European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                , travelling. Troupes entertain the masses re enacting Days of Yore m a stuntman shows his Mettle during the jousting Competition. By Mark Kinkade staff writer the wench should have known better than to hang around with a Bunch of liquored up drummer boys Fri the local Garrison. But she handled herself Well. In fact she sliced through two of them with a 4-foot-Long Broadsword and nearly strangled another with the Shaft of a Pike. No it was t another saturday night at the local Community dub and the wench was t really a wench twas a scene from a medieval jousting tournament saturday and sunday at Eichtersheim Castle in Ange Bachtal Germany. The wench and the Drunken soldiers were part of a czech and slovakian stunt troupe that travels to medieval fairs in Europe. Their show is highly choreographed and the stunt work is on Par with Hollywood s Best fall Guys. The coming of fall in Germany is heralded by dozen i of similar tournaments each year. As the weather cools bands of merchants craftsmen stunt people musician s and entertainers dust off their medieval garb and head for local castles and Parks to turn Back the Sundial to to Europe s fabled fairy tale past. Neal Robinson makes his living As a Juggler at the shows. Once a Soldier stationed in Germany Robins or has spent 20 years travelling from show to show in both the United states and Europe with a suitcase full of juggling implements and a Knack for making children laugh. It s a Job he relishes. Quot i can follow the Sun Quot Robinson decked out in a Jester s outfit Complete with curly tipped shoes said. You meet neat people set your own hours and decide what you want to do. It s a great  most similar fairs in Europe Are chiefly crafts. Expositions Robinson said. Vendors come from All Ove the continent to display medieval goodies ranging fron i pan flutes to perfume clothes and baked goods. Occasionally troupes of stunt people from Eastern Europe participate in the organized fairs he said. Horsemen from the former Czechoslovakia storm through jousting tournaments while other troupes Stag sword fights tavern brawls and Lawn Battles. The jousting tournament in t what most people expect. The horsemen draped in traditional medieval garb Are impressive and they handle their horses  but Don t expect to see the knights charge each other j with pikes until one unlucky rider crashes to the ground. These horsemen compete in a series of Riding challenges like jousting at a stationary shield or chopping Flower pots with a Broadsword while in full Gallop. At the end of each event each rider s score is tallied. The rider with the most Points wins the joust and the place of Honor in the final Parade of the tournament. Robinson said the fair season peaks twice each year april through june and August through october each fair is generally organized by a group or a town s leadership and visitors usually have to pay a Small fee to attend v a Quot /. A a most of the people from the Ange Bachtal fair will set up in Hirschhorn Germany the weekend of sept. 2, Robinson said. A riders steer their horses through burning Hay above. Three vendors Combine efforts to hang a Beer sign above right. Stuntmen put on a mock Battle right. Juggler Neal Robinson a displays his Ball handling skills above. The stunt team whets the appetite of the crowd with a preview of things to come a a is amps photos by Dave Casey 14 stripes Magazine August 25, 1994 August 25, 1994 stripes Magazine 15