QA Fair hosts Eastern Shore Jousting Association event

CENTREVILLE — Numerous riders turned out to participate in the annual Queen Anne’s County Fair Jousting Tournament on the night of Friday, Aug. 16. The tournament sponsored by the Queen Anne’s County Fair Board was put on by the Eastern Shore Jousting Association.

Karen A. Callahan, a jouster herself, was the chairman and welcomed all of the spectators to the event. She told the crowd she knew there was a lot going on at the fair but to please be patient as some of the riders would put on a show for all to watch. Each rider rode three times for a chance at three rings down an 120 yard stretch on the Tractor Pull track. The riders’ horses ranged anywhere from 6.5 to 7.8 seconds in speed each time they ran the track.

Leadline participants riding on 1 3/4” rings were newcomer Skylar Riordan, Maid of Gem; Pierson McGinnis, Knight of Henderson; Addison Cook, Maid of Purple Rain; Katelyn Wooters, Maid of Caroline County; Derek Wooters, Knight of Wooters Acres; Karen A. Callahan, Maid of Another Chance; Rowan Lyons, Maid of Nugget; Allie Sonnier, Maid of Digger; Rylee Borkowski, Maid of Tangled; Kaylee Dixon, Maid of Frozen; and Adalynn Bonsall was the youngest rider at age 2.5 and rode as Maid of Toodles.

Winners of the Novice Class riding on 1 3/4” rings were First Place Karen Patrick, Maid of Mystery; Second Place Tara Borkowski, Maid of White Wine; Third Place Samantha Miller, Maid of Queen of Savannah; and Fourth Place Kaia Lyons, Maid of Skinny Minnie.

Samantha Miller, Maid of Queen of Savannah went on to win the Amateur Class riding on 1 1/2” rings.

Mike Patrick, Knight of Mystery won the Professional Class riding on 1” rings while second place went to Mason Platzke, Knight of Turn Around Farm.

The next joust will be held this Sunday, Aug. 25 starting at 2 p.m. at the Tuckahoe Equestrian Center, 619 Crouse Mill Road, Queen Anne. This will be a doubleheader with the postponed Talbot County Fair joust taking place in conjunction with the annual Queen Anne joust.

For more information about the state sport of jousting or the Eastern Shore Jousting Association and any future jousts, contact Diane Sherwood at 410-310-7945.