secretary
Jan 202012
Nov 152011
Sadly, since the club had to cancel our trip to the Welsh Open, only two of our members managed to attend.
David Soto entered Mens Sabre and came 30th in the event.
Amy Duffus entered Womens Epee and came 37th.
Huge congratulations to them both on their performance!
The fencing club were fortunate to offer the experience of Mr Paul Donaldson to lead a training day, with our club coach Richard assisting. Paul is a coach with many years full time coaching experience in Hamburg, having competed for Scotland for over 10 years and is the current German veterans sabre coach.
The aim of the weekend was to provide a simple framework which provides an answer to the opponent in a variety of forms from this one model. As simple as 1, 2, 3 4.
The first day was focused on simple technique of timing each component of a step lunge. Although perhaps not the most physically challenging, having the discipline and control over the fencing action requires a good portion of mental capability. This was expanded to deal with several scenarios faced in a fight, both in attack and defence.
The second day focused on gelling this framework with the preparation to the attack, this meant footwork. Lots of it!
Here the translation of exercises the day before was presented in a format used on piste, challenging how good (or bad) your control over the action was.
When we weren’t training hard, we were having a nice lunch, playing rugby and also discussing changes to the presiding between the different weapons. The latter in particular was particularly useful in understanding why hits are given, and also will no doubt improve presiding within the club.
Everyone benefitted from Paul and Richard’s wealth of experience and ideas, and hopefully it will pay off at the M8 open and beyond.
Oct 242011
After an amazing weekend in Inverness the results are as follows:
Mens’ Foil
9th Sean Whittaker
26th Ruaridh Soutar
27th Kieran Patrick
33rd Alex Mount
Womens’ Foil
2nd Mhairi De Sainte Croix
5th Kirsty Ward
11th Lucy Higam
Mens’ Epee
5th Richard Wilbraham
24th Kieran Patrick
Womens’ Epee
1st Mhairi De Sainte Croix
5th Lucy Caldecourt
13th Kirsty Ward
Mens’ Sabre
3rd David Soto
5th Matt Pendleton
6th Richard Wilbraham
14th Alasdair Hooper
Womens’ Sabre
7th Lucy Caldecourt
8th Danielle Einchcomb
9th Jane Wilson
11th Sarah Hellewell
Oct 132011
Men’s Epee
9th Max Pettersson
46th Justin Garrett
Women’s Epee
8th Lucy Caldecourt
12th Mhairi De Sainte Croix
Men’s Foil
8th Sean Whittaker
17th Ruaridh Soutar
Women’s Foil
9th Kirsty Ward
18th Alex Young
19th Lucy Higham
Men’s Sabre
9th Matt Pendleton
11th David Soto
17th Justin Garrett
Women’s Sabre
9th Gabriella Palfy
10th Mhairi De Sainte Croix
15th Jane Wilson
17th Lucy Caldecourt
Oct 132011
We are happy as a club to lend equipment to all members for competition use as long as these rules are followed:
1. You break it, you buy it!
As we cannot afford to replace equipment if it is lost or damaged beyond repair, you will be charged the cost of replacing the item. If a component part becomes damaged but is still reparable, you will only be charged the costs associated with repair.
2. Records MUST be maintained.
If you wish to be lent equipment it must be signed out through the sheets that shall be/ are provided. When you take out equipment you must fill out the form exactly.
3. Equipment is not to be swapped or traded around.
Equipment is signed out from the club on the basis of one competition per person. This is to prevent accidental loss and keeps records perfect. If you wish to use equipment again for a different event, it must be signed out again!
4. Maximum loan time = two weeks.
In some cases it may be difficult to return equipment in this time limit and I am willing to listen to extenuating circumstances. However, for a weekend competition this is more than adequate time to return equipment, besides, the longer you hold onto it is less fair for other members for the club as they will not have access to club equipment.
5. If we are unable to supply you with our equipment, but can supply you with another clubs’ YOU MUST NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES LOSE THIS KIT.
Beside from making us look ridiculous, it harms our relationship with other clubs. If the unspeakable happens, you will be charged for replacement.
Penalties:
If any of these rules are broken the following rules apply:
Loss/damage to equipment: cost of replacement/repair.
Failure to fill in records: 3 strikes, then banned from borrowing club kit.
Late fee for returning equipment: unless under special circumstances- £1 a day from end of two week period.
Oct 132011
Hey guys
Sorry for not really keeping you guys up to date on what I’ve been doing with regards to the team: I have been exceptionally busy but that is no excuse! The email is just to set out some information that should be of use. To all freshers getting the email, the information is still relevant to you guys as it sets out the requirements to get on the fencing team and various events that are coming up.
1) While there are a lot of individual competitions for us to attend (the Highland Open being very soon) the first competition we’ll be attending as a team is the SSS team competition. While it is in second semester we really cannot become complacent. We need to show all of the other university teams their rightful place (read: below us). Going to individual competitions is a great way to improve your fencing and helps to indicate your current skill level against other fencers, and the experience will help us at the SSS team competition.
2) Attendance: It is necessary for all those who intend to fence on the men’s team to attend all of the University training sessions. This is to both allow us to bond further as a team and to improve our fencing. While City club is also a great opportunity to further improve fencing technique, I realise that not everyone can attend. Not attending the City club will not count against those wishing to join the team, but it is preferred.
3) Gym: Going to the gym would be preferred for those aiming to be a part of the university team, but I realise that it is not possible for all (Personally, I cannot spare £200 for gym access for the school year). However, doing additional exercise seperate from fencing is preferred, as the improvement of overall fitness can only positively improve your fencing ability.
4) Men’s social: I’ve also been delaying this due to a general lack of time for organising. I’ve boiled it down to 2 ideas, and I’m wanting the guys opinion on the matter (it is a team social after all)
Cheese and Wine and Port and Whiskey night: We ingest cheese and wine and port and whiskey in a classy manner.
The Mario Party Drinking game: Set computer on super stupid easy mode, bet on who wins, drink if you lose.
If you guys could email me with any preference (or even another idea, I’m famously bad at ideas for events) just send an email to s.whittaker@dundee.ac.uk
5) Pub might as well be mandatory. Drinking is a fun activity (despite what the Government tells you) so it’d be great to see everyone down there. (I’ll make sure I attend more often as well!)
If you guys have any other questions or suggestions then please feel free to share them with me. Despite looking perpetually grumpy I actually enjoy listning to you guys, and your contributions are greatly appreciated.
See you guys at training!
Sean Whittaker
Men’s Captain
Oct 132011
Hi Folks,
As your minibus driver for the weekend, I thought I would ask if there are any objections to meeting at the Union for 16:45, this friday. So aim to leave by 17:00 
Ok so I think the plan of action is to eat up there, since we can do our regular trip to tesco and stock up there. Please can I remind you this is a club trip therefore may I request club kit be worn, and for someone to take responsibility of the flag this weekend. (I just like to look at you all smart in my rear view mirror).
Space…is an issue. So please fit you items for the weekend in the smallest bag possible, since it is highly likely it will end up on your laps for the journey. I would request that all recipients of this email turn up on Thursday to discuss bag share (if you cant make it just get in touch).
Hire of the minibus is free (huzzah), diesel is not. Money will be paid for petrol BEFORE I hand thing minibus back to the union on Sunday night (just so no nasty surprises). We have a seriously full minibus so I expect costs to be low.
Think thats all thats needed from a minibus point of view, other than to say if you arent there by 17:00 Friday prepare to walk.
Any suggestions for tunage in the minibus get in touch.
Matt
Matt Pendleton
Oct 132011
The hall is booked from 5-6 today for extra training