Post by schlager7 on Mar 6, 2006 9:41:26 GMT -6
Just FWIW, Nicole and I took advantage of the dearth of local fencing to get out of town. We found ourselves near Tyler and checked in on the opening weekend of the Four Winds Renaissance Faire.
Downside first: If you are used to the Texas Renaissance Festival or Scarborough Faire, this one is way smaller. Only about a dozen merchants and one real food facility that we saw. They also do not serve any alcoholic beverages, although consumption of such that you bring onto the fairgrounds in a period container is allowed.
Also, at the human chessmatch, I got the feeling there may have been some performers missing or some quick replacements. There seemed to be a nticeable amount of making it up as they went.
Interesting Notes: The setting they are going for is neither the Middle Ages nor the Renaissance, but the 17th Century so think less Henry VIII or Shakespeare and more D'Artagnan and Cyrano.
Updside: There may have been fewer merchants and acts, but the site has plenty of room to grow, a big plus.
As stated above, parts of the chessmatch started out a bit unfocussed, but it tightened up and, oh yes, let us not forget that they, at least, have a human chessmatch...(TRF: hint! hint!). I also found the fencing enjoyable: lots of bladework, minimal barging and (pleasant surprise) some thrust work! Cuts and their parries are often easier to teach due to the greater time for the parrying performer to react. Good thrust and parry work always catches my attention. It isn't as flashy to the audience, but it warms my heart to see it well done.
The Joust: Very different experience for Nicole and I. The six knights (2 being female) use ash lances, not some easily splinted wood as often used in shows.
They competed (seriously... not staged) in:
attempts to catch up to four rings (smaller than those at TRF and suspended, not held by squires);
the quintain (scored by how many revolutions it made upon being struck... we were close enough to hear knights complain it was over-weighted);
lances delivered from horseback against a target;
and sword skills scored by seeing how many heads of cabbage set along the track they could cut with their swords while riding along (and how well: cleaved in two, barely clipped, etc).
As well, three competed in a round robin pool with lances against each other. The goal was to land a good hit on the opponent's shield. Strikes to head, torso or horse, we were advised, would result in immediate expulsion (black card!)
There were two visual judges (this is a dry competition) on either side of the center point, pretty much near where you would expect the two to meet.
My understanding is they have two such competitions each day with scores kept throughout the season until the championship on the final day. I, personally, think they should be posting each day's results somewhere. One might just hook in an audience that begins just by following daily and weekly scores.
If competitive jousting catches on, I just might give them their own board, here!
Downside first: If you are used to the Texas Renaissance Festival or Scarborough Faire, this one is way smaller. Only about a dozen merchants and one real food facility that we saw. They also do not serve any alcoholic beverages, although consumption of such that you bring onto the fairgrounds in a period container is allowed.
Also, at the human chessmatch, I got the feeling there may have been some performers missing or some quick replacements. There seemed to be a nticeable amount of making it up as they went.
Interesting Notes: The setting they are going for is neither the Middle Ages nor the Renaissance, but the 17th Century so think less Henry VIII or Shakespeare and more D'Artagnan and Cyrano.
Updside: There may have been fewer merchants and acts, but the site has plenty of room to grow, a big plus.
As stated above, parts of the chessmatch started out a bit unfocussed, but it tightened up and, oh yes, let us not forget that they, at least, have a human chessmatch...(TRF: hint! hint!). I also found the fencing enjoyable: lots of bladework, minimal barging and (pleasant surprise) some thrust work! Cuts and their parries are often easier to teach due to the greater time for the parrying performer to react. Good thrust and parry work always catches my attention. It isn't as flashy to the audience, but it warms my heart to see it well done.
The Joust: Very different experience for Nicole and I. The six knights (2 being female) use ash lances, not some easily splinted wood as often used in shows.
They competed (seriously... not staged) in:
attempts to catch up to four rings (smaller than those at TRF and suspended, not held by squires);
the quintain (scored by how many revolutions it made upon being struck... we were close enough to hear knights complain it was over-weighted);
lances delivered from horseback against a target;
and sword skills scored by seeing how many heads of cabbage set along the track they could cut with their swords while riding along (and how well: cleaved in two, barely clipped, etc).
As well, three competed in a round robin pool with lances against each other. The goal was to land a good hit on the opponent's shield. Strikes to head, torso or horse, we were advised, would result in immediate expulsion (black card!)
There were two visual judges (this is a dry competition) on either side of the center point, pretty much near where you would expect the two to meet.
My understanding is they have two such competitions each day with scores kept throughout the season until the championship on the final day. I, personally, think they should be posting each day's results somewhere. One might just hook in an audience that begins just by following daily and weekly scores.
If competitive jousting catches on, I just might give them their own board, here!