BAND AND HORSES IN PARADE; HORSEMEN DOWN TILTING COURSE; RINGS SPEARED; WINNER TOSSED IN BLANKET (NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT).




Initials RGH//V/BHH/ES



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Background: EACH YEAR, MEN IN THE SOUTH OF HOLLAND GO TO BATTLE TO DECIDE THE "BEST RIDER OF ZEELAND". BUT THESE DAYS IT'S NOT THE SURVIVOR WHO'S THE WINNER: THE IRON LANCES HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY TILTING STICKS AND THE TARGET IS A SMALL METAL RING.

THE MEN OF ZEELAND - WHICH MEANS SOUTH LAND - ARE PROUD OF THEIR ABILITY TO RIDE THE FAT AND STRONG HORSES OF THE REGION.

THIS YEAR'S TOURNAMENT, AT MIDDELBURG, BEGAN WITH A PARADE THROUGH THE TOWN, A BRASS BAND LEADING THE HORSEMEN. IT WAS AN ALL-DAY AFFAIR With A CONTINUAL STREAM OF RIDERS CHARGING DOWN THE NARROW PATH TO THE TARGET, TILTING STICKS AIMED AT THE METAL RING.

TILTING - ZEELAND STYLE - CALLS FOR A HIGH DEGREE OF ACCURACY - ONE MISS AND A HORSEMAN WAS OUT OF THE RUNNING. THE MEN RODE THEIR OWN HORSES OR THOSE OWNED BY LOCAL FARMERS.

FOR THE WINNER THERE WAS A CUP DONATED BY QUEEN JULIANA OF THE NETHERLANDS - AND THE TRADITIONAL BLANKET TOSS FROM THE LOSERS.