Hello Fencers!
- An eventful week has passed. February's McNeill Cup was belatedly decided on Wednesday (7th March), with a tense final won by the team of Ed Barnett, Jarno Boggia and Mikołaj Ciezkowski, with Ruben Hillier substituting in the first marches of the first round. Well done to them!
- Saturday saw the inter-school, Trevor Johnson Plate contested with individual medals also up for grabs. The School Years 5 & 6 fencers displayed some brilliant fencing, with deep lunges, compound attacks, textbook parries and a particularly scintillating stop-cut to wrist from White Eagle, Julia Karlinska that will have gladdened the heart of her coach. The Plate was won by Elmlea Juniors who have an exciting crop of young stars in those age groups and presented by its donor and John Cabot Learning Federation coach, Nigel Cooley. Amid the skill and courage, what stood out was the courtesy with which these children fenced: courtesy to each other and to referees. Even those vexed temperamental issues, rallied and bore down to show respect and appreciation to all. That is the White Eagle ethos at it's best and makes me proud to be a part of it.
- Year 6 medallists were: Gold: Peter Scott-Samuel (BWEFC/BGS); Silver: Sam Polkinghorne (Elmlea Juniors); Bronze: Morgan Blandford (BWEFC/Shirehampton Primary) & Harry Myland (Elmlea Juniors).
- Year 5: Gold: Max Ingham (Elmlea Juniors); Silver: Teagan Welland (Elmlea Juniors); Bronze: Jamie Dennis (Holy Trinity) & Monty Guy (Elmlea Juniors).
- Saturday evening a devoted coterie paid homage in the temple of the Muses that is the Redgrave Theatre, to see three of our best tread the boards. Jon Dawkins, Patrick Durant and Tim Wye outshone the divas and tenors, the gypsy dancers and singing campesinos to bring depth, style and elegance to their roles as dashing soldados, defending law and order in Old California. Zorro: The Musical https://redgravetheatre.com/event/2018/03/zorro/240/ was a toe-tapping, heel stamping, hand clapping festival of brio, enlivened with a youthful, vivacious cast, good voices, high stepping dancers and three White Eagle fencers. The thirteen Bristol White Eagle stagedoor Janes and Johnnies had a terrific time and were regaled by the backstage tales of their thespian heroes at the Alma Tavern after. A dazzling night out: parricide was never more entertaining.
- Those who missed the boat for our last Level 1 Coaching Coaching might like to enroll in the one coming up in Bath (Bristol's dormitory suburb). Details are given here: http://www.britishfencing.com/courses/upcoming-courses/BFITCFSWBath0405042018 All possible support will be forthcoming from the club, as ever.
See you soon,
John