ST ALBANS FENCING CLUB

This week:  THREE COUNTIES LEAGUE IS GO GO GO!!!!

SAFC’s Three Counties campaign gets underway this Thursday 05.03 with an away match at MK

Good luck to the teams!  FOIL:  Bird, Simon, Giles  EPEE: Batchelor, Bryant, Baker

Upcoming matches:

We also have another match confirmed for the following week, Thurs. 12.03, away at Dacorum.

Our first home match is scheduled for Thurs 19.03, we are due to host Watford (TBC)

If you would like to participate in these matches, make sure that Cap’n Bryant has your email address – you can drop him a message HERE (select ‘Team Captain’ from the drop-down box)

CLUB LADDER LEAGUE

With a few of our regular fencers away this week, it’s the perfect opportunity to get some club ladder league matches in!

Check your progress here >>LEAGUE RESULTS & HANDICAP<<

There haven’t been many matches recorded to date so c’mon, get those results in – fame & glory await the brave!

OFF PISTE:  SAFC MEMBERS SPOTTED IN THE WILD!

[1] Club Armourer Bird was late for a bus and inadvertently ran the Berkhamsted 5 mile in 38:12 at the weekend, finishing an impressive 1^st in the 60+ age group, and 50th out of 503 overall.

[2] Guess who?  This club member was spotted leaving a famous British fencing establishment in North London… somewhere we never thought he would go.

But who is it?  Don’t let the beard fool you, it’s part of his disguise, we think.  Answers on a postcard to the usual address.

And finally… forget Coronavirus: as fencers it’s SWORDPOX we should be worried about….!

So remember to wash your hands & see you at practice!!

…with an exclusive SAFC branded T-shirt.

Guaranteed to improve your fencing skill and endurance by up to 100%.

All the top level fencers wear them, you will be the envy of all your fencing friends and your opponents on the piste will quake with fear.

White technical T-shirt. features SAFC club logo on front and the club name on the back.

Entry is via SPORT 80 (where you do your BF membership) or via EASTERN REGION WEBSITE

The closing date is Sun.1st March (entries after this date may not be possible or may be subject to a late charge) 

And finally… always be ‘en garde’

See you at practice!

THURSDAY 20TH FEB.

Yes! Fans of the big pointy sword rejoice, for EPEE NIGHT is back!

Coach Lajos will be taking warm-up and will be available for individual lessons.  The other two lesser weapons can also be fenced as usual,  but there may not be a foil coach available.

BEGINNERS COURSE STARTING THIS WEEK!

Hot on the heels of our recent taster session, our next Beginners Course starts this week.

Please give our new members our usual warm welcome and offer to help out anyone that looks more confused than normal.

There are still a few places available – tickets and further details HERE

Beginners’ Course 20th Feb 2020

***Don’t forget – Members who refer a Beginner are eligible for a discount on their own membership***

THIS WEEK – THURS 13TH FEB.

It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow so get fencing!

Next week is a busy one – we’ve got our AGM on Tuesday and Epee Night returns to its usual slot on Thursday.

We also have a new Beginners Course due to start – see below…

**REMINDER: SAVE THE DATE – SAFC AGM – Tues. 18.02.2020 @ 8pm**

The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be on Tues. 18th Feb. @ 8pm

All are welcome to attend and have a say in the running of the club.  Members paying quarterly or monthly are entitled to vote.

The club doesn’t run itself and a surprising amount of work happens behind the scenes to make it all happen as smoothly as it does.  So we welcome any opportunities for people to get involved and help share the load.

8pm at the The King Harry pub, St Albans ( 2 King Harry Ln, St Albans AL3 4BL).  Food provided.

Please let us know if you are coming, so we can plan catering & seating accordingly; either let a committee member know, or go our Facebook page

NEXT BEGINNERS COURSE – 20TH FEB

Hot on the heels of last week’s taster session, our next Beginners Course is due to start next week, 20th Feb.

There are still places available – tickets and further details HERE

Beginners’ Course 20th Feb 2020

***Don’t forget – Members who refer a Beginner are eligible for a discount on their own membership***

SOME COMPETITIONS COMING UP…

The HFA Senior County Championship is happening here in St Albans on Sun.19th April – further details HERE

It’s the Eastern Region Senior Championship (& GB qualifier) on Sunday 8th May.  Venue now confirmed as Wodson Park Leisure Centre, Wadesmill Rd, Ware SG12 0UQ more details HERE

NEWSFLASH:  FOR 2020 ONLY, ‘RECREATIONAL’ BF MEMBERSHIP IS ACCEPTABLE FOR ENTRY

EXCALIBUR 2020

Herts clubs have also been invited to partcipate in Excalibur 2020 which is a six weapon event on the weekend of April 25th & 26th in Bath.  Please speak to a member of the committee if you’re interested in fencing.

See you at practice!

THIS WEEK – THURS 6TH FEB.

We welcome our former Beginners to the club as regular fencers!

We should also have some prospective new fencers along for a taster session (see below) so please give everyone our usual warm welcome.

After last week’s team relay competition, this week it’s just regular fencing so get going with those ladder league matches – the new league table is now live and online HERE

We’ll update match scores as we go and fencers can check their handicap and moan or rejoice accordingly.

Get some matches in!

**REMINDER: SAVE THE DATE – SAFC AGM – Tues. 18.02.2020 @ 8pm**

The Club’s Annual General Meeting will be on Tues. 18th Feb. @ 8pm

All are welcome to attend and have a say in the running of the club.  Members paying quarterly or monthly are entitled to vote.

The club doesn’t run itself and a surprising amount of work happens behind the scenes to make it all happen as smoothly as it does.  So we welcome any opportunities for people to get involved and help share the load.

8pm at the The King Harry pub, St Albans ( 2 King Harry Ln, St Albans AL3 4BL).  Food provided.

Please let us know if you are coming, so we can plan catering & seating accordingly; either let a committee member know, or go our Facebook page

TASTER SESSION & BEGINNERS COURSE

Our next Taster Session is scheduled for 6th Feb, please help spread the word.  It’s only a tenner to try this wonderful sport and that cost is refundable against a Beginners Course – our next one is scheduled for end of Feb. (date TBC)

Don’t forget: members can qualify for a ‘refer a friend’ cashback on their own membership, too.

HOUSEKEEPING

A couple of important reminders:

Signing in – Please make sure you sign in on arrival, not ‘oh I’ll do it later’.   You can’t fence until you’re signed in.

Club equipment amnesty – Do any of you have any club kit or equipment in your fencing bag or lying around at home? Please have a look for wires, gloves, weapons, anything that belongs to the club.  No questions asked, please just bring them back and let Armourer Bird know.  He won’t bite (much).

And finally… just remember if anyone asks what you do:

See you at practice!