The 142nd Calvert County Jousting Tournament was Saturday, Aug. 30, at the Christ Episcopal Church, 3100 Broomes Island Road, in Port Republic. Many spectators watched modern-day knights attempt to capture three suspended rings while riding a horse at full gallop.
“They say we are the oldest continuous tournament in the state,” said the Rev. John Howanstine Jr., Christ Church pastor, adding that jousting is Maryland’s state sport.
The free tournament began at noon, with a full-dress parade at 12:30. The church held a bazaar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., an organ recital entertained from 1 to 5 p.m. The county supper was from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Deviled crab, fried chicken, ham, beverages and dessert was served to hungry attendees.
“It is not quite like a Renaissance festival,” Howanstine said, explaining that originally knights participating in jousting tournaments speared one another with lances. At some point, the sport became less violent, with participants spearing rings instead of one another.
The tournament is non-commercial Howanstine said. Participants make all of their own equipment, and, in many instances, multi-generational families are involved. For Christ Church parishioners, the tournament is about people coming together from many different communities to work shoulder-to-shoulder to create a sport in which anyone can participate.
“You might see a 4-year-old competing against an 80-year-old,” Howanstine said. The tournament is organized by skill levels: novice, amateur, semi-pro and pro. Judges come from the Maryland Jousting Tournament Association.