Renaissance Faire features jousting

COURT JESTERS: As part of a renaissance-era gathering replicating the court of Queen Mary of Scots, the Knights of Mayhem joust for food and fame, sending lance pieces flying.

Neither concussions nor broken collarbones were witnessed by the audience, but injuries in the sport of full-contact jousting are only a matter of time according to Prince Kyllum Awl, otherwise known as Charlie Andrews, who dressed in a 140-pound suit of shining armor for his match.

The jousting group, called Knights of Mayhem, were one of the featured attractions at the Shasta Dragonwood Celtic Renaissance Faire held this weekend at the Anderson River Park.

The armored men on horseback charged at each other and struck with 12-foot lances of Douglas Fir.

Andrews has suffered many broken bones due to impacts with the ground, he said. The group proudly tout themselves as one of the only full-contact jousting clubs in the nation, added fellow jouster Patrick Lambke, clad in black armor.

Many jousting shows are choreographed, and while "it's a great show ... it's not the sport," Andrews said. He referred to the showy productions as "all tinsel and polyester" compared to his jousting troop that competes in what he called "the original extreme sport."

The group is attempting to bring the sport much greater attention, and Andrews hopes to see full contact jousting become a real touring sport like professional bull riding.

Andrews already competes regularly in tournaments beyond the near weekly renaissance fair shows. Eventually, the real sport will divorce itself somewhat from renaissance shows, he added.

The group also hopes to raise awareness of the sport on television.

Production company Vessolar Studios is creating a reality-television pilot about the jousting group and will begin trying to sell it to networks this month, according to Ben McPherson, an owner of the production company and one of the jousting group managers.

Andrews added that the group was interviewed recently by New York Times Magazine.