The Tournament of the Phoenix returns to Poway this weekend
By Emily Sorensen
Ready to relive history? The Tournament of the Phoenix returns to Poway for the eighth year this weekend, Friday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Poway Rodeo Grounds, 14336 Tierra Bonita Road, Poway.
Six knights, Darth Rimmer from the United States, Luc Petillot from France, Tobias Capwell from the United Kingdom, Dmitry Savchenko from Russia, Alix van Zijl from the Netherlands, and Jeffrey Hedgecock from the United States, will battle it out to receive the Phoenix Prize.
Alix van Zijl is the first woman to compete in the tournament, and one of only a handful of female jousters in the world. Van Zijl, 36, is a veterinarian when she isn’t donning armor and competing for glory in jousting tournaments around the world.
Hedgecock, who hails from Ramona, is also the founder of the tournament along with wife Gwen Norwick. The duo founded the tournament in 2007. Originally known as the WorldJoust Tournaments, the first was held in October of 2007, right after the Witch Creek fires that devastated Southern California. “‘We thought the fires would defeat us, but instead we have risen, Phoenix like, from the flames,” said English competitor Dominic Sewell according to the tournament’s website, and the tournament was renamed.
An equestrian triathlon, the tournament will test the combatants’ prowess and stamina as they pit themselves against each other in six events over the two day competition. Events include foot combat with axes, mounted melee, and four sessions of jousting. This is a competitive sporting event, not a reenactment or theatrical joust.
The tournament also includes the Festival of History, where attendees can do everything from watch ancient Roman gladiators spar to watch re-enactors spin thread and create illuminated manuscripts.
Falcon’s Court will be bringing their expanded Birds of Prey show to the event, which will be performed daily.
Friday is Preview Day, and runs from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., with the competition on Saturday and Sunday running 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
On Friday, you can enjoy the welcome ceremony at 11:30 a.m., as well as see the jousters engaging in a warm-up session for the weekend competition at 12:30 p.m. in arena 2. A bird-of-prey show will be held at 1:15 p.m., and the first skill-at-arms competition will be at 2 p.m. in arena 2.
The competition begins in Saturday, with jousting sessions being held at noon and 4 p.m., and pollaxe combat at 2:15 p.m.
The competition will conclude on Sunday with jousting at noon and 4:30 p.m. and the tourney at 2:15 p.m. Awards and the closing ceremony will be at 5 p.m.
Before and between shows, knights will be available for photos at the knight’s camp, and horses will be available for 20 minutes after equestrian activities.
There will be several food and drink vendors at the tournament this year, including The Phoenix Inn, selling beer from Ramona’s ChuckAlek Brewery; Hunter Steakhouse; Nana’s Heavenly Hot Dogs; Niederfrank’s Ice Cream; Oscar’s Meat Pie Shack; San Diego Pizza Company and many more.
There will also be many crafts, gifts and merchandise for sale at the event, ranging from historical reproductions, clothing and armor to organic skin care items, handmade jewelry, instruments and more. Attendees can also enjoy massages, hair braiding, a bounce house, a petting zoo, pony rides and face painting.
Tickets for Friday’s preview are $12 each. Saturday and Sunday are $22 adults, $19 seniors, children 5 though 12, active military with ID and students. A one-day family four-pack of tickets for Saturday or Sunday are $75. Preview admission is included with any weekend ticket purchase. For tickets and more information, visit www.tournamentofthephoenix.com.