BAYOU TALES ( 4 )

A warm welcome to all. Yesterday a tradition known as "La Tournoi" took place in south Louisiana. This tradition is unique and is not practiced anywhere else in our country. A gentleman named Marcellian Garrand founded our city and brought this custom with him from France. Marcellian Garrand was a general in Napoleon's army before arriving in our country.
"La Tournoi" consists of men who dress in medieval attire and they ride horses who are also adorned in medieval attire. These men compete for the tournoi championship by riding their horse at full gallop around an oval dirt track. They carry with them a lance and they attempt to spear metal rings which hang on posts located all around the track. Their are seven rings that they attempt to spear. Each ring symbolizes an enemy of the cotton crop. For instance one ring symbolizes the boll weevil and another synthetic fabric, and so on. The riders are not only competing for the most number of rings speared but they are also timed from start to finish therefore their speed is also used in determining the outcome of the competition. Each rider is given three attempts around the track in three separate rounds. Their times are calculated and they are given 10 points for each ring speared. The rider with the quickest time and most rings is the winner. Prior to beginning the competition each rider is presented a scarf by his wife who then ties it to his lance for good luck. This competition can be dangerous as the rider must race around the track, control the horse with one hand and attempt to spear the rings with the other.
I remember as a child attending this event which was held across the street from my home. It has since moved out of town so as to have a dirt track to accommodate the riders and horses.
This event is held once every year on the second Sunday of October. Laizzes Le bon temps roule', cher.