Jousting should be a sport at the Olympics, say English Heritage

A new campaign by English Heritage aims to secure a place at the Olympics for England's first national sport.

The charity, which hosts jousting events at its castles in England in the summer, claims modern jousters need the same levels of fitness, skill and strength as many of the competitors heading to this summer's games in Rio de Janeiro.

The sport involves competitors with 44lb of armour holding a 12ft lance and racing towards their opponents at a gallop of up to 30mph.

In Oxfordshire, Blenheim Palace will be hosting its annual historical jousting tournament from August 19 to 21.

Visitors can enjoy a spectacular battle between the Knights of Arkley beneath the backdrop of Blenheim Palace on the South Lawn. Each jousting tournament will be staged twice daily over the weekend starting at 12noon and 3pm.

Members of English Heritage have said they accept that any road to the Olympics for the jousting event would be a long one, but said it has international appeal with jousting tournaments held in countries from Belgium to New Zealand.

English Heritage's head of projects Lucy Hutchings said: "We want to see jousting take its rightful place at the Olympics table.

"It is one of the oldest equestrian sports in the world, with its roots in Ancient Greece, and requires similar levels of athleticism and artistry as other official Olympic sports.

"Jousting is a wonderful dramatic spectacle, it is fantastic to watch knights in action against the backdrop of our castles, it would be even better to see it on the Olympics stage."

English Heritage's jousting expert Dominic Sewell added: "Jousting is a sport that requires a huge amount of skill and involves a daily training regime.

"You have to be strong, not just physically but mentally, so you can sit fearlessly in your saddle, face your rival, and offer yourself as a target.

"And just like the Olympic British equestrian team, we ride beautiful horses to an exceptional level."