Seven fencers from the St. Albans club took part in the Luton Sword Club's 25 anniversary match on Sunday 29 April - Helen & David R made it through to the last 16, and four of us met in the final of the lower 16, James Bird eventually 1st in the lower group.

The team- from left to right - Hermiore, John H, David T, John W, James, Helen, David R

Luton Sword Club held their 25th anniversary open competition on Sunday 29 April '00. The St. Albans club had been invited to provide some novice fencers, so we turned up with a group of 7, including 4 members who have been fencing for only 2 months.
In addition to the Luton and St. Albans clubs, fencers from clubs in Milton Keynes and Northampton attended - In total there were 31 of us ready to start the day at 9:30. Initially we were split into groups of 6, the top 3 individuals from each piste then going on to make up the top 16 split.
These initial rounds apart from generating some good fencing, were also used to debug the scoring boxes, body wires, and foils - One scoring box looking like something out of an episode of Dr. Who. Anyway after much head scratching, swapping of weapons and general confusion, these initial rounds were completed by midday - Helen and David R (one of our new fencers) upholding the honour of the St. Albans club by making it into the top 16.
After lunch (healthy mixture of bananas, muesli bars and energy drinks - definitely no cake bars, chocolate or other un-wholesome stuff) we moved on to the elimination round. Top and bottom 16s each holding bouts of 4 and 5 to generate a final in each group of 6 fencers.
Unluckily neither David or Helen made it through to the top final, but in the lower group, 4 of the 6 finalists were St. Albans fencers. This must say something about our standard of play - to find 4 of the 7 of us in one round!
In what for me was a terrific round of bouts (I'm, as you know by now biased), James managed to win all 5 of his bouts, therefore emerging as the winner of the lower group.

By this stage we were all fighting better foil, as I suspect we got more used to the varying styles of play from the participants from different clubs. Also remember, 2 of our finalists have been fencing for only a couple of months, and had only tried electric equipment for the first time at the club evening last week. All in all this round was enjoyed by all participating and watching - John H saying "I know I've played to the best of my current ability - I could not have wanted more". John W fought so hard, he broke the tip off his new shinny electric foil (thanks for the loan of your spare weapon James L).

John H (on the right) having done a neat lateral parry during one of the elimination rounds

Below are a few photos of Helen in a couple of her top 16 rounds.

If you're interested in the final positions and seeing some other 'photos from the event - Take a look here.

Thanks to the Luton club for organising such a well run competition - Don't know if I'll make it top the 50th anniversary match! Thanks also to James L and Sweyn who came along in the morning to help with the setting up and with the presiding. Thanks to John W for some of the photos (the good ones).