Lady becomes lord in arena

A Shropshire woman is putting stereotypes to one side as she embarks on her new career as the country's first female jouster.

Hannah Hill is about to enter the male-dominated arena as a fully fledged knight with a Shropshire jousting team.

She has just become a member of the Knights of the Damned professional jousting team and is about to embark on her first full season doing battle as a knight.

Knights of old were fierce and fearless, able to wield lance and sword whilst thundering aro- und the countryside on huge chargers. They were also, traditionally, men.

However, in these modern times of equality, it would seem fair that women could try their hand at medieval jousting - and Hannah is doing just that.

Hannah usually works with young thoroughbred horses at Atterley Farm Stables near Much Wenlock.She was a member of the Knights of the Damned team since it was founded by film and TV stuntman Justin Pearson three years ago.

Hannah first helped train the jousters' horses and then played a squire in the show, but she was determined to become a knight even though the team only recruited male jousters.

Mrs Hill said: "Founder Justin Pearson only wanted male knights because jousting requires considerable strength and of course the jousters do fall off their horses and hit the ground pretty hard.

"However, I have proved that I can joust just as well as the guys and this season I will play Lord Aragon in the Knights of the Damned show, which will tour all over the country."

Mrs Hill, who has been a keen rider since childhood, is possibly the only female jouster in the UK and will be one of just four knights jousting with the team, which is led by Justin.

"Justin plays the arch villain and I am his sidekick - people will have to come and see the show to find out if the good knights beat us into submission," she added.

For further information on the Knights of the Damned and tour dates, visit their website at www.theknightsofthedamned.co.uk

By Rachael Lowe