King’s And Queen’s Equestrian Champions
Saturday held beautiful weather for the King’s and Queen’s Champion of Horse Competition in Quintavia. 8 competitors rode 5 horses in a competition composed of 2 parts, as well as a semi-final round.
In the first round, designed by Queen’s Champion Baroness Lillian Stanhope, riders were tested on their judgement, strategy, and skill on their mount in a “Gambler’s Choice” style course. This was the first time in the East Kingdom that such a course has been run. The course was set up with a number of familiar challenges to the competitors, including a quintain, javelin throwing, a bridge, and other obstacles, ten in total. .
Each obstacle was worth a certain number of points, and the rider had a limited number of time in which to rack up as many points as possible. Some riders chose to focus on fewer high point obstacles, while others went for as many different obstacles as possible. Riders were not permitted to run the same obstacle twice in a row, but could run an obstacle more than once provided another obstacle was attempted in between.
In the second round, held after a lunch and rest break for both horses and riders, competitors ran a course designed by King’s Champion Baron Duncan Kerr, consisting of a more formal period skill competition that directly tested rider’s prowess at the targets of quintain, rings, and javelin throwing. This course was run two at a time, with each rider on one side of the barrier riding towards the other competitor.
After the second round, points were added up and the four riders with the highest scores competed directly against one another in the semifinals.
Master Julian le Scot, riding Gaelen competed against Baroness Doucette de Verdun riding Wilhelm, and Baroness Alanna of Skye riding Tesoro competed against Baroness Sylvia du Vey riding Ginny. Baroness Doucette and Baroness Alanna advanced to the finals, where Baroness Doucette won the honor of King’s Champion of Horse.
During court, Her Majesty Caoilfhionn spoke of one of the riders who rode with style and made sure that the audience was enjoying the competition as much as he was, and named Master Julian le Scot as her Queen’s Champion.
A great day was had by all.