Knocking your opponent from the saddle isn't required during the jousting competition in the 24th annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Festival.
Besides, it isn't easy wearing full armor on horseback carrying both a shield and lance.
A railing separates two oncoming riders, who must present their shields as targets for their opponent.
Unhorsing a foe is worth six points, but a knight can also score by hitting the opponent's shield with a light hit (one point) and a solid hit (two points). Dislodging an opponent is worth three points, as is breaking the lance on the foe's shield.
Points are also awarded (and subtracted) to knights for their sportsmanship, horsemanship and safety judgment.
Jousting isn't the only event scheduled during the U.S. International Jousting Competition, but it does offer prize money.
First place among men is worth $700. Women's first place is $150.
All other skill-at-arms contests have top prizes of $100, but an additional $2,300 is added to the pot for more cash prizes in ring spearing, shield quintain, spear throwing and jousting.
Each knight jousts twice each day, with an athlete's last match against an opponent with a similar point total.
Safety is priority in an event that is potentially dangerous, but it's the risk and reward that make it popular for spectators.
Men and women compete in all the events.
In ring spearing, lances are used by a rider to collect suspended rings while galloping through a predetermined course. Large rings are worth one point, smaller rings, two. The competitor with the most points after two days is the champion.
Quintain hitting has a knight "jousting" with a shield that spins on an axis. The more revolutions, the higher the score.
Spear throwing is similar to a game of darts, except the darts are six feet long thrown while riding a horse that is galloping toward a target. As in darts, a bull's eye counts for more points than the inner and outer circles.
Last year's champions were Patrick Lambke of Shadow Hills, Calif., and Cynthia Morrison of West Palm Beach, Fla.
All action takes place in the Granny May Arena at the Stanley Park Fairgrounds.
By Martin B. Hamilton