Hello Fencers!
On Saturday (25th Nov.) we contest our November Epee Championships. The standard of our monthly foining feast goes from strength to strength and it's always a friendly and fun affair.
We have our foil and epee friendly at Clifton College on the following Saturday (2nd December). So far I have these names, I think. If you are on the list and shouldn't be, should be on it and aren't or if you'd like to be added, drop me a line on johnrohdeuk@yahoo.com. I'm sure I've forgotten some.
Foil/Epee: Nick, Tim, Jon.
Epee: Jack, Lia, Ross, Van, Michael.
Churchill/Sidcot FC will also be sending two epee teams, so it should be an epic battle.
For our candidate coaches - and of interest to sabreurs in general - Anna Grodent has submitted this link to FIE coaching videos: https://m.youtube.com/watch?sns=em&list=PLW9OQerjy9W3kizilIfQ6wokHKCpTU05Y&v=Rhcy5hsEJos
Three of our fellow fencers have landed parts as stage fencers in a production of Zorro - The Musical from 7th to 10th of March, 2018. Jon Dawkins, Patrick Durant and Tim Wye will be treading the boards. That sounds like a club social in the making https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4E_260SH5Y
Our epee coach Jon Mason, sent back this report from Finland on his son, Luke's second campaign as a Great Britain Cadet international:
"A nervous start in the pools but quickly gained confidence winning all 6 of his bouts which placed him 6th seed.
"After a long wait for his first D.E he was gutted to find out it was against a fellow team mate and friend Ed Scott Payne. As his father and knowing Ed as well I couldn't watch but Luke had to work hard to secure a win. Then to make things worse he had to fence another fellow team mate 'Josh Willcox' straight after, this was a very tough match with Josh gaining a 3 point lead early on and Luke had to fight hard to catch up which he did and the score was 14 all. Luke scored the last hit, finally he got to fence someone from another country an Italian. Andrea Alno was a very good fencer but never got ahead of luke on points, Luke controlled the match all the way winning 15 11.
"Luke's next match was a L8 and against an American left hander Ethan Kusnerik who was very quick, he gained a 1point lead and lots of doubles were scored as his main tactic was a fleche but luke changed his distance and caught up with a loverly well timed stop hit then another well timed attack put him in the lead to win.
"Now he was in the semi but against another American Isaac Herbst. This guy was very fast and accurate he dominated the fight all through but Luke kept his cool and fought valiently never giving up and keeping his dignity. He lost but gained a bronze for GBR.
"The support luke had from his fellow team mates was fantastic, we were shouting the loadest on every point luke scored and offering encouragement on every lost point.
"Luke put every thing he had into this competition and performed his best achieving a great result.
Though probably put 10 years on me!"
See you soon,
John