On this Easter bank holiday weekend, the Royal Armouries presented an international live-action jousting in Leeds. During this fantastic event, you could see the fight between teams of knights and a lot of „thundering hooves, clashing lances and plenty of pomp and pageantry”.

The International Jousting Tournament in Leeds 2023 was an exciting event for those who love history, pageantry, and chivalry. Jousting, the medieval sport of knights charging at each other with lances while on horseback, has been making a comeback in recent years. This tournament, held at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, was one of the largest and most exciting jousting events of the year. The event took place over four days on Easter weekend 7th -10th April.

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The Polish team claimed the team title and sword of honour. Jarosław Struczyński and Przemysław Jabłoński won the team victory in the Knights’ Tournament.

Moreover, battling some major Yorkshire wind and rain, Jarosław Struczyński won the last ever Queen’s Jubilee Trophy in the individual classification.

A Polish social activist, castellan of Gniew – Jarosław Struczyński is an originator and initiator of reconstruction and cultural and tourist revival of the castle in Gniew, organizer of historical and battle spectacles, founder of historical reconstruction groups, occasionally an amateur actor.

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„We are proud for standing guard over Polishness, but remember that you have great allies in us. If only you find yourself in need, Hussars will come back to defend you.” – says Struczyński to British Poles.

The hussar banner from the castle in Gniew presents itself to the British audience, and the commander of the hussars, Jarosław Struczyński, explained that the purpose of the shows in Leeds is „to convey to the citizens of this country that Poles are a nation that for hundreds of years has been a guardian not only of Christianity but also of European civilization (…) Sarmatia, the culture of the Commonwealth, which was then a superpower, had over a million square kilometres; there was no force that could defeat it”.

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With his passion for jousting and dedication to the craft, Jarosław has become a respected figure in the jousting community and an inspiration to many aspiring jousters around the world. This show was his last before retiring.

This year marks 30 years since the Royal Armouries brought jousting to Leeds and turned it from a passion project of medieval enthusiasts to the international sporting spectacular it is today.

Author: Patrycja Bodzek-Kurzyńska

Photo: Kordian Kochowicz, British Poles