Sorry; the Sports Centre called this morning to say that their Main Hall is too cold for sport.  Regrettably we can't fence tonight.  So the first meeting of the year will be next week, 13 Jan.  Don't forget: this will also be the first of this year's Samurai Challenge matches...

And sorry it's been so long since the last posting!  Time flies; I'll do better this year.  - Or should we enter the 21st Century and have a Facebook?

Jess, Ben's friend, came again last night with her broadswords.  Naturally, I asked her to give a short talk and demonstration of its use.  Everyone seemed to enjoy it; it was a different view of sword fighting.  We're now going to arrange a joint meeting with her English Martial Arts group, in Avebury.  While there may be no direct comparison with epee, there probably are parallels with sabre.  This type of event would be good to generate and maintain interest in fencing and swordmanship.  (Anyone know of any duellists or samurais in the County that could come along one week?...)

I've been thinking of a second weapon for the Club for quite a while; it was raised at the AGM but no decision was taken.  Foil is the obvious choice but I prefer sabre; and with Akos intending to do a sabre coaching course, I wonder if I could sell the idea to the Committee.  Sean said he'd bring along some sabres for Club members to have a go; he, too, seems to think that some Club members would be more suited to the weapon.  A second weapon would enable us to grow as a Club and field fencers into other competitions.  As long as we remember, and give priority to. our Modern Pentathlon and epee roots...

On the subject of Modern Penthlon, I re-newed our affiliation if MPAGB.  If Natalie (and Xavier; he came along last night, too) do continue to attend then it means we may be able to offer better support to them - as well as, maybe, generate interest among our own members.

I held a meeting with the County Fencing Union last week; Notes from that will be disseminated shortly.  We need to compete more with other County fencing clubs.  So we will.  This will also enable better visibility and selection of our fencers for Regional events.

We're still getting good attendance.  Thanks to all for continuing to support the Club during the Summer holidays.

(And I'll try and sort out the problem with the photos on the site over the weekend.)

I was a little bit concerned to see Tim struggling with the opening of the equipment cage, on Wednesday. Mat had my key and hadn't yet arrived; Steve was in France (bon jour!). As I was working out my contingency plan, Mat arrived: all'e well that ends well...

Akos took the warm up; probably the most the fencers had to do in a long time..! (For a warm up, that is.)  We continue to get the same fencers on a Wednesday night: many thanks for continuing to suppport the Club, especially during the Summer, when most Clubs have shut down for the holidays.

Not sure if our Promotion Board (the big A0 notice board at the entrance to the Sports Hall) is drawing in the future fencers; certainly, we're getting one or two e-mails (presumably as the result of Google searches, or something).  Mike is going to refresh the board with an eye-catching, high-impact design and we'll publish more notices on there and results of Club competitions.  Mat is also trying to organise an armoury afternoon, when a few of us will get together and make up some more weapons; more details to follow...

Jo, if you're reading this, we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday... (no pressure!)

See you all on Wednesday.

I've finally managed to get access to the site.  Why I have to use the hyperlink in Gerry's letter rather than just type in the address, which sent me to somewhere else, is beyond me.  I've made a modest start in refreshing the website but have still to upload some recent photos.  And I want to place the Club's key documents on the site, too (e.g. Minutes of the last AGM, Constitution, and Child Protection policy once its written).

Activity in the Club remains fairly stable.  We continue to get about a dozen or so core fencers; and last week Akos appeared again after an absence of a couple of years, and Ben, too (although he was seen some months ago at the Club).  I'm not expecting any new members over the Summer holidays, which gives us time to get the Club's armoury in a fit state.  We have all the parts to construct several additional epees - just need the time to do it!

The next Club competition will probably be in early September.  The last one (3 Man team event) went well but there's not enough time in the evening'; perhaps a One Hit event, next?

And I must get the kids sorted with their Grade 2, perhaps get an assessor for mid October...

Just to let you all know that we are going to try and update the site on a more regular basis. So if you have anything you wish to add or any news just tell Steve or Gary and we will put it in...

News from the UK veterans this month that a fencer (coach) was killed while practising recently.. First of all no need to be alarmed fencing is a very safe sport and according to the report the person in question was not wearing a plastron which would have saved him ,so wear a plastron at all times even when practising..

And a happy 50th birthday to Gary last week ... old git

Steve

Just to let you know that I'm sure gary or Steve will update the website shortly :-)

We would like to wish all members, friends & family (who let us go fencing) a very Happy New Year and a great 2009.

As most of you know, there will be some changes to the Club in the New Year, mainly Gary Taylor taking on my duties so I can put my feet up :-)

May I wish Gary, Steve & Mark all the best, and a big "thank you" on behalf of the members for giving their time to keep the Club running.

Thank you all for your support over the last six years, I'm sure you will get the chance to stab me next year.

Kind Regards
Gerry