My college English Dept. hosts a joust every year, we make passes with pool noodle covered broomsticks topped with nerf footballs, trying to knock each other out of wheelbarrows (link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU2ScpbxiTY). Anyway, this year as an officer of the honor society, I'm in charge of the prizes we give out to the winners, and I'm curious if anyone has some thoughts. We plan on giving one practical prize (something like an iTunes gift card) and one period prize, and it is for this to you I turn.

I've looked into some accounts of prizes from tournaments, and have found that a full harness and destrier are a bit outside of the budget alloted by the Student Government Association. So, any ideas would be fantastic, with the caveat that we need two prizes for the winners, as the wheelbarrow bound knight cannot push himself, and oats might make the horse (i.e. student) fell slightly under appreciated.

Some thoughts on this.
To make it interesting, don't just think in terms of prizes to the winners. In 12th century era, losers were often given a "beating", which could be good natured or pretty brutal (right down to the kings brother being soundly thrashed.)

Prizes were sometimes in the form of valued food (enormous pike fish to William Marhsal.) A coupon for a free delivery pizza might not be to badly out of taste for today's contestants.

Some historical prizes would probably not be politically correct, affordable, or convenient. But, in case it spawns ideas; Exotic animals such as fine horses, falcons, and dogs, a live bear, and rams adorned with gold ornaments are among some of the known prizes that were awarded to early champions. In the case of the 1177 Pleurs tournament, a noble woman presented the champion William Marshal with an enormous pike fish. Gold figurines of animals and jewelry appear to be more common forms of prizes in later contests, and were arguably more convenient and appreciated than the live bear.

Hope that helps.

What about looking at Kult of Athena or some other retailer and looking in the "Collectibles" or "Accessories" section at drinking horns or medieval beer steins, or jewelry boxes with some period coins, decorative coasters....etc. Most of that stuff is $60 and under. Here are some ideas...Im sure you could find something a little more interesting if you search

http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~BCB1...g+Horn.htm

http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~AG55...ankard.htm

http://www.reliks.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=1924

http://www.reliks.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=2184

http://www.reliks.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=723

Check out these very nice and inexpensive medieval pilgrim and secular badges from Historic Enterprises:

http://www.historicenterprises.com/cart.php?m...&c=104

Seems like those would be perfect prizes. If your folks have been studying Canterbury Tales you HAVE to get the Saint Thomas Beckett/Canterbury badge for a prize!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!

Sean, as a Chaucer lover, that badge is a necessity!

May I suggest reading this source:

http://www.thehojos.com/~stmikes/prizes.htm

Will McLean, co-author of Daily Life in Chaucer's England and one of the top researchers into deeds of arms put it together.