St Ives Medieval Faire, Sydney's premier annual living history event, returns for its fifth annual event at St Ives Showgrounds on Sydney's north shore 22-23 September.
Across two days, the St Ives Showground will be hay-strewn and hand-forged into an accurate recreation of daily life in Medieval Europe.
Over 350 historical re-enactors will travel from across Australia to St Ives to create a time-travelling experience for visitors.
The Faire will also once again play host to an international solid lance jousting tournament – the only one in the southern hemisphere. Professional jousters will travel from Norway, Russia, France, Sweden and from across Australia to compete in this high-stakes joust, where all jousters will be in full knights' armor.
Last year the event attracted nearly 20,000 Sydneysiders across two days, and organisers expect an even higher turnout this year.
We have a quick chat with one of the jousters who'll be competing, Cliff Marisma.
Milord, you have a background as a professional equestrian; how did you come to be a jouster?
[Cliff] I came into jousting through Lisa and Phillip Leitch who tracked me down and asked me if I would like to work at Kryal Castle as a jouster.
How did you learn the skill of jousting?
I learnt to joust through the training and guidance of Phillip Leitch.
Have you ever been seriously injured in a tournament?
I have had a few minor injuries but nothing bad; a couple of broken toes and fingers and some minor muscular injuries.
Have you ever seriously injured an opponent in a tournament?
No, I have never seriously injured another jouster in a tournament.
Your motto: 'Et egressus stetit – Stand and go forth'; what does this mean to you?
My motto, 'Stand and go forth' means a lot to me. It stands for no matter what the hardships in life, no matter what difficulties you may have had, or you are having, no matter the past or how many times you fall or get knocked down you must stand back up onto your feet and go forth in life.
How do you prepare for tournaments, such as the one you'll compete in at St Ives Medieval Faire?
I prepare for a joust a long time before the event. I train hard so that I am as ready and capable as I can be. To me you prepare for a tourney well and truly before the event, so that when the day comes your ready for it.
As the reigning champ, there must be a lot of personal and professional pride on the line for you?
I’m not reigning champion this year; Phillip Leitch took the honours at St Ives last year.
Why should people come check out St Ives Medieval Faire?
People should come to St Ives tournament because it really is an event to be seen. A lot of work and dedication is put into this event by so many people to make it one of the best tournaments in the world. You have some of the world's best knights competing in a historical solid lance joust that really must be seen to be truly appreciated. St Ives compared to other tournaments in my personal opinion: It stands with the best of them.
What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
European or African?
Do you have an arch-nemesis you're particularly keen to knock off their perch?
No I don’t have an arch-nemesis; it is not about trying to unhorse one another. Honestly, we have a great respect towards each other and towards jousting. It is more about the pursuit of excellence in every pass rather than to beat on each other. We are all brothers in arms and I think this is a great thing to have between us all.
Are you a fan of shows like 'Game Of Thrones' or does it remind you too much of work?
No, I’m afraid I am not a fan of 'Game Of Thrones. However I do like the jousting episode!
Punters can upgrade to the VIP Royal Court Experience and enjoy a full medieval long table feast. Click here for more information.
Other 2018 Medieval Faire highlights include birds of prey demonstrations, glorious battles featuring Vikings, Normans and Anglo-Saxons facing the might of the Byzantines and clashing for honour, longbow archery displays, costume competitions and parades (with prizes) as well as crafters and artisans markets plus workshops throughout the day.
There'll also be long-table gourmet feast featuring special edition ales and mead. While the Living History Village features five key areas travelling through the Vikings, Byzantines, Crusades, the Hundred Years War, the Wars of the Roses and into the 17th Century.
