Renae Marisma beats field to claim national title in jousting

Ballarat has a rich history of national sporting champions but Renae Marisma’s journey is a little different to most. See how she rose to the top in a medieval pastime.

Renae Marisma won the Australian National Jousting title in Ballarat last weekend. Picture: Kryal Castle.

Ballarat can lay claim to being one of the best places in the country to produce jousters after a local won the national title last weekend at Kryal Castle.

Renae Marisma beat seven others jousters in a battle for the ages to claim the win.

The sport is one of the most ancient in the world, which sees competitors line up at opposite ends, on a horse, in armour, holding a lance.

The goal, as the horse moves forward with the competitor on it, is to hit the opponent coming from the other end using the lance and make contact with their armour to get a point.

It’s been happening as a sport for more than 600 years.

The tournament saw all eight competitors battle each other three times, earning points during each battle.

Marisma was level with another competitor at the end of the tournament with a sudden death contest created to decide the winner.

“The way to decide who the winner would be was a joust of accuracy,” she revealed.

“We got a little sticker (on our shield) and got a sticker on our opponents shield.

“We dipped the lance in paint and then we had to try to hit the sticker on our opponents shield.

“We had a ruler out and everything so we could measure to the centimetre. My lance struck the sticker, so it was undeniable it was the closest.

“It was a really hard fought tournament.”

Renae Marisma in her armour. Picture: Kryal Castle.

Marisma was already one of the countries best jousters before her national success.

She recently won a tournament in New South Wales and has already competed overseas with her husband, Cliff, who is also her coach.

He is also a renowned jouster himself.

The new national champion said the sport can be simple when everything goes right.

When it goes wrong, it can be utter carnage.

Having the right horse for Marisma was vital in her win.

“I came home back to Ballarat really confident in how I was jousting and really confident with my horse,” she revealed before the event.

“But you never know what’s going to happen on the day. My horse could decide she is not happy, she doesn’t want to do it.

“My armour could have a malfunction and my lance could have a malfunction. I was lucky and rode amazing.

“At the end of the day a lot of it came down to her (my horse). She was perfect.

“I couldn’t fault her the whole weekend. She did everything she was asked and she loves jousting, that makes a massive difference.

“She’s really excited and she’s really brave. You can’t do well without a good horse.”

The next challenge for Marisma involves competing without her horse, which she’s raised since she was a foal.

The Ballarat jouster will travel overseas to compete, proud to represent not only her town but the country as a national champion.

“Ballarat is the hub of jousting,” she said.

“It is definitely where some of the best jousters in the country live.

“I definitely had a home crowd advantage, there was a lot of people I know and knew me who have done jousting in Ballarat.

“I can’t hear a lot when I’m wearing my armour but when they are really loud like that I can definitely hear them.

“So it’s nice to take the national title in my hometown. We (my husband and I) have been invited overseas.

“We don’t take our horses but pack our armour. We want to) show the rest of them what Australia has got.

“Not only will we have the national title of being the best in Australia but we’ll taking that to the world.”