Russia To Host Knightly Tournament

This weekend, the arena of Saratov's circus (Saratov is a provincial centre in Russia's Volga Basin area) will host the first local international knightly tournament featuring participants from the Russian and Ukrainian national teams. According to a representative of the Saratov Region's Ministry for Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism, 24 contestants will take part in the contest. The Russian national team includes two representatives of the Saratov Region - Sergei Utkin, head of the Steel Ring club of military history, and Vladimir Yakovlev, the famous Levsha (Left-Handed) of the Volga, who at the recent 2001 national championship had defeated Denis Lisov, last year's absolute champion. Lisov as well as Dmitry Bartashov, Russia's absolute champion in historical fencing, are also going to take part in the tournament. The tournament's finals are scheduled on October 28, 2001. The winners will make up a team to take part in the international tournament to be held in Norway next summer.