THOUSANDS of people flocked to Blenheim Palace over the bank holiday weekend as the historic house played host to a medieval jousting competition.

Audiences watched with their hearts in their mouth as knights in shining armour and on horseback, tore across the grounds of the stately home.

Oxford Mail:

Recreating the glorious jousting matches of Britain’s past, knights from The Knights of Royal England, took to the fields to give a grand display beneath the picture-perfect backdrop of Oxford’s poshest palace.

Jousting is a contest where two opponents on horseback charge at each other with long weapons called lances, which are often made of big wooden sticks with a blunt head.

Points are awarded for how well a knight strikes their opponent.

At the event over the bank holiday weekend, knights and horses were costumed with chain mail and steel armour of the 13th century.

The knights, who awoke the palace with the thunder of hooves and the clash of their weapons, were kitted out with 14-foot long lances.

Remember when: A

call for jousting to be made part of the olympics

Visitors, who went along in the sunshine to enjoy the event, which was free with the annual pass, were transported back to medieval times.

Decorated with royal bright blues, yellows, reds and golds, the grounds had been transformed into an authentic jousting arena (tilt yard) complete with a royal box.

Oxford Mail:

The throwback event, which attracted thousands, also included jolly juggling jesters, birds of prey, have-a-go archery and demonstrations in old fashioned ways – like what blacksmiths did and barber surgeons.

Blenheim Palace puts on the event twice a year.

The historic palace will be the host of several events this month including a special charity walk for cancer and a vintage car show.

The Pink Ribbon Walk will paint the 2,000 acres with shades of pink on May 15 when sponsored walkers will be challenging themselves to 10 or 20 miles around the grounds in a special course.

Earlier in the year, the organisers at Breast Cancer Care put out a call for more people to sign up – enticing them with complimentary hot food after and a massage.

Read about it

here.

On Sunday the lead up to the palace will be lined with hundreds of Jaguars from vintage and classic versions to brand new.

The show will be put on by the Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club which will specially curate the 'Jaguars on Film' collection.

On the day, the Spanish Grand Prix will be live screened on a giant TV.

For information, how to book or how to become a member visit blenheimpalace.com