Abridged version, 21 May 2012. These rules are subject to revision prior to the tournament.
For more information, please email jeffrey@worldjoust.com.

The following rules will be implemented and enforced by the Marshall of the field, his judges and the Lady of Honour.

The Competition-

The six competitors will compete as individuals.

The Tournament will consist of three parts over two days-

• The Joust (including 4 sessions, Saturday and Sunday, 12noon and 4:30pm each day)
• Pollaxe Combat on Foot (Saturday 2:30pm)
• Club Tourney (Mounted Melee) (Sunday 2:30pm)

Scoring for each part is described below, but to summarize:

Joust – maximum 48 points possible (12 points possible for each of 4 sessions)
Pollaxe Combat on Foot – maximum 24 points possible
Club Tourney – maximum 22 points possible (1st and 2nd rankings for the two team members)

Maximum total possible for the entire compeition - 94 points

The competitor with the most points scored after the final joust session will be declared victor, and will receive the coveted "Phoenix Prize".

Equipment-

Full 15th century armour is required.
“Ecranche” style shields are required.
Lances will be provided for all competitors.
All competitors will caparison their mounts with historically accurate 15th century trappings.

Rules for the Joust

Each jousting session will consist of three rounds, with each team facing each other once. In each round, one team member will face a member of the opposite team for a match of 3 courses, then the other team members will joust for an additional match.

Each competitor jousts 3 courses in each of his 2 matches, for a total of 6 courses, per session. 

A team will receive one point for each course won, for a maximum possible of 12 points per session or 48 maximum points for the joust. A "Course" is a single run between two jousters.

In each course, each rider will have two attempts to enter the tilt against his opponent. If a rider fails to enter the tilt on his second attempt but his opponent is successful, his opponent will be awarded 3 points.

Scoring- (Maximum of 4 points attainable for each course.)

• 1 point is awarded for striking an opponent between his neck and waist, including shield, shoulders, body, arms and hands. This is called an "attaint".

  - or -

• 2 points are awarded for breaking the lance on an opponent between his neck and waist, but not on his shield (this includes shoulders, body, arms and hands).

  - or -

• 3 points are awarded for breaking the lance on an opponent’s shield.

• The coronel must be the first part of the lance to contact the target to score.
• 1 additional point is awarded for breaking at least half the lance tip’s length.
• A maximum of 4 points is attainable for each course.

Strikes to a competitor’s head, below his waist and swipes across the body are disallowed and score no points. Strikes to the saddle bow or any portion of a horse are disallowed and score no points. Repeated offenses may cause disqualification.

Rules for Pollaxe Combat on Foot

Each combatant will fight both members of each opposing team once, for a total of 4 combats per combatant, each victory scores 3 points. The combatant who is first to strike his opponent with 3 solid telling blows with the blade, hammer, dague or queue of his axe will be the victor.

Also-
The combatant who forces his opponent to the ground will be the victor.
The combatant who disarms his opponent will be the victor.
The combatant who forces his opponent to yield will be the victor.

Rules for the Club Tourney
(Mounted Melee)

Baston Clubs are the only allowed weapon. Combatants must strike only above the waist. This combat is about displaying prowess and horsemanship; points for individual strikes are not given.

The Tourney will begin with a charge between two groups of combatants, three on each side.

The combat will continue until all combatants are exhausted, or for 10 minutes, whichever occurs first.

If a combatant is disarmed or breaks his weapon, he may withdraw to the perimeter of the field to be rearmed.

Any combatant striking a horse will receive a warning. Repeated offenses will cause disqualification.

The Marshall of the field, Lady of Honour and Lady Judges will confer to rank the combatants from 1 to 6, based on their display of prowess at arms and horsemanship during the tourney. Combatants will recieve points according to their ranking placement that are applied toward their team's score:

1st - 12 points
2nd - 10 points
3rd - 8 points
4th - 6 points
5th - 4 points
6th - 2 points

Maximum 22 points possible (1st and 2nd rankings for the two team members).

Military Skill at Arms

The following skills will be scored but not as part of the overall competition:

Quintain – (no specific maximum point value)
The number of complete revolutions of the target after striking are counted and score one point each.

Rings – (maximum 6 points possible)
One point is scored for dislodging the ring, and two points for carrying each ring on the spear. The rings must remain on the spear until the rider stops at the end of the run.

Cut and Thrust – (maximum 3 points possible)
The rider will be awarded 1 point for a clean backhand cut to the first cabbage, and one point for a successful thrust into the second cabbage. An additional point is awarded if the rider carries the second cabbage away on his sword.

Thrown spear – (maximum 3 points possible)
Riders throw a spear at a wreath fixed to a straw bale, aiming for the center. Placeing the spear in the center scores three points, striking the wreather itself scores two points, and striking the bale scores one point.

Ground target (tent pegging) – (maximum 2 points possible)
Small shield shaped targets will be placed in a line on the ground, parallel to the line of travel. Each rider shall attempt to thrust into and carry a shield on his spear. The 6 tournament competitors must target the shield bearing their own colors. One point is awarded for striking, and a second point for carrying it away on the point of the spear.

Please direct questions to:

Jeffrey Hedgecock, Gwen Nowrick -- Event Producers
The Tournament of the Phoenix 2011
info@WorldJoust.com