Modern knights and damsels
But times change and traditions gave way to revolutions. The jousting games disappeared and it was only a matter of time before knights were trudging around in a Volkswagen Golf with a tie around their neck and in the passenger seat a damsel in skinny jeans. Progress is also known as this phenomenon. How incredibly special that nowhere in Europe is this piece of progress better fought than on the Zeeland island of Walcheren. For here they have managed to transform the traditional jousting into a well-organised folkloric sport.
Serious sport
At the Zeeland Ring Riders Association, there are no fewer than five competition classes and in each class, 13 triplets compete for the honour. The two best in each class promote and the honorary class competes for the Zeeland Championship. Over 36 metres, the horses thunder over a one-metre-wide sand strip to finally go to the hole of just 10 mm. The silver scale went once again to Rick Eckhardt from Gapingen in 2023. This Zeeland village is presumably the FC Barcelona of ring riding because if you look at the list of previous champions, they are remarkably often from Gapingen.
Statue of Beatrix
But there is also a “Statue of Beatrix” which the ring-riders are rather fond of. Every year, this prestigious prize is competed in Middelburg during the Folkloristic Day. If you win it three times in a row (or five in total) you get to take the statuette home. A royal tradition that now also goes back many years. In 1786, it was William V who attended the Domburg ring riding and provided 2 gold medals. This was followed by King William III, King William I, King William II but Queen Wilhelmina and Queen Juliana also provided prizes. Prince Bernard even became patron of the ZRV in 1954 and the wait is now on for the next generation of Oranges. How fun would it be if Amalia, Alexia or Ariane came to attend the event? By the way, when the invitation is sent, I recommend enclosing a DVD of A knight’s Tale, success guaranteed!
Wedding ring
A ring hanging at 2.20 above the ground is easy to miss when you consider that its diameter is only 38 mm. During the race, it is progressively reduced to the size of a “wedding ring”. Perhaps a hopeful reference to the ring that used to be provided by a real damsel. Funny fact is that ring riders in the 19th century thought the devil and his helpers could make the ring smaller. If the rider got it wrong, it was surely by “infernal powers”. To avoid discussion, the rings were made of silver. Silver, it was believed, could not enchant the devil.
Fame and disgrace
If the win is secured then not only does eternal glory await but then the ring rider is also carried on his hands by the entire group of warriors in the middle of the track and thrown in the air three times. And finally, there is also the ladle. Indeed, whoever hits the ring in the last two turns may compete for a beautifully painted wooden spoon. Usually, this prize comes along with a bottle of gin. The winner pours the gin into the ladle and then passes all the participants for a sip. Originally, by the way, this was a prize of shame and refers to the affable job of porridge cooker at home on the farm.
Burgh Day
A special recommendation is De Burghse Dag in August. A wonderful event where you can admire ring-riding. It is striking how many young people take part. Apparently, ring-riding families put cultural heritage high on the agenda while raising their children. They are allowed to participate from the age of 12 but may have already started their careers as ringers (a kind of ball boy/girl but for the rings). And when the time comes, they will take to the rings in full dress or competition attire without a saddle in top gear, you just have to dare. So real men with chivalrous qualities and fearless damsels still exist and have survived the test of time in Zeeland 😉 . Throughout the summer season, ring competitions can be admired in Zeeland. You can find the current agenda at ringriding.nl A spectacle you must have seen!
Love,
Anna