19/07/2026
What an absolutely incredible weekend at the City of Moreton Bay Medieval Joust Tournament. Now that the dust has settled and the horses are home, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on last week’s event, which was, without a doubt, our best Abbey yet. Hosted by the Abbey Medieval Festival and produced by Red Hart Reproductions in conjunction with The Gryphon Company, everything ran seamlessly from the first pass to the final shattered lance. The level of professionalism, sportsmanship, and ex*****on both on and off the field was next-level, and it showed in every single pass.
We were incredibly proud to host nine of the finest competitors in the sport, with eight hailing from all along Australia's east coast and of course Stacy who made the epic journey all the way from the UK just to join the lyst. Everyone performed exceptionally well, but a few standout moments really deserve a mention. Huge congratulations are due to Phillip, who took home the victory yet again, his consistency out there is remarkable. A massive nod also goes to Stacy, who put on an absolute masterclass in grit, fighting tooth and nail all the way to the very last lance. He earnt that spot too, especially after an intense semi-final match against Rodney, who looked poised and completely ready to take the title before Stacey managed to knock him out of the running in a tie breaker pass.
It was also an incredibly meaningful tournament for Liberty and Amanda. Both of whom have worked so hard to return to the lysts after some extremely trying years, and they absolutely nailed it. They each rode with such power and grace, proving to everyone watching that they absolutely deserve to be right there competing amongst the best. I also want to give a special shoutout to Matt and Jacquiline-Lee, who stepped onto the field for their first-ever Abbey Tournament and knocked it out of the park, riding with the kind of confidence that proved their worth.
Behind the scenes. The absolute backbone of the weekend was my wife, Henrikke. Keeping near fifty people fed throughout a tournament is a massive undertaking on its own, but doing it entirely out of a tent, cooking over an open fire with only rudimentary equipment, is nothing short of heroic. Not only did she keep us all alive and fueled, but the food was absolutely fantastic, as it always is. We owe her a massive debt of gratitude. Also managing to do it without being too distracted by Norway in the worldcup 😆
An event of this scale doesn't just happen on its own, it takes an immense amount of dedication from every single person involved. There are so many individuals I want to personally thank for their incredible contributions, but the list is simply too long to write down. So, to all the competitors, the ground crew, the support teams, and everyone who lent a hand, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your unwavering commitment to the sport, the event, and to working together is what makes this community so special. Together, we didn’t just run a smooth, professional tournament, we created something truly unique, inspiring, and spectacular to behold.
Thank you all for making it unforgettable. Here’s to the next one!
