The JoustMy story of the jousting tournament I’ll never forget

As I stepped into the barracks the herald asked me to choose a shield. He tells me about each shield, I decide on Sir Harry Cowper’s shield. His crest happened to be a snake, which is my family crest.

He then asks me to choose a horse, he explains all of their attributes and nature. I chose the black horse because it looks intimidating and wears some of the finest horse armor across the land.

I peek out into the arena and I see my opponent. The herald tells me his name is Robert Dudley the Earl of Leicester. He was a champion back when he was young but as he grows older he is not as fast and is getting weaker. That really boosts my confidence for my first joust.

I’m about to go into the arena, I quickly equip my Elizabethan tournament armor. This is my favorite set that I own, it protects my neck, shoulders and chest but I can still see through the helmet. I pick up my lance and get on the horse, the joust is about to commence.

I move over to the starting position and see my opponent down the arena. The herald calls “ 1, 2, 3 JOUST!”. We both start charging down the fence, I’m thinking of where I’m going to hit him. I decide on the chest because it’s the largest target.

As we charge it gets more intense. The crowd goes silent.

I hold out my lance aiming at the chest, it hits him and he goes barreling off his horse. The crowd roars and whistles, I hold out my lance aiming at the chest, it hits him and he goes barreling off his horse. The crowd roars and whistles.

The herald announces “ Sir Maxwell Hughes has won the first joust”. More roar in the crowd can be heard, I look up at the royal family’s seat and I see the queen smiling.

I have had my fun admiring the crowds cheers and flowers being tossed. Now its time for the second joust of the tournament, My opponents name is George Clifford Earl of Cumberland. I get to the starting position once again, and I rethink my last strategy.

This time I’m going to aim for his head. The herald calls “ 1, 2, 3 JOUST!”.

We start charging and as I get closer I move my lance aiming directly at his head. He blocks and George drops his lance, therefore I’ve won 2 out of 3 jousts.

The crowd claps and cheers, throwing flowers on the arena ground. Once again the herald calls that I have won, I return to the barracks to see who my next opponent is.

My next opponent is Sir Henry Lee, the Queens champion for many years. He is one of the best jousters says the herald, he has experience. But he is getting old.

I get to the starting position and the herald calls “1, 2, 3 JOUST!”. We charge at each other and this time I go for the chest once again.

I hit him in the sternum, he goes rolling off his horse and hits the ground. The crowd roars louder than ever before, the herald says “ Sir Maxwell Hughes has won the jousting tournament. The queen shall present him with his winnings”.

I see the Queen walking up to me, she says congratulations and hands me a trophy filled with gold coins. This was the time of my life I’ll never forget.