Posts by Andrew

2012 concludes with bangs and prizes at Blackheath!

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Blackheath Fencing Club brought its year to a close with the Annual Club Championships 2012. Held Sunday 9th Dec 12 when Musketeers and Seniors members fought it out for both Club and intermediate champions!

The Musketeers Senior Champion was Peter Tsirushkin with 5 straight victories followed by Tom Bevan with 4 and third was a newcomer, fencing only since September ’12, Mandla Thane! Also coming 3rd in his preliminary pool he also took the ‘Best Fencer with under 4 months training’ Award.

In the Intermediate (plate) competition Gold certificate winner was Jordan Webb, with 8year old Storm Bredhal in Silver place and Felix Gilbert in Bronze. Gentleman of the Match went to Josh Knight. Both Senior and Intermediate winners also received £15 gift vouchers towards fencing kit.

The Adult competition followed in the afternoon with Yvo Pokera taking the foil Gold for the second year running with 5 victories, Xavier del Rincon Silver, and Andrew Nisbet Bronze. In Epée, Simon Owen took the Gold, Xavier the Silver and Andrew Bronze with Rob des Forges taking the Beginner’s Award!

On Tuesday 13th we held a Parents evening with mulled wine and mince pies for the parents, lemonade, crisps and biscuits for the Musketeers together with some Christmas fencing games resulting in some resonating booms as balloons were disposed of in time honoured fashion!

Following the prize giving, including some BF Achievement awards, the parents were dragooned, I mean ‘encouraged’, to take a 20 minute fencing lesson with Go Fence kit followed by the Annual Parent Knockout Competition won this year by Guoli Bredhal (yep, clearly runs in the family) who narrowly defeated last year’s champ Jim Howard.

The new Thursday club (nicknamed the Thursday Terrors which only started in Sept ’12) had their own balloon relay race and chocy biscuits with lemonade followed by their first full session on the electric box and nice to see some fencing champions in the making after only starting a few weeks back!

Our year finally ends with Christmas Dinner next week at Davys Winebar, Greenwich.

We are back on Tuesday 8th January and Thursday 10th. Seasons Greetings to all and have a safe holiday.

Jack Gillett, 1931-2012

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Very sadly we report the passing of Jack Gillett, the club’s Life President. Jack was a founder member, coach, club secretary and treasurer for many years and raised a lot of funds, without which the club would not exist today.

Jack started fencing in the Army, (REME), where he was training as a pentathlete. Being assigned to the Canal zone in Egypt during the Suez crisis no horses were available (camels not being allowed!) so he just concentrated on the fencing. He became   club secretary and treasurer around 1990 until he had to retire due to ill health in 2006 having contracted Parkinsons disease.

He was also head coach at Bexley Fencing Club for many years and both clubs respect his invaluable contribution to their existence and to introducing hundreds of people to fencing.

Condolences have been sent to his wife, Cynthia, son Simon and daughter Joyce.

Picture: Jack Gillett (young Jack), 3rd from left, having a 76th birthday drink with Jack Fitz-gerald (old Jack) 5th from left, in February 2004. The others from left are Andrew Nisbet, Matthew Wright (then Treasurer), Linda Percy (then Comp Sec), Diana and Steve Lennox, (then Chairman).

A post fencing drink in the Hare & Billet – 2004

The Noble Art of the Sword – Sat 21st July

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To round off the 2012 fencing season there will be a club visit to see this unique collection of fencing manuals and weapons at the Wallace Collection. Many have not been seen together in one place before and probably will never be again!

Meet at 11am Saturday 21st July at the entrance to the building which is located on Manchester Square, W1U 3BN, 5 mins from Bond Street Underground station. We will meet after for a drink at a place to be revealed to those who attend!

The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury.

Many thanks to Peter Bromley for organising.

Blackheath takes medals in Kent Junior Foil Competition

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Three of our 5 entrants to the 2012 Kent Junior Foil competition took home medals this afternoon (20th May).

Sofiya Marynyak took Bronze in the Girls U12

Alex Kingston took Silver in the boys U12 and

Tom Bevan took Bronze in the Boys U14.

This was the first proper competition for both Tom and Sofiya who can be proud of their achievements.

The other two entrants in the boys U12, Peter Tsirushkin and Sam Fruen (also in his first comp) both got through to the second round of the DE before being knocked out.

The boys displayed commendable camaraderie as they supported each other through the comp especially Alex who had a difficult final against a strong opponent. Sofiya earned respect and friends for the way she determinedly pushed through a difficult and rather painful early round fight against an inexperienced fencer and there were words of praise from coaches for the other boys too.

A great day and a great result for our Musketeers.

Blackheath takes Silver in Kent Team Foil

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Blackheath A team

Blackheath A Team

The Blackheath A team (Richard Roseblade, Xavier Lopez del Rincon Troussel,  and Andrew Nisbet), took second place in the competition held on 15th April at Blackheath High School.

First place went, once again, to Gravesham’s A team, Ben Andrews, Peter Barwell and Joe Charman who swept the board with no defeats.

3rd  was Invicta Fencing Club who travelled up from Sandwich with two fencers new to competing.

Gravesham A

4th Blackheath B  and 5th Gravesham B who both had new competitors

Many thanks to those who made the journey to Blackheath to support this annual County competition and hope to see you again next year.

Competition Results

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Kent Indvidual Foil Championships Nov 2013 in Tonbridge, Jordan Webb took Bronze in U16 Boys.

At the Kent Individual Foil Championships May 2013 (for U10, U12 and U14 ages)

  • Farra Nasir won Gold in the U10 girls
  • Stephanie Schum Silver in U12 girls
  • Sofiya Marynyak and Polina Annikova both Bronzes in girls U12 (the 2nd Bronze for Sofiya and Polina only started fencing 6 months ago)
  • Jordan Webb 1st in pool round and Tom Bevan quarter finalists in U14 Boys

A good result for the club and well done Musketeers!

Greenwich Junior Team London Youth Games 2012
Alex W, Peter, Alex K and Sam

A team of four lads travelled (with parents!) to Redbridge on Sunday 17th June to represent Greenwich in the London Youth Games fencing competition.

Although they went out in the first round to teams that made it into the last 8, they had a really good day and faced both fencing and personal challenges bravely and with great team spirit. Well done lads!

 

Three of our 5 entrants to the 2012 Kent Junior Foil competition took home medals this afternoon (20th May).

  • Sofiya Marynyak took Bronze in the Girls U12
  • Alex Kingston took Silver in the boys U12 and
  • Tom Bevan took Bronze in the Boys U14.
A brilliant result.

 

Kent Team Foil 15th April 2012
Gravesham Gold medalists
Blackheath Silver

Gravesham A Gold Medallists
Blackheath A Team
 

Academy Series London U14 Foil
Alex Kingston 6th out of 25
Peter Tsirushkin 12th

London Youth Championships 27th February 2012
Alex Kingston U12 Foil 12/26(?)
Xavier Hennessy-Vass U14 Foil 19/22

Senior Team Epee v Gravesham ?Feb2012
Team: Alex Vitali, Quentin Lachapele, James Williamson
Blackheath won 45 points to 36
This was our third comp against Gravesham and Blackheath managed to get the upper hand this time!