“And making sure you’re riding in a manner that is safe. Not only for yourself and your horse, but also for the person that you’re riding against.”
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While an opponent’s shield is the target of the lance, riders can get whacked on their upper body, with the impact blocked by one to two layers of hard spring steel.
While giving a demonstration with another opponent last weekend at Blacktown City Medieval Fayre in Sydney, Rodney took a hit to his helmet.
But Liberty said it “did nothing other than slightly tenderise his cheek” because “we’ve applied so much of our effort, energy and money towards having good armour”.
The Deamans first encountered jousting when watching it at a Canberra equine event 10 years ago. “It was a really impressive display of training and theatrics,” Liberty says.
Then five years ago, the couple were competing in horse archery – shooting arrows at targets while on horseback – when a friend encouraged them to try jousting.
Stealing a kiss before a jousting display. The couple will be competing at Kryal Castle near Ballarat this weekend.Credit: Steven Siewert
The pair now take part in up to 10 events a year across the country and have spent tens of thousands of dollars on jousting.
For this weekend’s tournament, the couple drove 800 kilometres to Ballarat, towing a float with three horses – one each to ride plus a spare – from their home in Tarago, in southern New South Wales.
They say jousting is slowly becoming more popular, crowd numbers increasing and the number of events has grown from four or five a year when they started in 2019 to up to 10 now.
Jousters now make appearances at agricultural shows and even weddings.
Pageantry before battle: Rodney and Liberty ride through the crowd at the Blacktown City Medieval Fayre.Credit: Steven Siewert
Liberty wouldn’t term jousting as romantic but says: “It’s a very strong, trust-building sport to participate in together, knowing that we’re out there, looking after each other and cheering each other on as well.
“There’s a real love of each other and the successes we achieve. It’s very much more about trust and honour and standing by each other, more so than I guess romantic love.”
Rodney says: “It’s a sport that breeds love and respect in its own right, so being able to do it with your partner, with the person you love, is probably good for your marriage, although I’m not a marriage counsellor.”
So it seems that the couple that jousts together, stays together. “So far it’s worked,” says Rodney.
The jousting will start at 11.30am and 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday.