A medieval joust to mark the Armouries' anniversary

The twentieth anniversary Easter Jousting Tournament at the Royal Armouries, Leeds. Pictured Andy Deane, holding Jasmine, from the Royal Armouries who will be representing England during the weekends contest.

THE 20TH anniversary of the opening of a famous Yorkshire museum will celebrated in style over the Easter weekend as internationally renowned knights compete for the Sword of Honour in a jousting tournament.

The Royal Armouries Museum opened in the heart of Leeds in 1996.

To mark this date it will be holding an event which dates back considerably further. Jousting is the original extreme sport - with the first recorded tournament in the country being dated in 1066.

And at the Royal Armouries at the weekend visitors will be able to witness the thrills and spills of authentic medieval jousting.

The tiltyard will resound to the clamour and clash of a live action tournament as the Royal Armouries Museum’s own jouster Andy Deane and team mate Stacy Van Dolah-Evans will be hoping to topple the current champions Poland who won both the individual and team event last year.

Atkinson Action Horses will be supplying the horses for the events and demonstrating some of the skills of their horses during the Tournament.

There will also be a mêlée on the Bank Holiday Monday as part of a spectacular finale, when all the competing knights will clash in a medieval mock battle.

Visitors will also be able to meet the knights and horses, see how knights kit up for the tournament and listen to tales of medieval daring.