ST ALBANS FENCING CLUB

It’s a long way to go for a match, but worth it when you get a good result.

St Albans won the épée 7 – 2

See our Facebook page for a video of David in action – coming from 3 – 4 down to level the match…. but can he take the victory?

The Foil was much closer…. too close for comfort!!

The match score was tied heading into the final bout:- this was the decider!  Gemma had a lot of pressure on her shoulders.

It was really close fought and went to 4-4 in the bout, and then into a minute of extra time, but it was so evenly matched that neither fencer could score a hit.

So it went to a final minute of priority – Gemma’s opponent won the toss and so had priority, which meant Gemma had 60s to score a point or she would lose.

And she did it!!!!!!!!!!  She kept her cool and got the all-important final hit, winning the bout and giving St Albans the win in Foil 5 – 4.

Once we’d resuscitated Simon, we headed for home, carried aloft by the jubilant crowd.

So that’s our first 2-weapon win of the year, and our 2nd overall victory! A great result, well done team.

Thanks to all those that made the effort to travel and compete: Giles, Simon and Gemma (FOIL) and David, James (c) and Matthew (EPEE).

We’ve got a break now until our next matches – dates for your diary are:

Tues. 14.05 away at Luton and

Thurs. 23.05 home to Bedford

Tonight some of our members are away for a 3 Counties match at Milton Keynes Fencing Club.

Good luck to the teams: Gemma, Simon and Giles (FOIL) and David, Matthew and James (EPEE).

In their absence, the club ladder league resumes for all three weapons.  Points make prizes!

A reminder that Fees go up on 1^st April.

If you pay quarterly, please remember to amend your standing order to reflect the increase in fees to £75.  Alternatively, monthly fees have now been introduced at £25.

Quarterly payment should reach the club by 1^st April (1^st July, 1^st Oct, 1^st Jan) and monthly on the 1^st of every month. Remember please the club is run by volunteers and paying promptly reduces the work load for our treasurer.

Please see fees for details or contact us if you have any queries or need the bank details.

Also a reminder that fencers MUST have current British Fencing membership in place to fence with us.  Without it, you are not insured and that means we cannot allow you to fence at the club.  Sorry, that’s the rules!

Membership is available through British Fencing – there are different levels of membership available; please speak to one of the committee members if you need any help or guidance.

A full house last night with another well attended épée night – these are proving to be very popular!

Here Joe gets a 1-to-1 lesson on wrist and arm hits from Coach Lajos…

see our Facebook page for a video of the action.  Please like and share!

With foil and sabre on the go as well, all of our electric pistes were in full and constant use all night.

Flash Gordon was taking on all-comers on the sabre piste

Next week, 28th March, some of our club members will be away battling Milton Keynes Fencing Club in a 3 Counties league match.  We wish them success!

Now the boring bit – a reminder on fees  🙄  The new club fee structure starts on 1st April so please make sure your standing order is updated to the new amount.  NB:  If you are paying monthly, it must be made on the 1st of each month.  Please see fees for details or contact us if you have any queries or need the bank details.

This Thursday (21/03) we have the next of our popular épée nights

Lajos Fazekas, Level 4 épée coach (as well as Sabre and Pentathlon coach), will join us for warm up and épée lessons.

A great evening of fencing!  We hosted Watford fencing club for our 2nd league match of the year.

After a quick group warm-up we cracked on with the match.  As expected, it was close fought.

Watford just edged the foil, winning 5-4, but St Albans won the épée 6-3 and with that, the overall match win!

Thanks to both teams for an excellent competition.

Take a look at our Facebook page to see a video of Gemma battling with Watford’s captain.  Please like and share!

During the match, our Beginners continued getting used to electric fencing with a mini-competition of their own, supported by some regular club members.

Don’t forget – next week (Thurs. 21/03) we have another of our popular Epee nights (our beginners course and other weapons will continue as normal).

Look forward to seeing you there!!