ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110016
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEITH POMPEY STAFF WRITER
After a two-year wait, the Sedalia Center's Sixth Annual Country Fair in Big Island on Saturday will have a different flavor.
In addition to the usual mule jump, Bedford County will host its first jousting tournament. The competition will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $1.
"We have been trying for a long time to get a tournament here," said Bert Wade, executive director of the Sedalia Center. "Dr. [Bill] McCabe [chairman of the board of trustees at the center] and I went to a tournament a couple of years ago ... After watching it, we thought it would be great to have a tournament in our area."
Doug Eubank, a longtime promoter of jousting, and the officials at the center pursued the idea. But because of scheduling conflicts, it didn't happen. Now, about 24 months later, "we are very excited," Wade said.
They have every reason to be.
As of Monday, more than 30 amateur and professional riders were registered.
This modern-day tournament, however, is different from Galahad's and Lancelot's era. Back then, two guys would try to knock each other off their horses.
Nowadays, it is a noncontact sport. Modern jousters try to spear three rings dangling from a pole while riding a galloping horse. Professional riders are permitted two rides with one-inch rings. Whoever collects the most rings wins. If there happens to be a tie, then there's a tie-off. That's when the riders continue the competition using smaller rings until someone is eliminated.
Among this weekend's participants is the legendary Roger Campbell - the "Knight of Ponderosa II." Campbell, 43, was inducted into the National Jousting Hall of Fame in 1985. That's when he became the first Virginian to win the national championship. Campbell since has duplicated that achievement three times - in 1990, 1991 and 1993. He also is a nine-time state champion.
"I'm looking forward to competing in this tournament," Campbell said. "I always want to go into a tournament and do the best that I can do. I'll go in hoping to win, but the main things are to put on a good show and have fun."
Regardless of his accomplishment, Campbell should have his hands full - particularly from his brothers.
Mike Campbell won the '96 state championship in Clifford last weekend, defeating his other brothers Tony and Tommy, who took second and third place, respectively.
"My brothers are tough," Roger said. "We will have a lot of good riders competing this weekend. If you just think that you can just come and win it, you've got another think coming to you."
Eubank agreed.
"The Sedalia tournament is wide open," he said. "Anyone can win a tournament on any given day. The best jouster doesn't necessarily win. It depends on a lot of outside stuff. Like, for instance, if the wind is blowing when you are competing compared to when someone else does. And jousting is 50 percent horse, 50 percent person. A lot of times we can only do what the horse lets us do. And we know how that can get. But it's going to be a good show."
Before the tournament, the competitors will emulate medieval knights, parading around the course. They'll don colorful costumes with flags flying from their lances.
"For people who are into horses, they are going to like it a lot," Wade said. "I wasn't into horses when I first saw [a jousting competition], but it was fascinating. I noticed that even though it's competitive among the riders, it is a lot of fun. They show a lot of encouragement and a lot of pleasure when someone else does well.
"I'm just very excited that the tournament is finally here."
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