August 8, 2004

You’re (un)lucky to be reading this column today. My pet rat bit me on the finger last week, rendering me almost – but not quite – unable to operate the left button of my mouse. But fear not, dear reader(s), for the rat is fine.

It’s a quick trip back in time this week, to the website of the International Jousting Association. If, like me, you thought jousting died out roundabout the 17th century, you’re wrong – the IJA is keepin’ it real.

Unlike some websites I’ve done (are you reading this, Omak Stampede and World Famous Suicide Race?) this one has a comprehensive and very interesting history page. I realise it must be a bit of a struggle for the American webmaster to cope with something that existed before 1980, but whoever’s responsible has done a great job of documenting jousting’s history right back to the mid-10th century.

To prove how popular jousting really is, take a look at the links page. There are links to over 50 other websites, including one stating that jousting is the official state sport in Maryland. Well, I guess it beats baseball. The most annoying thing is that Welsh jousting team Knights of Pendragon’s website is a dead link. If you’re reading this, get it up and running again!

Another minor disappointment is the picture page. There are lots of them, but the photos themselves aren’t that good. But they do give you an idea of what it’s like to hear the clash of metal on metal.

The IJA’s aim is to create a major tournament circuit so competitors from around the world can show off their skills. And on the evidence of this site, I wish them all the best.

IF YOU want an idea of how nuts the internet can be, take a look at a site entitled "What If Gordon Banks Had Played?" It’s an alternate history of the 70s based on what might have happened if the goalkeeping genius had been fit to play Germany. The site’s at btinternet.com/~chief.gnome/

WHAT happens if you’ve got a sports firm, go to a web design firm and stupidly say something along the lines of "I’ve heard about something called Flash. Can we have that? And thumping techno music, too?" You get this: realkarate.com/