Come lancing ... in Rannoch
Medieval jousting event in village
The scene is set in Kinloch Rannoch for a weekend of medieval jousting.
Knights on steeds will clash lances at the first Rannoch International Jousting Competition on Saturday and Sunday at 11.30am and 2.30pm.
The site, on a field half a mile from the Highland Perthshire village, has been populated with flags, stalls and tents to make an equestrian spectacular promising to be a magnet for all the family.
On both days the gates open to the public at 9.30am, followed at 10.30am with a grand parade.
There are prizes for the best dressed medieval couple and the best dressed knight under 12.
Organiser Andy Dewar-McCabe is keen to see this first run of the event in Rannoch grow.
The skilled horseman has lived in Rannoch for nine years and runs Kinloch Rannoch Equestrian Centre.
He was involved with jousting last year at the Mary Queen of Scots Festival in Kinross, helping with Clan Ranold to train their sportsmen to take on armed combat on horseback.
He said: “People often stop imagining Scotland’s competitive past once they’ve pictured hairy men in kilts throwing cabers and wielding broadswords.
“But in the 14th century, a lot of second sons in Scotland went off to fight in the crusades. I want people to get that. Medieval combat with horses is part of our heritage.”
Using purely local funding and help, he’s got a day of jousting and merriment organised in a tight time window: “Rannoch’s local pub has closed and visitor numbers were dwindling. I felt we needed a new event to bring in some summer income.
“I wanted to have a hook to bring people in to see the great things we have here.
“I’ve been rewarded by great enthusiasm: the loan of a field from the Inverhadden Estate and sponsorship from the Loch Rannoch Highland Club.
“We had just 10 weeks to plan this.
Rannoch village has a big event coming There was only one weekend when it would work for Kinloch Rannoch, it was also the weekend of jousting competitions at Linlithgow Palace, but we have lots to attract a wide crowd of onlookers.”
As well as full contact jousting, there will be birds of prey, pony rides, hands on archery, a bar, hog roast, children’s play area with a bouncy castle, craft stalls, ice cream.
A silent auction will take place both days in the afternoon around the arena, with £1600 worth of prizes on offer.
Andy is commentating, but he hopes if time allows, he’ll be able to do a tiny bit of jousting himself: “The idea is to break your lance, this is not staged, it’s the real thing, so it can hurt and you need a lot of armour to protect you.
“Due to the length of time it take to get the kit on, I may not get a turn. But this is more than worth coming to see.”
Tickets for Saturday 30 and Sunday July 1 cost £18 for a family, £6 per adult and £4 per child, available on the gate.