The young are taking up the ride for the rings

JOUSTING, piece of equipment that the riders and clubs don’t make themselves.

Around the state, jousting tournaments are held almost every weekend during the summer until the Maryland and national championships in October. Jousters come from all over the state and often belong to one of five clubs, including the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association, that are spread geographically. Jousting clubs also exist in the surrounding states.

“The one thing that the competitors really like about it is that there’s very little judging. It’s not like some of these Olympic sports where they have to review videos over and over again. You get the rings or you don’t. It’s that simple,” said Cochran.

Delaney competes in the novice division, which allows her unlimited time as long as she keeps moving. In the future, she hopes to move up to the amateur, semi-pro and pro divisions where riders of the same skill level compete regardless of age, gender or other factors.

Each rider pays just $5 per division they compete in. Annual dues for some clubs are also $5. Although jousting fees pale in comparison to other organized and equestrian sports, riding lessons and caring for a horse can be expensive. Delaney and Grace ride team horse Maggie, but many participants bring their own horses.

In the novice division, Delaney faced the 4-year-old Uriah Bodin, who was all smiles as he was led down the track. Also in the competition, 13-year-old Grace Riddile won first place in the novice division before competing against the amateur riders.

“I like how difficult it is,” the Lusby resident said after her win. “It seems very easy, but getting the rings and going at a top and high speed, it’s pretty hard.”

Delaney finished her three rides with a total of four rings out of a possible nine.

“I wish I had done better because I was reaching for some. On the first go, I was reaching for all of them, so I didn’t get any,” Delaney said.

Family members, friends and passionate non-riders like Cochran make up the large group of tournament organizers and volunteers who support the jousters. Cochran, who lives in Port Republic, said the family-oriented nature of jousting gives him hope for the future of the community.

“It’s competitive when you’re going down the track, but you’ll find that the competition does not go off the track in any type of rivalry. It’s a family sport,” he said.

From the sideline, Jeff Hawks, 36, said he is proud of his daughter, the only member of the family who jousts (although her brother is set to try it at summer camp). At first, Delaney wanted to ride horses, then one of her mom’s students introduced her to jousting. It was a match.

“She’s more of an introvert but she’s definitely a go-getter,” said Hawks, whose family lives in St. Leonard. “She sets her goals on how many rings she’s going to get when she shows up, so she’s definitely competitive.”

Once, Delaney fell during practice. It was a momentary inconvenience. Hawks said jousting gives his daughter a chance to work with older girls, like Grace, who have taken her under their wing. It also gives her a sense of independence and “her own thing.” At the Petersville joust, her third, she continued to prove her capability.

“All of our practices are always in a ring so it’s always fenced in,” Hawks said. “During our first joust, we’re in a field and at the end of this track is a cornfield and so at first, I’m like ‘oh boy, here we go.’ She did her first practice run and she was completely in control and so far, so good.”

Grace and Delaney share the same coach at Tynewydd Riding Program in St. Leonard, who is impressed with the progress they’ve made. Viviane FischerFlaherty, 57, credits Delaney’s “zen attitude and nerves of steel” for allowing her to pick up jousting in just a year.

Although kid jousters wear modern helmets and club T-shirts, riders choose a jousting name that harks back to Medieval roots. Like a word game, riders choose between “knight of,” “lady of” or “maid of ” and then add their farm, street, town or other identifying feature to complete the name. Each moniker is unique and follows the rider through tournaments: Delaney goes by Maid of St. Leonard, while 4-year-old Uriah Bodin calls himself Knight of Blue.

As Delaney approaches the end of the track, she keeps Maggie calm until the official signal is given: “The rings are hung and the track is clear. Charge, fair maid!”