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THE LAC DU BONNET LEADER Friday, July 30, 20

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Region enjoys medieval festival

By Marc Zienkiewicz The 20

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Cook's Creek Medieval Festival pulled in spectators from around the North Eastman region last weekend for a funfi lled day of jousting, feasting, armoured combat, aledrinking and much more. Taking place July 24 at Immaculate Conception Church in Cook's Creek, the day proved an exciting one for the hundreds of people who came through. It was the fourth year for the biannual event, held as a fundraiser for the church. Returning once again were a group of professional jousters from Calgary, this year featuring Will Barton and fi ancée Liz Warry, both hailing from Lancashire, England. Barton took up jousting less than a year ago, and it's become a favourite pastime for him. "It's a lot of fun to work with horses and put on a show," he said. Warry said she first saw him get on a horse eight months ago, and it's a bit surreal to think they're now travelling the country as jousters. "The learning process has been very quick," she said. While jousting has historically involved two riders on horseback physically attacking one another, modern jousting features riders attempting various feats of skill with the lance, like spearing straw bales, slicing watermelons and hitting a target. Arborg's Denise Moroski brought her two young sons, Peter and Billy, along with her to this year's festival, making both boys and herself medieval-style outfits to celebrate the occasion. She used some old drapes and scrap leather to make the costumes. There was also a variety of diff erent music featured. Sheila Grycki, an area business owner, entertained crowds on her harp, which she began playing only a couple of months ago. "All my life a spinning wheel and a harp were two things I always wanted, and I've had the spinning wheel for about six years and I finally got the harp and am very happy to have it. It's a lot of fun to play," she said. Immaculate Conception Church was built between the years of 1930 and 1952. An adjoining grotto was built on, a representation in concrete of the grotto at Lourdes, France. Its construction was overseen by Reverend Philip Ruh, who died prior to its completion. He is buried in the nearby cemetery. Church member and horse enthusiast Sharon Kuzyk dressed her six-yearold horse Cooper in attractive medieval garments and rode him out for the crowds to admire. "A group of us always come out from the local polo club, it's good fun," she said.

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A jouster entertains the crowd in Cook's Creek last weekend. At left, performers ride in on horseback while Peter Moroski holds brother Billy hostage with a plastic sword. Photos by Marc Zienkiewicz The

Lac du Bonnet Leader

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