against each other at jousting, archery, sword fighting and mounted skill at arms. Visitors to the tournaments which are touring the UK experience the extreme skill, bravery and chivalry required by a knight in the 15th century.
The origins of jousting has been credited to a French man named Geoffori de Pruelli. The 'sport' spread from France to England, and into southern Europe during the 10th century. Jousting tournaments were held as military exercises between the various nobles. Such tournaments, starting peacefully often turned into bloody battles between jealous champions. If you were a knight winning such tournaments was a good way to make a quick name for yourself and win riches beyond ordinary dreams. Today many organisations tour the UK producing jousting spectaculars.
 | | A knight's tent at Pendennis |
The Knights’ Tournament is a real competition. The competition is not rehearsed or choreographed, for audiences at Pendennis Castle in August it was as near to the real thing as you can get. The knights are put through their paces in jousting, archery, sword fighting and mounted skill at arms in 12 rounds of battle action. It can be hot work with the armour weighing 70 pounds, the equivalent of a paratroopers back pack. It's also an expensive hobby. A knight's armour can cost up to £9,000. Look out for more jousting in Cornwall in the future. | 
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