Match report: Away to Bedford
For the 6th fixture of the season, St Albans marginally won both epee and foil against Bedford. At 5:4 and 5:4, you cannot get more marginal than that - except in a General Election.
You would have been proud of the coalition forces: our coach Liam joined the two Davids (the older ones among you will recall the regular use of this phrase during the 1980’s) in the epee and James B, Philip and David W for foil.
A victorious majority was attained early on at 5:2 in the epee, so I would like to think that the final two bouts were part of the team’s cooling down process. The ‘GBR’ on the back of Bedford’s youngest epeeist had nothing to do with it, I am sure.
Now with the foil, there was a true nail-biting finish. It looked as though we had won at one stage, but then an opponent said they had yet to fence James, who had already had three bouts. On investigation it was found that James had fenced and won against their shared third team members. Once the tally had been adjusted, James was told of the 4: 4 score and that it was down to him to fight his 4th bout of the evening, against Russ who is not an easy opponent. The result? James won in the most convincingly way possible- 5:0- and assuredly wins the Man of the Match Award and was elected Prime Sinistre (see me if you need an explanation)!
There are now only two fixtures left, home to Milton Keynes, which has been postponed once more due to their difficulty in getting a team together and home to Luton on 8th July.
Let Philip know if you wish to want to join a team.
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Monday, 1 March 2010
Match report - Feb 24th
Watford Vs St Albans 24
th
February
It is most pleasing to report an overall victory in our fourth fixture! A convincing win in epee (7:2) but another 4:5 defeat in foil.
Teams: Epee- David White, Jason and David Reid
Foil –Peter Davies, David White and Philip
Foil –Peter Davies, David White and Philip
DW did several ‘catwalk’ changes in order to fence epee and foil, doing the club proud in both. Peter Davies defeated Andy Docherty convincingly in the first bout, Andy being a past HFA Foil Champion.
At 4:4 in the foil it fell to DW for the decider, but victory was not to be ours. There is the return match, though, at home on 11 March, so do come and support your teams!
Friday, 29 January 2010
Match report - Jan 28th
Milton Keynes Vs St Albans 28 Jan
Unfortunately, this third fixture result was a long way removed from our dead heat last week with Bedford. The Epee team of Jason, Tim and David managed a competent 5:4 victory. There were no marginal results and Tim's heels were much quieter! It was a bit unnerving to see a named jacket with 'WAL' underneath it, but a few discreet enquiries informed us that the opponent was 'merely' a sabreur. Jason managed a vital clean sweep and the exercise helped him along the road in recovering his former svelte figure (last seen in the 1990's?!).
Matters went downhill after that, convincingly losing the foil 7:2.
With the team initially comprising Philip and James, David was persuaded to swap his epee for a proper sword and 'get on with it'. Unfortunately (that word again, so you probably guess what is coming next) Mr 'WAL' doubled up on foil, too! But David promptly stood up to the mark and scored both our victories.
Convincingly lost the foil? Well, let's look at that in a bit more detail, shall we? Were there any 'marginal' defeats? Yes- two, with both lost by Philip.
So............ if Philip had turned them into 5:4 VICTORIES,
then.........? OK, stop right there! I know where you are going with this one- the foil score would still have been a defeat, but 4:5, not 2:7, right?
Yes. And then............? Oh, no! It would have been another dead heat; Bedford all over again! Calculators at five paces, anyone???
Remember: "the fencing is not over until the 5:4 loser swings!" (or is that whinges? ED)
The next fixture is 24 February; away to Watford.
Unfortunately, this third fixture result was a long way removed from our dead heat last week with Bedford. The Epee team of Jason, Tim and David managed a competent 5:4 victory. There were no marginal results and Tim's heels were much quieter! It was a bit unnerving to see a named jacket with 'WAL' underneath it, but a few discreet enquiries informed us that the opponent was 'merely' a sabreur. Jason managed a vital clean sweep and the exercise helped him along the road in recovering his former svelte figure (last seen in the 1990's?!).
Matters went downhill after that, convincingly losing the foil 7:2.
With the team initially comprising Philip and James, David was persuaded to swap his epee for a proper sword and 'get on with it'. Unfortunately (that word again, so you probably guess what is coming next) Mr 'WAL' doubled up on foil, too! But David promptly stood up to the mark and scored both our victories.
Convincingly lost the foil? Well, let's look at that in a bit more detail, shall we? Were there any 'marginal' defeats? Yes- two, with both lost by Philip.
So............ if Philip had turned them into 5:4 VICTORIES,
then.........? OK, stop right there! I know where you are going with this one- the foil score would still have been a defeat, but 4:5, not 2:7, right?
Yes. And then............? Oh, no! It would have been another dead heat; Bedford all over again! Calculators at five paces, anyone???
Remember: "the fencing is not over until the 5:4 loser swings!" (or is that whinges? ED)
The next fixture is 24 February; away to Watford.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Match report - Jan 24th
St Albans vs Bedford Jan 24
In our second outing of the season we achieved a dead heat, losing the epee 2:7, winning the foil 7:2, but with indicators across both weapons at -18 and +18. How unlikely or unlucky is that? The scoresheets have therefore been passed to the Three Counties Organiser for adjudication.
Watch this space- although he might decide to do nothing and leave it to our return match in May.
Bedford's Russ, Graham and Adam fenced epee first against Jason, Tim and David. Most of this happened whilst two thirds of the foil team were doing maintenance work on the storage cupboard doors. After their convincing win, Bedford then changed over to foil. My recollection is that Adam was the more controlled, innovative and faster moving team member and probably caused our teams more of a headache. To be fair, Liam H had mentioned a few weeks ago that the Bedford foilists were becoming stronger (previously it had a predominance in epee and sabre).
With the foil comprising Andy, Philip and Ben, it was Ben that got the only clean sweep of the evening, with a fine display of his close quarters swordplay. Some of you may recall this at our Open Air last September (there are still some photos on the website).
With no bones, blood vessels, boxes or blades broken, I suppose you could call that a result in itself!
Since I do not have the scoresheets, I do not know how close the bouts were. The same teams may, therefore, have to be fielded at the next match by default- unless more of you are interested in putting your name forward!?
Let Philip know.
In our second outing of the season we achieved a dead heat, losing the epee 2:7, winning the foil 7:2, but with indicators across both weapons at -18 and +18. How unlikely or unlucky is that? The scoresheets have therefore been passed to the Three Counties Organiser for adjudication.
Watch this space- although he might decide to do nothing and leave it to our return match in May.
Bedford's Russ, Graham and Adam fenced epee first against Jason, Tim and David. Most of this happened whilst two thirds of the foil team were doing maintenance work on the storage cupboard doors. After their convincing win, Bedford then changed over to foil. My recollection is that Adam was the more controlled, innovative and faster moving team member and probably caused our teams more of a headache. To be fair, Liam H had mentioned a few weeks ago that the Bedford foilists were becoming stronger (previously it had a predominance in epee and sabre).
With the foil comprising Andy, Philip and Ben, it was Ben that got the only clean sweep of the evening, with a fine display of his close quarters swordplay. Some of you may recall this at our Open Air last September (there are still some photos on the website).
With no bones, blood vessels, boxes or blades broken, I suppose you could call that a result in itself!
Since I do not have the scoresheets, I do not know how close the bouts were. The same teams may, therefore, have to be fielded at the next match by default- unless more of you are interested in putting your name forward!?
Let Philip know.
Friday, 11 December 2009
Match report, 24th November - away to Luton
Match report - 24 November - away to Luton
This was our first fixture of the 2009/10 Three Counties League comprising five clubs within Bed, Bucks and Herts. It was a disappointing start to our retention of the trophy for the third consecutive year, but it is early days and we will not give up without a fight or two (seven, to be precise).
First off was the epee, comprising David, Tim and Hazel and Philip combining as third fencer. Although we won 5:4, four of the nine bouts were 5:4, but only one being in our favour. Not much change since the last report, then, you may say. We were, though, fielding Tim for the first time (step forward, that man) and what a great start to his new found career as an epeeist! It was truly a sight to behold, with Tim controlling the whole piste, renewing attack after attack, until his opponents simply ran out of room to retreat. We hope the heels were not too sore the next day, Tim - they certainly sounded painful! Well done.
Foil was not as entertaining, although fencing suppliers will be pleased with our efforts, as three blades were broken. It should have been four, but Philip's newish Leon Paul blade refused to succumb to an honourable break, but continued throughout pretending to be made from lead. Don't forget to buy a replacement blade for James', Philip! Even though we also fielded James and Hazel, Luton again fielded their old veteran, Geoff, who won all his three bouts. We really must find a way around his effective parries and retreating footwork. Any ideas, Liam? Oh no, not more footwork and first counter riposte exercises?
Do you want to give sweat and bloody beers for SAFC? If so, put your name in the bag - you know where we are!
This was our first fixture of the 2009/10 Three Counties League comprising five clubs within Bed, Bucks and Herts. It was a disappointing start to our retention of the trophy for the third consecutive year, but it is early days and we will not give up without a fight or two (seven, to be precise).
First off was the epee, comprising David, Tim and Hazel and Philip combining as third fencer. Although we won 5:4, four of the nine bouts were 5:4, but only one being in our favour. Not much change since the last report, then, you may say. We were, though, fielding Tim for the first time (step forward, that man) and what a great start to his new found career as an epeeist! It was truly a sight to behold, with Tim controlling the whole piste, renewing attack after attack, until his opponents simply ran out of room to retreat. We hope the heels were not too sore the next day, Tim - they certainly sounded painful! Well done.
Foil was not as entertaining, although fencing suppliers will be pleased with our efforts, as three blades were broken. It should have been four, but Philip's newish Leon Paul blade refused to succumb to an honourable break, but continued throughout pretending to be made from lead. Don't forget to buy a replacement blade for James', Philip! Even though we also fielded James and Hazel, Luton again fielded their old veteran, Geoff, who won all his three bouts. We really must find a way around his effective parries and retreating footwork. Any ideas, Liam? Oh no, not more footwork and first counter riposte exercises?
Do you want to give sweat and bloody beers for SAFC? If so, put your name in the bag - you know where we are!
Thursday, 17 September 2009
St Albans open air - match report
9:30 in the morning on the 2nd Sunday in September, it can only be check in for Sabre at the annual St. Albans fencing club open air.
Once again club members and their significant others enjoyed a full day’s fencing in the fresh air, by the end of the day we were glad to get to the barbeque and beer, though it must be said one of our number started on the beer rather earlier than most and had worked out that he could down a beef burger during the 1min break in the Epee semi final – Next year we’ll have to try him on spinach.
Four souls were keen enough to check in at 9:30 for the Sabre, some spirited bouts saw the winner decided in a single pool, before many of us had finished the bacon butties.
Fifteen of us checked in for the Foil, and we were soon running through two rounds of pools to determine the direct elimination (DE) positions. Tactics now played a part as lunch was available – eat now between pools, or wait until the Epee starts? How much quiche can a fencer consume and still fight a bout?
Jon D was all the time working away in the background trying to decipher the scribbles on the pool sheets as we each handed in the results on the way to the refreshments, and then prepared the next round as we stuffed ourselves.
Now it’s the turn of the Epeeists. Much confusion as people try and work out which of the body wires they’re wearing they need to plug in – and a new problem, the sun’s come out and we cant see the scoring box lights clearly – what a great problem to have!
Not as many people signed up for Epee, so we’re put into two pools of 6 and off we go, getting much bigger bruises than in Foil.
Never seems to take a long as the Foil, and even with the bigger pools all to soon most of us are wishing we’d tried that bit harder, reached that bit further, been that bit quicker so we cold have finished that much further up the results table.
Jon says back to the Foil – more tangled body wires, searches for missing lames, then back to the piste for the first (and for some of us last) round of the DE – now we’re starting to get tired we’re also fighting to 15 points, but the breeze through the mask makes it that bit more bearable.
Through the DE up to the final, than back to the Epee to run through the DE, and finally we’re ready for the finals – Foil first, and you can tell it’s a well run competition as the best two fencers give us the best match of the day. The match goes to it’s 3rd 3min period, but the two fencers
seemed as fresh, fast and determined as we’d been at the beginning of the day.
To finish off the fencing for the day we all sit down to watch the Epee final – two very different styles, Philip with a classical style and very neat covering action – Andy, laid back and open almost to the point of horizontalness. A fantastic match, with the lead changing many times, neither player giving up, and neither allowed to get to far ahead, but in the end Andy just managed to get a couple of points ahead and clinch the trophy once more.
A great days fencing, fantastic food and good company, what more could we have wanted? Next year it’ll be even better.
RESULTS
Sabre
1st Paul
2nd Philip
Joint 3rd Terry, Tim
Foil
1st Paul
2nd Ben
Joint 3rd Philip, Terry
Ladies Foil
1st Susie
2nd Lindsey
3rd Susan
Epee
1st Andy
2nd Paul
3rd Philip, Jason
A big thank you to Jon for organising the event and running the day. To John and Phillip for purchasing the food and drink. To Katrina for setting out the lunch and to Helen for running the barbeque. Finally thanks to everyone who helped on the day - moving, setting up etc.
Once again club members and their significant others enjoyed a full day’s fencing in the fresh air, by the end of the day we were glad to get to the barbeque and beer, though it must be said one of our number started on the beer rather earlier than most and had worked out that he could down a beef burger during the 1min break in the Epee semi final – Next year we’ll have to try him on spinach.
Four souls were keen enough to check in at 9:30 for the Sabre, some spirited bouts saw the winner decided in a single pool, before many of us had finished the bacon butties.
Fifteen of us checked in for the Foil, and we were soon running through two rounds of pools to determine the direct elimination (DE) positions. Tactics now played a part as lunch was available – eat now between pools, or wait until the Epee starts? How much quiche can a fencer consume and still fight a bout?
Jon D was all the time working away in the background trying to decipher the scribbles on the pool sheets as we each handed in the results on the way to the refreshments, and then prepared the next round as we stuffed ourselves.
Now it’s the turn of the Epeeists. Much confusion as people try and work out which of the body wires they’re wearing they need to plug in – and a new problem, the sun’s come out and we cant see the scoring box lights clearly – what a great problem to have!
Not as many people signed up for Epee, so we’re put into two pools of 6 and off we go, getting much bigger bruises than in Foil.
Never seems to take a long as the Foil, and even with the bigger pools all to soon most of us are wishing we’d tried that bit harder, reached that bit further, been that bit quicker so we cold have finished that much further up the results table.
Jon says back to the Foil – more tangled body wires, searches for missing lames, then back to the piste for the first (and for some of us last) round of the DE – now we’re starting to get tired we’re also fighting to 15 points, but the breeze through the mask makes it that bit more bearable.
Through the DE up to the final, than back to the Epee to run through the DE, and finally we’re ready for the finals – Foil first, and you can tell it’s a well run competition as the best two fencers give us the best match of the day. The match goes to it’s 3rd 3min period, but the two fencers
seemed as fresh, fast and determined as we’d been at the beginning of the day.
To finish off the fencing for the day we all sit down to watch the Epee final – two very different styles, Philip with a classical style and very neat covering action – Andy, laid back and open almost to the point of horizontalness. A fantastic match, with the lead changing many times, neither player giving up, and neither allowed to get to far ahead, but in the end Andy just managed to get a couple of points ahead and clinch the trophy once more.
A great days fencing, fantastic food and good company, what more could we have wanted? Next year it’ll be even better.
RESULTS
Sabre
1st Paul
2nd Philip
Joint 3rd Terry, Tim
Foil
1st Paul
2nd Ben
Joint 3rd Philip, Terry
Ladies Foil
1st Susie
2nd Lindsey
3rd Susan
Epee
1st Andy
2nd Paul
3rd Philip, Jason
A big thank you to Jon for organising the event and running the day. To John and Phillip for purchasing the food and drink. To Katrina for setting out the lunch and to Helen for running the barbeque. Finally thanks to everyone who helped on the day - moving, setting up etc.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Match report: Three counties Vs Luton
Match Report: Three Counties against Luton 16 July 2009
This was the last of the fixtures in this season’s calendar. Although we won both weapons, the score belies the struggle behind them.
Foil 6:3
The team comprised Andy Wood, Peter Davies and Terry Salinger. In this match, there were four bouts that reached 4:4, which was very unusual. Two were lost, but two were won, with Terry having to cope with one of each. These were stressful times for all concerned, including spectators – such bouts require both physical and mental stamina and can be very draining. Perhaps, Terry, if you fenced more regularly you would not have to put us through this torture?!
One notable hit was an off target one on the left wrist of a Luton opponent, which went through his watch strap and flung the watch four metres away. The owner did not notice, however!
Epee 5:4
This team comprised Mike Beazley, Michael Waterworth (making a return to the club from a far too long absence- welcome back, Michael) and Philip Allen. Whilst the competition’s rules dictate that the host club must field six fencers (three in each weapon), visiting teams may ‘double up’. Luton had two of their four members who doubled up and in order to try and get as many bouts fence as soon as possible, it ended up with each of their epeeists having to fight their three fights consecutively. This is by no means easy, as some of SAFC know from past experience, due to:
- Lack of experience/preference in one of the weapons,
- High quality of opponents (eg: SAFC!)
- Age
Full marks to Luton’s ‘young’ Geoff, whose preferential weapon seemed to be foil, but won two of his epee bouts with only a brief rest in between. Remember: fencing is a sport for life – however short or long it may turn out to be! Please also note that you only need to be over 40 to join the
.
Was there a notable event? Well, yes there was; Philip performed his first (and supposedly, last) fleche of the season- and got the point! On second reading, perhaps that should be
notifiable
event.
Recorded results for the clubs’ fixtures:
E&OE!
Support your club by……..giving BLOOD!
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