Marti Miernik
Public Relations
Internationals Jousting Championship, Angels Camp, CA
408 506 6499
marti@prvixens.com
4th Annual International Jousting Championships Coming to Calaveras
Extreme Sport Lures Top Knights from around the world to compete
for glory, prestige and tile of International Champion
Angels Camp, Ca, August 2006 - The ancient art of jousting is revived once again. More than five centuries after its heyday, as eight knights from around the world brave a 70lb armor, 12ft lance their feisty steed and their opponent clad alike, will do battle at the fourth annual International Jousting Championships held this year at Calaveras Fairgrounds in Angels Camp, CA, September 23th and 24th, 2006. Competitors will from USA, Canada, Norway, France and Holland will do batter heavy armor jousting division, one of the most extreme sports in the world.
Hardest hitting competitors will battle it out in front of throngs of visitors from Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, and with three tones of props and equipment, including flags, royal boxes and medieval tents, a colorful jousting tournament spectacle is promised. Each knight, who with horse and armor together weighs half a ton, strike against each other at speeds of 50 to 70mph. They hit their rivals hard enough to explode their shield or splinter their own lance into a thousand pieces, and sometimes even dismount their competitor.
"This will be an exciting weekend for the entire family and must not be missed," says Patrick Karnahan, Jousting Championships and Renaissance Faire Organizer. "Jousting is an extreme, dangerous sport. This will not be a choreographed event. Visitors will witness the fast-moving spectacle of brave knights doing battle during three contests each day. There will be amusement, high drama, and plenty of excitement. As the battle heats up, the audience, prompted by the Knight's heralds will have plenty of opportunity to lend their support and cheer on their favorite knight."
The grounds open from 10:00 a.m. both days. On Saturday jousting will begin take place at 12noon and 3 p.m. Competition will continue on Sunday when best of the knights of the first day will compete for the prize and title. Calaveras will combine the skills of historic jousting with the energy and excitement of a re-enactment show. Event producers will combine the skills of historic jousting with the energy and excitement of a re-enactment show. Tournament organizers and over 600 costumed actors will recreate the ambiance of a medieval pageant as one has seen over 480 years ago when in 1520 King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France met near Calais for a grand show of rivalry. As each king tried to outshine the other with their great wealth, the event came to be known as The Field of the Cloth of Gold.
From the opening procession featuring ambassadors from England, the Germanic States, Spain and Italy to the grand finale, the faire's cast of professional actors will entertain guests with dances, military pageantry, falconry, and feasts. In addition to lance-to-lance combat, the event will also feature knights engaged in hand -to-hand combat and an archery competition. Shops within the village will display authentic handmade items. Delectable renaissance foods and beverages complete the event's atmosphere.
Music is still a major part of the event with awaited return of Tempest, The Black Irish Band and Culann's Hounds.
The faire will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, followed by an "after hours" Tempest concert beginning at 6:30 p.m., and 10 a.m. - 6:00 pm on Sunday. The Saturday Night Tempest Concert is free with paid festival admission. Pre-sale tickets are available at designated locations and now at http://joustingchampionships.com For more information, visit
http://joustingchampionships.com/ or call (408) 506-6499.