TEAM:
Knights of Nottingham
SPORT:
Jousting/Tournaments
WHY I CHEER THEM ON:
Because they've been around a long time, have twice been World Champions and are incredibly entertaining to watch.
Because I usually find most types of sport boring to watch unless I am also participating but jousting requires a formidible diversity of strengths, skills and intelligence plus great showmanship which keeps it interesting.
Because when done competitively the action is fast, hard, loud, chaotic, and can turn at any moment. No one crys foul, pretending to be hurt just to gain time or an advantage and, for the most part, honour and chivalry prevails.
Because the clothing of the combatants (including the horses) puts all other sport strips to shame, being usually handmade, historically accurate and opulent. The equipment used is beautiful and wonderfully crafted as well as functional.
Because the the surroundings you watch it in feel good. Audiences are noisy and good-naturedly partisan and often get into the spirit by dressing up themselves. Tourney Grounds tend to be built with an abundance of wood, metal and cloth and a decided absence of plastic, with nature featuring heavily in the surrounding scenery. An afternoon in such an environment is always relaxing and good for the soul despite the intensity of the Tournament.
Because being able to go to a Tournament is a rare treat, not a regular thing, and is therefore always special and exciting.
Because medieval history, traditional crafts, big horses, the countryside, historical costume and men with long hair and good legs are a few of my favourite things. So, on a purely personal note, I can't think of anything more fun than watching a lot of lean but well muscled long-haired men with ornate armour and very tight trousers, riding big powerful horses and hitting each other with handcrafted weaponry against a backdrop of green fields and trees (and, occasionally, a castle.)