The Golden Stilt
THE MOST POPULAR JOUST OF THE YEAR, AT THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL OF WALLONIA
The joust for the Golden Stilt takes place on the third Sunday of September in front of thousands of spectators. This fight, the most prestigious of all, allows to designate the best stilt fighter of the year.
On this occasion, fifty odd jousters meet to determine who will have the honor of having the golden stilt and this for 1 year.
Enthusiastic crowds gather around the jousting area. Each supporter has his team and his colors
©Skuds – Simon Fusillier
THE GOLDEN STILT JOUST TAKES PLACE IN TWO STAGES
©Skuds – Simon Fusillier
In the 1st phase, after the salute of the Captains, the two teams engage in open combat. As things move along, the weakest jousters are eliminated and gradually only the strongest are left standing. Finally, one of the two teams, by its technical and physical prowess as well as its organisation eliminates the other team.
Once one of the teams has won the joust, the final phase starts : the « bout-à-tot ».
The jousters still standing engage in a joust between themselves to designate the champion. The last jouster still standing receives the golden stilt offered to him by one of the towns personalities for one year.
The last jouster of the defeated company will receive the silver stilt.
HALL-OF-FAME OF THE GOLDEN STILT.
| Année | Echasse d'or | Compagnie | Echasse d'argent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Martin DESSAMBRE | Mélans | Liam CORBIAUX |
| 2023 | Rémy TASIAUX | Avresses | Antoine VANRYKEL |
| 2022 | Frédéric GILON | Avresses | Cyril DOYEN |
| 2021 | Robin BOTRON | Avresses | Emilien MAATLIA |
| 2020 | / (*) | / (*) | / (*) |
| 2019 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Martin DESSAMBRE |
| 2018 | Jérémy FRIPPIAT | Avresses | Yves DELLIEU |
| 2017 | Rémy TASIAUX | Avresses | Martin DESSAMBRE |
| 2016 | Benoît GILLARD | Mélans | Christophe CORBIAUX |
| 2015 | Julien GOBIET | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 2014 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 2013 | Justin CZENKI | Avresses | Olivier PIRAUX |
| 2012 | Julien GOBIET | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 2011 | Olivier ENGLEBERT | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 2010 | Nicolas DESSAMBRE | Mélans | Christophe CORBIAUX |
| 2009 | Benoît GILLARD | Mélans | Christophe CORBIAUX |
| 2008 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 2007 | Benoît GILLARD | Mélans | Christophe CORBIAUX |
| 2006 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Yves DELLIEU |
| 2005 | Oliver PIRAUX | Mélans | Christophe CORBIAUX |
| 2004 | Benjamin CORBIAUX | Avresses | Patrick DESSAMBRE |
| 2003 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Bertrand PATRIS |
| 2002 | Alain VANRIJKEL | Mélans | Frédéric GILON |
| 2001 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | François ENGLEBERT |
| 2000 | Hugues WILLEMART | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 1999 | Thierry JACOB | Mélans | Christophe CORBIAUX |
| 1998 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Thierry JACOB |
| 1997 | Thierry ATKINS | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 1996 | Frédéric GILON | Avresses | Benoît GILLARD |
| 1995 | Alain VANRIJKEL | Avresses | Thierry JACOB |
| 1994 | Christophe CORBIAUX | Avresses | Patrick DESSAMBRE |
| 1993 | Bertrand PATRIS | Avresses | Richard HOUZEE |
| 1992 | Patrick DESSAMBRE | Mélans | Hugues WILLEMART |
| 1991 | Thierry ATKINS | Avresses | Richard HOUZEE |
| 1990 | Luc DANZAIN | Mélans | Thierry ATKINS |
| 1989 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | Luc DANZAIN |
| 1988 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | Luc DANZAIN |
| 1987 | Jean TYTGAT | Avresses | Patrick DESSAMBRE |
| 1986 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | ? |
| 1985 | Thierry ATKINS | Avresses | ? |
| 1984 | Thierry ATKINS | Avresses | ? |
| 1983 | Luc DANZAIN | Mélans | ? |
| 1982 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | ? |
| 1981 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | ? |
| 1980 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | Luc DANZAIN |
| 1979 | Philippe BOURGEOIS | Avresses | - |
| 1978 | Philippe BOURGEOIS | Avresses | - |
| 1977 | Nicolas SOMMA | Avresses | - |
| 1976 | Philippe BOURGEOIS | Avresses | - |
| 1975 | Thierry CORBIAUX | Avresses | - |
| 1974 | Philippe BOURGEOIS | Avresses | - |
| 1973 | Dany BOURGEOIS | Avresses | - |
| 1972 | Jacques WILLEMART | Avresses | - |
| 1971 | Guy BOLAND | Mélans | - |
| 1970 | Luc PIERROUX | Mélans | - |
| 1969 | Guy De France | Avresses | - |
| 1968 | Jacques CORNEZ | Avresses | - |
| 1967 | Christian REKKO | Mélans | - |
* Due to the coronavirus epidemic (covid 19), the 2020 golden stilt was canceled. It was replaced by a “Champions Challenge” bringing together behind closed doors 4 representatives of the Avresses and 4 representatives of the Mélans. This joust was won by the Mélan Martin Dessambre.
RELIVE THE GOLDEN STILT 2024
Relive the 2024 golden stilt in live conditions:
Discover the Diamond Stilt
Since 2022, the ladies have also had their great annual jousting event at the heart of the Fêtes de Wallonie.
Discover the list of winners of the Diamond Stilt!