Half term - no fencing Thurs 1st November 2012

This week it’s half term week and there will be no fencing this Thursday 1st November.

We’ll be back as normal the following Thursday 8th November.

New Thame Duellists term starts next Thursday, 20th September

The new Thame Duellists term starts next Thursday, 20th September. The full term dates can be found through the 'when and where' link on the left of the front page of the website.

The timings for club sessions have changed a bit. We talked at the club AGM in July about the need to find more space. So, for this term, we have secured our current space (one badminton court) at the leisure centre, but over a longer period of time.

James's junior swords group (7-11s) will now take place starting at 6pm and running to 7pm, not from 7pm as last term. This will mean more space for the younger fencers during their session and for others later on.

If this is difficult for anyone in James's group, please let us know as soon as possible. We will find a work around for you.

Keith’s beginners group may also move to an earlier start time (possibly 6.30) but for the first week of term will be at 7pm as normal.

Sessions will run from 7-9 for everyone else as usual.

Fees – as usual, please remember to bring your fees with you to the start of the first session of term. This means they can all be collected at the same time and avoids disruption to later sessions. Please remember this, as a courtesy to other fencers to avoid disrupting their lessons at other times during the term.

Fees for this year are as follows:

A) Junior Swords group (-11s) (my group) – single fee: £79 per term

B) All other fencers – both of:

i) Lesson fee £80 per term (payable to Keith Money)

ii) Club membership fee – 

under 18s: £15 per term or £40 per year
adults: £20 per term or £55 per year for adults

If you aren’t sure what you should be paying, ask James in advance of the first session so you can come along with the correct fees at the start of term.

Summer Fencing cancelled for 30 August

There will not be a session of summer fencing/taster session this Thursday 30 August. Apologies to those of you who were planning to attend.

The first session of the Autumn term is scheduled for 20 September. (If you were planning to come a long for a taster session on 30 August you will be welcome to do so on the first session of term, or to have a taster on the first regular session you are able to attend – just let me know when that will be.)

Send your support to Team GB’s fencers for the Olympics

I have recieved some promotional postcards for us to send messages of support to the Team GB fencers competing in London 2012.

If like me you would like to send them a message, please email me back with your message and your name; the postcards also have space to add your address and email address so you can add that too (but you don’t have to send that if you don’t want to). I’ll fillin a card for you and send it off on your behalf. But hurry, we’re getting really close now it’s just nine days now until the first fencing event of the games on Saturday 28th July.

In the mean time, if you’re going to the games (or even watching from the comfort of your armchair) why not print off a copy of this Team GB supporters bib. (If you are supporting another nation, you can find the bib for that nation on the Lloyds TSB London 2012 facebook page.)

Summer fencing and provisional Autumn term dates

Summer Fencing sessions
(informal sessions for current fencers, and for beginners to give it a try)
Thurs 2, 9, 23, 30 August 2012, at our regular time and venue:
Lord Williams Leisure Centre at 7pm
Taster session free for new members
Subsequent sessions/existing members – just £12 for all four sessions – what a bargain!

(Provisional) term dates for the Autumn term are as follows:
Term starts 20 Sep 2012
Half term (no fencing) 1 Nov 2012
Last session 6 Dec 2012

Annual General Meeting

This is to let you know that we will hold the Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the last session of this term, 12 July. The meeting is for all club members, young and old, and in the case of junior members (any under 18s) their parents or guardians as well. I will send out more information about the AGM nearer the time.

End of term and Summer fencing

Our final session of the summer term will be 12 July. But don’t worry! We have booked four sessions of summer fencing, on 2, 9, 23 and 30 August. The cost for all four sessions will be just £12 in total. What a bargain! Let me know if you’d like to come along. You don’t have to attend all four; there won’t be formal lessons, it’ll just be fun, informal fencing with each other; I’ll be around to provide a bit of coaching to anyone who wants it.

Southern Region Development Day

The Southern Region Development Day is taking place this year on 8th July. It’s a day run by our regional fencing body, Southern Fencing. It’s for any fencers from the age of 13 upwards and their parents, to help develop you as fencers. If you meet those criteria, and particularly if you compete or are starting to think about doing competitions I’d really encourage you to attend.


This is what Southern Fencing say about the Development Day:

Coaching is available in all weapons – you will see on the poster that the sabre coach is not named, our coach has had to pull out because of work but we will have a sabre coach for you and you coach will know as soon as we know who it will be.  

There will be short armoury workshops with all the fencers and the parents who want to; she will also spend more time with those who want to work on equipment with her.  

There will be a refereeing course in all weapons, this will be for the day and will include the opportunity to do the written exam.  

The day will also include a session on sportsmanship for everyone.  

There will be a talk for fencers about preparing themselves for a competition 

And a talk for parents about what is good and what is not to do/tell their fencers

The day also has a group of workshops designed to give the parents a good understanding of what is going on in the world of fencing as their young people become more competitive.  If you are a parent, please come along.  If you are a fencer please encourage your support network to come along.

The aim is that this day will help to ensure that more families will get involved with their fencer’s progress and the region that they belong to.  To understand why things are the way they are and what they might consider doing to help support/improve what is currently happening.  

Further information is available from www.southernfencing.org.uk

Back after half term break

Thame Duellists is back after the half term break with the first session of this half term taking place on Thursday 14th June at 7pm at Thame Leisure Centre as normal. We look forward to seeing everyone again then!

Last session of Spring Term this week

This Thursday’s fencing session - Thursday 29th March - is the last session of the Spring term.

The first session of the Summer term will be Thursday 26th April 2012.

Growth

Here's something we got reminded of at the Southern region competition but which parents of our under 18 fencers are all too aware of: your children are growing. And while that applies to things like shoes and school uniform it also applies to fencing kit. These days at competitions, referees are very particular about fencing kit. Not only does it need to meet the regulation safety standards, it also has to fit properly (which is of course just another part of being safe - it can't protect you if it doesn't cover you up). So if, for example, breeches don't cover to below the knee, jacket sleeves leave forearm showing or jackets and breeches don't overlap properly, fencers may not be allowed to fence in them at competitions. Ask me if you're not sure.

James

Congratulations...

Belated congratulations to Arran Strutt for qualifying for this year's nationals in Sheffield in May with a strong performance in the Southern region age group competition at the end of February.

Each of our three representatives, Jonathan S, Daniel and Arran, have things to be pleased with at the regional event had positives to take away from their performances at the event, though all three also know there are things they can improve on. That's a very healthy attitude overall. Well done, gentlemen.

Win at Burford!

Congratulations to our first team of Jonathan Winn, Jonathan Scowen, Daniel Kovacs, George Warren and Arran Strutt for a fine 18-7 win against Burford FC last Tuesday 21 Jan. Our 5 fencers not only won comfortably but all finished in the top 5 spots of the pool over the course of the evening's fencing. Well done everyone.

Competitions, Spring term 2012

Competitions taking place during the Spring term 2012:

Sunday 15^th January 2012

Age & Adult Epee & Sabre (http://new.southernfencing.org.uk/calendar/age-adult-epee-sabre.htm)

SportsPark, University of Reading, Shinfield Rd, Reading RG6 6AH – for SatNavs use RG6 6UR

For Age groups: u12 born 00/01/02      u14 born 98/99      u16 born 96/97      u18 born 94/95

Sun Feb 26 2012

Southern Region Age Group Foil (http://new.southernfencing.org.uk/calendar/age-group-foil-2.htm)

St Bartholomew’s School, Andover Road, Newbury RG14 6JP

Term dates for Spring Term 2012

Term dates for the Spring Term 2012 are as follows:

Term starts: Thur 12 Jan 2012

Half term (no fencing): Thur 16 February 2012

Last session: Thur 29 Mar 2012