Castle hosts jousting tournament

Practice sessions have been held at Bolsover Castle, near Chesterfield, every weekend this month for the contestants, but yesterday was the Grand Medieval Joust.

Crowds were treated to a behind the scenes view of the knights’ encampment and a early display of skill in which the warriors performed feats such as chopping a cabbage in two with swords and throwing javelins, all while on horseback.

In the final event of the day, the teams squared up in a battle which organsiers said saw man, horse and armour weighing half a ton each charge at each other at around 50mph. Castle spokesman Lynsey Coombs said: “This is the highlight of our events calendar.”