Meet Australia's ONLY professional knight: World champion jouster fends off rivals on his horse named 'Valiant' to defend his title
- 'Sir' Phillip Leitch of Kryal Castle defeated knights from around the world
- He has been jousting for more than a decade with 13-year-old horse Valiant
- One major reason the 44-year-old is involved in the sport is the historical energy
- His armour cost $25,000 to put together and weighs an incredible 36 kilograms
Australia's only full-time professional knight has defended his title as world champion jouster.
'Sir' Phillip Leitch, 44, of Kryal Castle near Ballarat, Victoria, defeated knights from France, Russia, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada over the weekend to take out the title.
In the grand final on Sunday he defeated Russia's Sir Andrei Kamin by just one point.
Mr Leitch told the ABC he has been competing in the jousting circuit for more than a decade.
'I like what it feels like being in armour as a knight, looking through a visor at these fantastic knights coming towards me with their lances and it's just these little snapshots of time just before the impact that will be there forever,' he said.
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'Sir' Phillip Leitch (pictured) of Kryal Castle, near Ballarat, defeated knights from France, Russia, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada over the weekend to take out the title
Jousting wasn't the only activity on the agenda - other attractions such as a medieval catapult, archery and a children's knight school
'Valiant is my horse, he's 13 years old now and he's been with me since he was one year old.'
Mr Leitch's armour based on a 15th century English harness was made by professional armourer Luke Binks.
Mr Leitch, an ex-special forces soldier, who has experience in martial arts and historical sword fighting, said his gear cost $25,000 and weighs 36 kilograms.
The 'brutal' event sees competitors ride towards each other at a combined speed of 40km per hour with lances made of 3.6 metres of solid pine tipped with a 3-pronged steel spear tip.
The event, described as a family-friendly weekend, allows those in attendance to experience an old-fashioned village and castle.
There are shops which sell items such as robes, jewellery and leather products.
The 'brutal' event sees competitors ride towards each other at a combined speed of 40km per hour with lances made of 3.6 metres of solid pine tipped with a 3-pronged steel spear tip
In the grand final on Sunday he defeated Russia's Sir Andrei Kamin by just one point. Pictured: Mr Leitch (right) while fans (left) showed their support
The event, which is self-described as a family-friendly weekend, looks like it has transported through time with a village and castle
Other attractions such as a medieval catapult, archery and a children's knight school.
He said he didn't put pressure on himself to reclaim his title as champion as the sport is dangerous and he needed to just have confidence in himself.
Mr Leitch told Country Legend magazine in 2016 he had an interest in medieval history.
Mr Leith's armour is based on a 15th century English harness was made by professional armourer Luke Binks
The armour of the ex-special forces soldier, who has experience in martial arts and historical sword fighting, cost $25,000 and it weighs 36 kilograms
'I've been interested in medieval things since I was a kid — the stories of Robin Hood, St George and the dragon and King Arthur were my favourites — and in grade 3, I made armour out of cardboard,' he said.
'Mum always had horses so taught me to ride, but it wasn't until later in life when I had done martial arts and weapons that I started looking at European martial arts weapons that knights used, and fighting in armour.
'Then I got the horse, the armour, got back into riding and had a go at combining them all.'
Mr Leitch told Country Legend magazine in 2016 he has always had an interest in medieval history
