Brook Bohning, who resides between Rimbey and Eckville, returned from an International Jousting competition in Cooks Creek, Manitoba on July 27 and 28, which brought in seven people internationally from Poland, Finland, Quebec and Norway. Not all ended up jousting, one marshalled and one was a guest judge.
Bohning travelled out with her friend Lori Smith. Both ride with a group called the Society of Tilt and Lance Cavalry International out of Millarville, Alberta.
"Essentially we're a company that has jousters and skill at arms riders, and we perform for a bunch of different fairs and things going on around Canada," said Bohning.
Bohning herself is a skilled at arms rider. There are two divisions, one is the jousting division, while the other is the skill at arms, which is specifically for showcasing their skills and competing for sword, lance and spear work.
"We use swords to behead things, and we throw lances and catch rings in the air. We do what's called the quintain, where we hit a target that spins kind of like your jousting."
Bohning's friend Smith was one of the judges for the international joust this year out in Manitoba, while Bohning was one of the ground crew that helped out on the field.
"One of my jobs was saddling all the jousting horses and helping any of the knights, so we kind of all wear many hats," she said.
Bohning also competed in the skill at arms portion of the competition and was rewarded with Best Horsemanship.
Smith with her husband also have a company called Smith's Medieval Mounted Clinics, teaching skill at arms. Both ladies were recently at Pigeon Lake doing demonstrations.
They also rode in Rimbey years ago at the Cutter Parade, and just last year rode in the Calgary Stampede parade, where their group one first place and many awards.
"We've progressed now to where we're doing this on a much larger scale with a much larger group, travelling and doing more," said Bohning.
Her and Smith will be back at Pigeon Lake at the end of the month through Smith's company.
