Surely You Joust! September 4 By Tommy Brannon Spectators at the 2009 Delta Fair were treated to an exhibition of medieval jousting, put on by The Imperial Knights Production Company of Norco California, a touring entertainment group that recreates the thrill of medieval jousting. The company put on exhibitions, both in the tournament arena and at the PRCA Rodeo in the Shelby Showplace Arena during the first weekend of the Fair, September 4. The jousting was full contact - everyone could hear the impact of lance to shield and lance to lance. The Imperial Knights do not use breakaway lances, although one of the knight’s lances did break during the tournament. The knights, Sir Anthony, mounted on a black Percheron named Thor, and Sir Thomas The Black Knight, on a Missouri Fox trotter named Shadow, put on quite a show - first by charging at each other on horseback with lances, then with broadswords on horseback, and finally hand-to-hand combat on foot with mace and axe. The crowd was able to follow the action through narration from Sir Derrick, also mounted on horseback. The company tours the country putting on epic battles at fairs, shows and schools as well as competition tournaments. They even have a Knight School where one can learn the riding and fighting techniques of medieval combat; they will also train your horse. Most of the performers have their roots in Hollywood and have worked at theme parks, such as Magic Mountain or Universal studios, and The Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. When asked, “How did you get you into this?” Anthony Parvino, who plays Sir Anthony, jested, “I did not know the secret handshake to get hired as a Hollywood stunt man! I travel around the country and get paid to play.” But stunt men they are. The performance requires high athletic ability, precision choreography, and lots and lots of practice time. The horses are of various breeds: Percheron, Missouri Fox Trotter, Thoroughbred, Belgian and Quarter Horse. Thomas Montgomery, the head of the company who plays the Black Knight, said that he does not look for a particular breed but looks for brains and sensibility. “We give some horses a job and they fit right into our program,” he said. For more information about jousting performances, visit the web site www.Medievaljoust.com