Lysts on the Lake is a challenge tournament consisting of 3 competitions over 3 days:

- Joust a'Plaisance
- Melee a' Cheval
- Mounted Skill at Arms

The entrants compete as individuals and their scores are used to determine the winner of each event as well as the overall Tournament Champion.

Joust a' Plaisance

The Joust a' Plaisance or "Joust of Peace", contested between two individuals on horseback in a small arena known as the lists. Two competitors charge towards one another from opposite ends of the list and attempt to strike their opponent's shield with their couched lance. The Lysts on the Lake jousting tournament is conducted as a challenge tournament. Each competitor will randomly select 5 other competitors with which they will compete over the 3 day event.

• 1 point is awarded for striking an opponent between his neck and waist, including shield, shoulders, body, arms and hands, or
• 2 points are awarded for breaking the lance on an opponent between his neck and waist, but not on his shield (this includes shoulders, body, arms and hands), or
• 3 points are awarded for breaking the lance on an opponent's shield.
• 1 additional point is awarded for breaking at least half the lance tip.

The competitor with the highest average points will be declared the winner of the joust at the closing ceremonies on Sunday. Maximum points: 4 per pass.

Melee a' Cheval

The Melee a' Cheval, historically referred to as a "behourd", the mounted club tournament is a mounted melee where a large number of competitors engage in combat using tourney batons. The competitors will fight in this event until they, or the King of Arms, feel they have been bested by their opponents. The last competitor leaving the field is declared the winner of this competition.

Mounted Skill at Arms
The Mounted Skill at Arms competition will test the riders' skills on horseback in a variety of challenges.

Quintain:

The quintain is rotating jousting target used in the Middle Ages by knights training to use a lance. Each rider canters past the quintain and attempts to strike the target with their lance. Each complete revolution of the quintain scores 1 point. An additional point is awarded if the lance tip breaks on the target. Maximum points: determined by the number of turns.

Rings:

Three ring stands are placed in a straight line, 21' apart from one another with a single ring (3" in diameter) suspended from each one. The rider canters past each ring stand and attempts to catch and carry each ring on the tip of the spear. 2 points are awarded for catching a ring and carrying it away on the lance or 1 point is awarded for knocking the ring off the stand. Maximum points: 6

Cut and Thrust:

Two 5' tall stands are placed 21 apart with a single cabbage atop each stand. The rider canters past the targets and uses their sword to cut at or thrust through each of the cabbages. For cutting, 2 points are awarded for a strike which cleanly cuts completely through the cabbage or 1 point for a strike that hits but does not cut through. For thrusting, 3 points are awarded for a thrust that fully penetrates the cabbage which the rider is then able to carry away on the sword or 2 points for a thrust that only penetrates the cabbage. Maximum points: 6

Thrown spear:

The rider canters past the target and throws a spear at a circular target placed on a bale of hay. A spear sticking in the center of the ring scores 3 points; between the inner and outer rings scores 2 points; outside the outer ring but still on the hay bale scores 1 point. Maximum points: 3.

Ground target (tent pegging):
The rider canters past a small target on the ground. Each rider attempts to thrust into and carry the target on the tip of their spear. One point is awarded for striking the target and a second point for carrying it away on the point of the spear.
Maximum points: 2.