Typically associated with either its military or aristocratic origins, jousting is a martial art we associate with 13th century medieval tournaments. Mention jousting and images of knights galloping headlong toward armored opponents, aiming wooden lances, and smashing against each other in an explosion of splinters comes to mind.  Aside from the sometimes with deadly results, this is not a sport you would expect to find in modern North America, but it is the official sport of Maryland.

Jousting tournaments were held in Maryland in colonial times, they really gained a following in farming communities during the Civil War where these events held as a method of fundraising for various aid organizations.  The tradition stuck, and the state’s love of jousting culminated in a 1962 law making it the official sport of Maryland. Not only was Maryland the first to choose jousting as its state sport, but it was also the first state to have an official sport at all (Football in Texas is a religion and not eligible for state sport status 😊).

Today, jousters in Maryland don’t put on medieval-style displays. They maneuver their lances into various-sized rings suspended above the ground, capturing the rings for points. During a ring joust, a rider holding a sharply pointed lance gets to take three runs down an 80-yard track, passing under a trio of arches along the way. A small ring hangs from each arch, and the goal is to spear as many as you can in a limited amount of time. The size of the ring and the allotted time to make it down the track are determined by the level of competition. This “ring jousting” reduces the likelihood of serious injury but allows jousters the same thrill of thundering down the course a full gallop toward a target.

In 2004, Maryland added lacrosse as the state’s official team sport, but jousting is still THE official sport whether individual or team.  Many see uniqueness of the sport and its success as a family pastime as the keys to its continuing appeal.

---

Want to have the
Regimental Brewmeister
at your site or event?

You can hire me.

https://colonialbrewer.com/yes-you-can-hire-me-for-your-event-or-site/