Saturday in Pahrump under bright blue skies, eleven participants competed in a friendly match of Medieval games on horseback with flowing, colorful caparisons. The Barony of Starkhafn is a group of enthusiasts who recreate the lifestyle of the Middle Ages and includes an equestrian guild decked in Renaissance regalia. While other knightly combat events were being held elsewhere at Petrack Park, the equestrian competitors readied their horses for battle. The Barony of Starkhafn and their Equestrian Guild are under the reign of the Kingdom of Caid, one of 19 kingdoms within the Society of Creative Anachronism. The SCA is an international organization with over 30,000 chivalrous members who practice the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe. The Kingdom of Caid includes clubs from southern California, southern Nevada, and Hawaii. Participants dress in clothing of the Renaissance and host tournaments which include art, dancing, feasts, ground combat and mounted equestrian games.

Scianna Augustine, a former Baroness, was both judge and scribe for the timed event while her henchmen helped reset the obstacles and hand out weapons to the riders. The competition consisted of individual runs through stations around the arena with the winner determined by the fastest time. The riders could complete the challenges in whichever order they desired. These included using a sword to dislodge “heads” from poles while weaving in between, skewering rings through a long lance, throwing a javelin, “delivering” a letter, and backing through poles. A favorite to watch was “tilting the quintain”, where a shield target is fixed onto the arm of a swiveling pole, with a counterbalance on the other end. Knights charge and tilt at the target with a blunt lance while trying not to be dislodged by the opposite arm which swings around behind. Points are scored for the number of complete revolutions the quintain makes. The variety of games depends on the structure of the tournament, and could include other challenges such as “pig sticking”, jousting, and mounted archery.

Stephanie Rapp-Brooks has been practicing and competing in the games since 2003. Brooks and her 13-yr old Walker mix Bob did well enough to proceed to the second round, where the top five riders from the first round continued on with more difficult challenges added to the course. One of the helpful henchmen was ex-royalty Marsden Macrae who was Queen of the Kingdom of Caid in 1982-83. Her sister was one of the original founders of the SCA in the late sixties, and the equestrian component was introduced soon after. Instead of riding today, Macrae was readying her 28-yr old horse Motif for the post-competition procession. She says she has had Motif since he “hit the ground” rescued from an abuse situation when he was only a few days old. Now with lameness in his hock, he still participates by wearing his queen’s original caparison with its Swan and Thistle crest during the parades.

Las Vegas practices are held at Fox’s Rest Stables on Jo Marcy drive in the northwest. The next practice is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, from 9am-1pm.  To attend the practice or for information about joining the equestrian guild and learning to fight like a knight, contact Scianna at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For all pictures from this event, see the Other Event Pix -> Special Events gallery. Huzzah!


 

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