In mid-August 1952, committee members made final arrangements to offer a Jousting Tournament as one of the major features of the Fall Homecoming Fair – our first official Highland County Fair – on Friday and Saturday, September 5-6.
- Mr. J. Ed. Arbogast secured a sufficient number of expert riders for the event.
- Mr. Russell Bird erected scaffolds to hold rings that hard-riding knights would try to cast on their spears.
- Also assisting with the tournament arrangements were Edward N. Pugh and W.R. Hicklin.
The Monterey High School band led a procession of riders into the tournament, held in the field next to the livestock market lot. For just 25 cents, spectators enjoyed a modern take on a time-honored tradition—a bold display of skill and bravery that granted the winner the honor of naming the “Queen of Love and Beauty.”
The knights wore brightly colored jackets or sashes and rode under such titles as Knight of Stonewall, Knight of Blue Grass, and Knight of Monterey. Many other skilled riders from nieghboring Rockingham, Augusta, and Rockbridge counties joined in on the fun.
Cash prizes of $25, $20, and $10 were awarded to first, second, and third-place tournament winners, and $5 went to the rider chosen as the Most Graceful Horseman. All competitors had to pay an entry fee of $2.
Strict traffic and parking regulations were in place as large attendance was expected to meet or exceed that of the Centennial Celebration in 1948. Extra State Police were on-hand to assist Sheriff Glen Hammer in guiding traffic for all events.
Eighteen knights participated in the tournament that day. The second place rider in the jousting tournament was Maxwell Whipp of Burlington, who rode as the “I-Would-If-I-Could Knight.” He won the tie-ride-off over David Hess of Bridgewater, who competed as “Atlantic Greyhound Knight.”
Ultimately, the “Knight of Blue Grass” Mr. Carl Hull won the day in his first jousting tournament. He carried off top honors with a perfect score and selected Miss Charlotte Beverage of Monterey to be his “Queen of Love and Beauty.”
Children could enjoy pony rides for a small charge – a last-minute added attraction for youngsters attending the Pink Elephant Sale and Jousting Tournament. Mr. Paul L. Mauzy made arrangements for the small, gentle ponies.
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