ALL MEMBERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE:The club will be relocating our Acklam Venue to the
SOUTHLANDS SPORTS CENTRE, ORMESBY RD, MIDDLESBROUGH, TS3 0HB.
The proposed start dates will ether be 16th Feb, or 23rd Feb. Please keep in touch with whats going on here on the website. Paul Maxwell will inform everyone at the next sessions, by text, or by email.
On arriving, ask reception to direct you to the Gym.
For the 7pm start you will be starting in the side room, where any administration is done, kit sorted, and some warm ups done.
At 7.30 pm we have access to the gym where some coaching will be taking place, followed by free fencing at about 8.30pm.
The gym is slightly smaller than what we are acustmed to so sessions will be more time-tabled.
We will be using this venue over a trial period till September. Approching September the committee will be looking at the options of Teesside University as a venue, or staying at Southlands.
I believe this venue will be more conducive to fencing and the progression of the club.
Please look at the competitions page.
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Club Tracksuit design is now here..............
YORK OPEN ...REPORT....by Steve O'Neil
Bright and early on a Saturday morning Dan, Steve and Paul filled up Paul’s van with kit (and deck chairs, lunch boxes and pistes that we were kind enough to lend) and set off for York. Upon signing in we all three of us felt we had set up camp and a decent position until we realised that we were in fact in the sabre hall and not the foil one so we had to decamp to another location with slightly less space for our lounge seating arrangement, which I’m sure you can imagine was a huge disappointment.
Anyway, on to the fencing. The first poule round had mixed results for the Teesside fencers, with Paul winning all his bouts, Steve winning 50% of them and Dan (in his first competition) putting up a very good fight in a difficult poule. The second poule was going to be the final one before the DE so getting a good seed here was vital to how the day would proceed. Paul again was the pick of the bunch with a solid performance. Again Dan put in a valiant effort here, improving on his first poule with some good moves and counter repostes. For Steve it was slightly different, he started by winning his first two bouts of the poule and was on course to win the other two before an unspotted equipment fault cost him those two bouts.
The seedings after the two poules put Paul in 7th, Steve in 19th and Dan in 32nd and so it was through to the Direct Eliminations. Steve and Paul both had byes in this round and it was Dan up to fight in the round of L64 where he came up against some stiff competition and despite a comeback late in the bout (which Steve and Paul both agreed he could have won) he went out 15-12. Next up was the round of L32 where Paul progressed through quite a simple bout (thanks to his high seeding) and Steve came up against a difficult opponent with a “unique” technique. At one point Steve was 10-3 down until he got the measure of his opponent, bringing it back but as with Dan, the comeback was timed slightly too late and he went out 15-11 to the eventual silver medallists.
In the L16, again Paul progressed through, although it was an extremely close 15-13 victory. However in this round, there was a big upset with last year’s winner and Teesside’s smart money bet Ingvar Kratz going out to an extremely tall fencer who seemed to punch his attacks through (and was cautioned for it on at least one occasion).
In the last 8 Paul was finally eliminated by the eventual winner who had the strange technique of deliberately retreating to the back line and defending from there, which once he was a couple of hits ahead, he was happy to do.
We stayed to watch the final which in truth was a slightly one sided affair and after the first few hits there was little doubt who would win. Teesside performed well in the competition and next time perhaps some tactics would play a slightly larger part and they will be sure to check their equipment is in working order next time (Steve). A big congratulations should go to Dan who was fencing in his first competition and performed very well considering it was quite a tough field. Final standings;
Paul 7th
Steve 19th
Dan 36th
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Monkton 23 report On 1st of October, 3 representatives of Teesside fencing club, Ben, Dion and George, attended the 23rd Monkton competition.
For those who are unaware, this is a friendly contest using electric scoring apparatus for beginners. The contest was fought in 3 pools against 8 different opponent teams.
In the first pool the team claimed 7 victories, and exercised some gentlemanly behaviour by letting a bout go. In the second and hardest pool Teesside left with 4 victories with many a good point scored on the toughest opponents there. In the final pool we claimed a further 6 victories and a lot of gentlemanly behaviour.
Final results were 1st place to Kai’s team joint second to Teesside and Freddy’s team, however when you consider the gentlemanly conduct with Teesside giving a few bouts away Teesside Fencing Club could easily be challenging 1st position.
Ben (Team captain)
Well done team Teesside...... Paul
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ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVE PISTES
Both Pistes arrived this week and were immediately put to use on Thursday night. Members that got to fence on it were very pleased and impressed.
For those that haven't seen them they are 1.5 m x 17m long. All the official markings are printed on it. As well as it being the field of play it also stops hits to the floor registering as "off target" hit.
The club would like to thank the Grass Roots Team, Tees Valley Community Foundation, and Sue Cole for their part to play in the grant application.
PICNIC IN THE PARK SUCCESS
Thanks to Sue, Louise, and Ben for all their hard work on the day. We estimate that more than 250 children had a go at fencing with the mini-fence system. Thanks to Laurence Jackson's loan of their midi-fence equipment we could cater with the numbers. The club raised £80.00
PICS OF THE MARSKE COMPETITION
A photographer took some great pics of our competition. Check them out at Kenny McDonald Photography . I think you can order from him too! I also have some pics thanks to Dom's mum. Thes are on a CD and I will load them onto the website in due course.
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YORK OPEN 9th October 2010
Steve, Simon, Chris and Paul represented the club at the York Open on 9/10/2010.
Paul came 9th , Steve 12th, Simon 14th and Chris 22nd. Full report to follow when Steve gets around to writing it!
TEESSIDE VETERANS REPRESENT "NOR NE" TEAM. ( September 2010)
Paul Maxwell and Simon Freer traveled down to the British Veterans Team competition at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, to represent our region.
6 teams, Foil Epee and Sabre, men’s and ladies competed against the eight other regions.
Simon and Paul were joined by veteran Brian Millo of Italian extract but with northeast connections.
Competition standards were very high and put our Foilists to the test. Two days and 24 fights left us with aching muscles and exhausted.
So how did we do? I personally think we did well. Brian our team captain was fantastic and a great support. Thanks Brian. Simon and Paul were as usual ultra competitive, every point had to be fought for, even when loosing. Over all the weapons the team came 8th out of 9. Ok it does not sound great but the number of fights won compared to last year was significantly better.
The interesting facts were:
• The competitiveness of the competition showed us a new level to aspire to.
• The etiquette made the whole event incredibly friendly, yet not an inch given on the piste.
• That age was no barrier, so no excuses for anyone wanting to take up fencing.
• That a lot more training and practice was required.
• Refereeing standards were high although at times baffling with some interesting interpretations of an attack.
So a great weekend was had, new friends made, and renewed enthusiasm for competing has lead to entry form into the York Open.
CLUB COMPETITION (August 2010).....what happened?
Our first inter club competition fought over 2 weeks at the Tennis World venue was a great success. The lead up to the competition inspired some gambling on likely winners and many claims from individuals. Notably Steve O’Neil, Simon Freer, and Paul Maxwell. All laid claim that the mantle piece was cleared for the trophy. But there was only to be on winner.
The trophy being a fine ornate sword mounted on a large plaque, and Kindly donated and recycled from Guisborough Fencing Club.
The seeding round was fought on week 1 and so established the knockout rounds for week 2.
Week 2 began with fierce competition. The top seeds going head to head. Literally. Even a few yellow cards issued. Mr O’Neill making good headway with an almost lazy pace but devastating parries, and counter parries . Mr Bainbridge enthusiastic fights failed him in the end. Mr Freer and Mr Maxwell fought a very close battle, trading hits right through to 12 points, when Paul Maxwell managed to squeeze ahead after a disputed right of attack decision by ref O’Neill in Maxwell’s favour.
The final was set with O’Neill our resident competition goer and top gun, against Paul Maxwell the coach…booooo. Both challengers having already laid claim to the much sought after prize….to win the first competition held by the club. Who was to have their name at the top of the list, etched for all to see in perpetuity? Steve O’Neill’s counter parry reposts had been noted by Maxwell; it had to be a case of preventing him from doing them or take advantage of them and create hits by second intention. Maxwell also considered that if he got ahead on points then the plan was to make O’Neill work hard.
Ref. Freer judicated and an intense bout commenced and remained close. Maxwell’s plan just started to take shape at about hits 7 and 8 when he crept ahead. Two more points and the plan was coming to fruition. O’Neill gallantly fought on, but fatigue was taking its toll. A pleasing victory and a face splitting smile from Maxwell.
The real victory was the event, and a big thanks goes to Sue for organizing the venue and Steve O’Neill for running the competition. This has set the scene for many members to start entering competition fencing.
Middlesbrough MELA Success ( 26th June 2010)
What a successfull day. Loads of visitors had a go and hopefully some were inspired to take up fencing. If you were then contact us for details and brows the site for our opening times.
A special thanks to all members that helped out, especially Sue for getting me to do the event??? and all her hard work in getting it together. Thanks to all such as Dick from Whitby, Chris who hurt his foot in the first demo, but carried on, Simon, Oscar, Louse, George. Good to see Steve and George make an appearance, and Martin who nicked of work just to help out. Well done Martin thats what we like to see.
Great news! The club has been awarded substantial funding for electric scoring equipment and electric apparel. So this will help new fencers progress to competitions without the initial investment.
Also we will have a secure storage cage to lock the equipment in. All this thanks to the "Grass roots grant".
18/03/10 Press release
06/11/09 Grant Awarded
We are pleased to announce that Middlesbrough Borough Council has awarded much needed funding to the club.
First they have funded 20 starter sets of equipment enabling beginners to borrow equipment until they feel ready to purchase their own.
Second, an award that will enable some adults to receive 50% funding for the first 12 weeks.
Third, as above for juniors. Due to the start times we can only enable older children to apply.
In both awards you must live in Middlesbrough.