International jousting tournament, to be held on the weekend of 2-3 November, will see leading competitors from each country bring their brutal best against each other in Ballarat
The legendary Kryal Castle in Ballarat is set to host a medieval battle of the nations when the world’s leading jousters line up against each other in the first ever Australia vs England Jousting Tournament.
The battle for the Ashes might have ended in a draw earlier this year, but the fierce sporting rivalry between these two great nations will be settled once and for all when they go head to head in the original extreme sport of jousting.
The two-day tournament, to be held on the weekend of 2-3 November, will see leading competitors from each country bring their brutal best against each other on the hallowed ground of Kryal Castle’s tournament arena.
Three champion jousters from each nation will battle it out for the honour of taking home the sacred urn containing the ashes of a lance ceremonially burned at Arundel Castle on England’s home turf.
In 2018, for the first time, Australia’s own Phillip Leitch competed at the auspicious ‘Royal Armouries Easter Tournament’ in the United Kingdom—and won. The English team are now hungry for revenge.
Leitch was recently crowned World Jousting Champion, and is also hot off the heels of victory at England’s Arundel Castle Joust in July this year, and he’s looking to continue his 2019 winning streak with a team victory on home soil.
Leitch will captain Australia in this much anticipated battle featuring the cream of international jousting.
“England may have invented jousting, but Australia perfected it,” Leitch said.
“Australia bats above its average when it comes to jousting. There are three highly skilled Australian jousters competing in the tournament at Ballarat this year, but knowing how good the English team are, it really is anyone’s game.”
England will be striving to balance the ledger when they travel to Australia and prove who is the greatest jousting nation in the Commonwealth.
The English team captain, Andy Deane from the Royal Armouries, is confident of his team’s chances.
“It will be a privilege to compete over two days against truly world class jousters, but we aim to prove once and for all that the mother country is superior when it comes to our beloved combat sport,” Deane said.
The Australia vs England Jousting Tournament series is supported by the Royal Armouries in England, who will host the return match in 2021.
The tournament will be run alongside all the regular activities and entertainment at Kryal Castle, including archery, knights’ school, pony rides, pantomimes and the wizard’s workshop. Food, drink and on-site accommodation are also available. Truly an event not to miss for the whole family.
Tickets for the Australia vs England Jousting Tournament are on sale now, but places are limited. Save and pre-purchase your ticket online at trybooking.com
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