Herstmonceux - Participants Info - Skill at Arms Tournament

England's Medieval Festival is the governing body for medieval Skill-at-Arms Tournament Rules and Regulations. These rules have been created and agreed upon by our panel of experts and they set the standards by which all medieval Skills-at-Arms Tournaments worldwide should be judged.

We welcome your suggestions to make the rules more comprehensive and the sport safer.

As far as is possible these rules are based on the Federation Equestre Internationale Rules for Team Pegging which is a later period competition. These rules have been adopted so that individual competitors and teams of competitors from any part of the world may compete against one another under as fair and equal terms as possible.

Any organization wishing to hold a qualifying tournament for the medieval Skill-at-Arms Championship held annually at England's Medieval Festival, is encouraged to apply to have their competition sanctioned and accredited.

Number of Entries Permitted

Only one entry per rider will be accepted for 'team', 'pair' and individual events.

Ill Treatment of Horses / Dangerous Riding

The judges have the right to disqualify any rider whom, in their opinion, mistreats their horse or is felt to be dangerous in their manner of riding

If in the opinion of the judges a horse is lame, the horse will be disqualified from the competition.

The period of an event extends from one hour before the beginning of the event to an hour after the announcement of the final results, unless the schedule provides otherwise. Complaints or queries arising therefrom need to be lodged in person with the judges - in writing - within one hour of the results being announced. A query fee will be lodged with the judges, to be returned if the judge finds that the complaint or query is justified.

The changing of horse and/or rider in a team throughout a competition shall not normally be allowed except on approval of the judges. Horses or riders will not be exchanged within a team during the currency of any competition.

All competitors are to dress in a suitable medieval style of clothing. This should be authentic15th century in design and make (13th and16th century designs are acceptable). It should be constructed from wool and not made of poly-cottons, nylons etc. Hats are a very important part of the costume. Different styles from across Europe from the periods above are acceptable.

Saddlery in good condition and of any type may be used. The stirrups or stirrup leathers may not be attached to any other part of the horse or saddlery.

a) A competitor breaking his weapon at any time from the commencement of a run, until the completion of the run, will not be re-armed before completion of that run but points scored prior to being disarmed will hold good.

b) If a competitor drops his lance/sword between start and finish lines, he will not be awarded any points for that run. In a team competition, the scores scored by other riders will hold good.

A competitor who either falls or his horse falls during a run will be eliminated for that run. In team competitions the points scored by the other 3 competitors will stand.

Two judges will be appointed by the show organiser for the duration of the competition. Their decisions will be final. Both judges must be experienced horsemen with a thorough knowledge of the Rules. Neither relatives of nor horses belonging to either judge may compete.

a) The judges will award scores for each competitor and then inform the scorer for entry into appropriate score sheet. Result sheet will be signed by all judges.

b) A scorer will sit next to the judges to keep a record of the score and keep the announcer informed as the competition progresses.

a) The starter is positioned close to and on the same side as the judges without obstructing the view of the judges.

b) The starter is equipped with a flag. He will hold the flag up when the judge is satisfied that all is ready for the start of the run. He will drop the flag at the start signal given by the other judge when he sees that competitors are in a position to start.

c) If a competitor crosses the start line before the start order is given, he will be eliminated for that run and no points will be awarded. This will equally hold good for team events.

The track party consists of a track official and required number of assistants. They are responsible for maintaining the general condition of the track and for fixing of the pegs, rings, lemons, etc.

Specifications of Equipment

All competitors shall be similarly armed with either sword or lance as laid down in the Rules. The lance shall not be shorter than 2.3m with a metal point without serrated edges. Grips are permitted. Lances can be of any material. The sword shall not be shorter than 81cm and shall not exceed 90cm in blade length, with an overall length not exceeding 110cm. Blades on hilt, slings or barbs are not allowed.

a) The dimensions of wooden pegs are 30cm long, 2.5cm thick but the width will vary from 7.5cm/5cm/2.5cm depending on the stage of competition. The judges will make every effort to select pegs of uniform weight and size as much as possible from the pegs provided.

b) In order to prevent the pegs from splitting and breaking up, they should be bound with wire 2cm from the top end and again at 13cm from the bottom point. The wooden pegs will be soaked in water before the competition to prevent them from splitting.

c) The pegs are to be driven into the ground at an angle of 60 degrees from horizontal, with exactly 17cm of the peg showing above the ground level. The face of the peg must be painted white.

d) The pegs should preferably be made of the wood of obeche or knot-free pine and should as far as possible be equal in weight and should not break up when pierced by the lance/sword.

c) For section and half section pegging, pegs shall be placed broad side at 2.5m intervals apart

Without timing equipment, it is at the judges' discretion to disqualify any 'run' that they feel is too slow. All runs must be made at the gallop. Cantering or trotting will cause automatic disqualification.

Those competitors that carry both pegs will go on to have two runs at a 5cm wide peg. If the competitors are still tied at this stage a further run at an edge - or 2.5cm - peg will take place. In the unlikely event of equality on edge pegs being carried the judges will decide on a way to separate the two competitors either by having another run at the edge peg or by marking the bottom of the peg so that the competitor who is in or nearest to that mark is declared the winner.

Number of runs = each of the four members of each team is allowed two runs at a 7.5cm width peg.

Team members must run 4-abreast. In the event of a tie after the first two runs, the teams will go on to have one run at a 5cm wide peg. If the teams are still tied at this stage a further run at an edge - or 2.5cm - peg will take place.

This is an individual competition and rules laid down for lance individual will apply.

This is a team competition consisting of 4 riders and Rules laid down for Lance Team will apply.

Equipment consists of two gallows with a 'T' crossbar 2.6 metres high from ground level with a horizontal cross bar of 1.8 metres extending 0.9 metres on either side of vertical having a vertical hanging strap (light materials) to the ring holder. The ring (6cm inside measurement) is suspended at a height of 2.130 metres from the ground. The gallows are 15 metres apart, and a peg 20 metres beyond the 2nd gallows and in line.

The course set up as for rings and pegs. Instead of rings, lemons/oranges and peg will be positioned in a line.

Slice one - with the sword resting horizontally behind the shoulders, hand in line with shoulder at cheek height, elbow below hand, cut horizontally from rear to front

Slice two - with sword at left shoulder, cut horizontally from front to rear, at neck height with elbow as high as hand. A downward cut or 'push' at lemon/orange will not be allowed and no points will be awarded.

The target will be circular and made of plaid straw. It will be 4ft wide. At the centre will be a 1ft wide red bull's-eye. The target will be stood on the ground braced against a bale of straw.

Throwing spears will be provided. Competitors may use their own spears at the judges discretion. There is no minimum length for throwing spears. Barbed or serrated points are not allowed.

2 cabbages for each run at a distance of 15 metres from each other, placed in line with each other

Cabbages to be at head height of a standing man (5ft 8in from ground to top of cabbage)

Lances will be provided though competitors may bring their own lances (look at Rules appertaining to lance length). All privately owned lances must be approved by the judges in advance of the competition.

Skill-at-Arms

Weapons used - Dagger, Sword and Lance

Layout of Course

Consists of 3 bush jumps in a line at intervals 20m. Each bush jump will be of the same height and narrow in width. A medieval bladder (balloon) holder (2m high) to hold a standard-size medieval bladder is placed near the right of first jump, another bladder holder at 1.5m in height near the left of second jump and a third bladder holder at 1m in height on the right of the 3rd jump (2nd bladder to be 1.5m to the left of the line of the 1st and 3rd bladder). A medieval bucket (approximately 20 litres, wooden) is to be provided at the end of the 1st leg at a distance of 35m from 3rd bush jump, approximately 1.5m above ground level for depositing dagger.

The 2nd leg consists of 2 dummies in line (bags filled with straw suspended from a gallows on a firm base) which should swivel away from the rider on impact of the sword. A round red heart 8cm in diameter placed in the middle of a white paper 15cm x 15cm will be pasted in the centre of the dummy's abdomen with the centre of the heart at a height of 1.5m from the ground. The dummy is to be placed opposite a point halfway between the 2nd and 3rd jumps mentioned in 1st leg. The 2nd dummy is similarly positioned 20m from first dummy. The rider after striking first dummy must quickly withdraw the sword and go after the 2nd heart in 2nd dummy and leave the sword in the dummy. In case he misses the dummy and is still carrying the sword then he should go forward with the sword near the lance, embed the sword in the ground and pick the lance for 3rd leg.

The rider then proceeds ahead and takes the lance which has been embedded lightly on ground and then completes the 3rd leg on 2 rings and peg.

Award of Points

Carry = 6 points. If peg is carried or falls beyond 15m measured from the point at which the peg was placed it is a carry.

Draw = 4 points. If peg is removed from the ground, but not carried full distance it is a draw.

Strike = 2 points. If a peg is struck on face, but not removed from its position in the ground it is a strike.

NB: Pegs must be struck on the face of the peg by the point of the weapon. Doubtful pegs must be handed over to the judges.

Lemon/Orange - Slice = 6 points (must be clear and distinct and caused due to use of sword)

One point for each complete rotation of the quintain once struck by the rider's lance.

Note: Level of Competence to be Proven

All competitors must be able to ride one-handed at walk, trot, canter and gallop and be able to turn, circle and jump small fences. They must also be able to demonstrate that they have received the level of training essential for the purpose of safely carrying (whilst on horseback) the required weapons, i.e. lance, sword, dagger, throwing spear, etc. Likewise all horses must have had training in and experience of the said disciplines.

UK riders if bringing their own horse must be available on the practice day (Friday) for assessment of the above. UK riders hiring horses from Ditchling Common Stud must, in advance of the show, attend Ditchling Common Stud Riding School for the purpose of being suitably assessed.

Riders from overseas must send to the show organizers, within a period of 14 days of submitting their entry, a verifiable reference (suitably authenticated as such) from a recognized national equestrian body attesting to the level of their riding experience and competence of weapons handling.

England's Medieval Festival

Rules for Medieval Mounted Skill-at-Arms Competitions