Gabriel started fencing from scratch with LSFC just two years ago and is very excited to have done so well at the Southern Regional qualifying championships last weekend. The Nationals will be held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield in May.

Gabriel’s step brother, Kamil, narrowly missed qualifying in the Under 14 sabre section after a trialling duel. Three of the LSFC epeeists also excelled, winning places through the first round. “We are delighted for Gabriel and very pleased with the whole team for their brilliant performance at the regional qualifiers. We have a lot of fencers who are new to such a big competition, they held their nerve and did themselves proud” shared Sarah Murray of LSFC.

Peter Lashmar of Lashmars Tax Accountants, sponsor of LSFC, added “Many congratulations to the team for a great performance, and in particular to Gabriel. We wish him the best of luck at the Nationals.”

Gabriel won the ‘Most Improved Beginner’ award at last year’s Lashmars Invitation Cup, a friendly event designed to encourage new and novice fencers. The 2015 Lashmars Invitation Cup will take place on 3rd May and will include fencers young and old.

You can book into the competition, or any of our other hub development day activities these links:

• U10 Foil Competition
• Epee and Foil Development Training
  First Aid Course

U10 Competitors and parents are invited for a morning training session (optional) to get comfortable before the competition starts in the afternoon.

You will need a BF membership, but a social membership is sufficient to get started.

The competition will be using electrics, so please arrange to borrow equipment from your club or get in touch if you need help tracking it down.

The U10 Foil competition is proceeding as planned this Sunday, February 22nd.

If you have an u10 (on the 1^st Jan 2015) who would like to compete in foil and haven’t booked in yet, you have till noon on Friday to do so. 

Entry costs £15, online entry can be found at:  www.southernfencing.org.uk

Just to confirm the arrangements for the u10 fencers are:

• 10ish to 11am – warm-up, stretching, footwork
• 11ish to noon – chat about preparation and what to expect at a competition
• Lunch
• group warm-up
• competition
• medal presentation

You don’t need to attend the morning session to compete, but we highly recommend it as a way for younger fencers to get relaxed and comfortable in the environment and have more fun.

Meanwhile… parents, family members, we have  plans for you too. We want you to join us in an informal chat session over coffee about topics such as…

• looking forward to the different types of competition available
• what your fencer should take to a competition
• what happens at competitions
• some ideas about how to help your fencer and yourself
• what you might like to know about set-up, refereeing and armourers

Fencers, please arrive in comfortable clothes (t-shirt, tracksuit or similar) to do the first session.

To compete you will need to be in full kit and 0 size weapons. Let us know if you need help sourcing equipment!

Please make sure you all bring lunch along.

Tea, coffee and some tuck will be available

Please note this is a SFR Hub Development Day and there will be some others around working on their foil and epee. We hope this helps with the u10s and relaxes them as they are made to feel part of some of what happens at a HDD, whilst making it special for them

Any questions please feel free to email me and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Julie Bennett, Southern Region Fencing

This combines the Southern Region U10 foil competition with special training to help everybody relax and enjoy the thrill of competitive fencing. The U10 fencers will be working alongside our older foil and epee development fencers, and we hope the fencers will feel part of what happens at the hub whilst also making it special for them.

• 9:45 Arrive at St Gabriel’s School Dining Hall
• 10:00 U10 fencers join our hub day warm up
• Parents learn the basics about how competitions work and the type of support your fencer will need
• 11:15 U10 fencers get special training on what to do at a competition and how to behave
• Parents get hands on training on the piste
• 12:00 Lunch (bring your own)
• 13:00 U10 Competition poules begin, followed by direct elimination knock-outs
• 16:00 Competition completes (depending on numbers)

The competition is open to foil fencers who were under 10 years old on 1st January 2015. Cost is £15, and you can register at:

http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/contacts/competition-entry-foil-age-group

http://www.southernfencing.org.uk/calendar/southern-region-sabre-epee-age-group-qualifiers.htm

Check-in times will be published closer to the competition date.

Closing date for entries = 10pm on Monday 23 February

To help us plan the competition effectively, a late fee of £27 will be charged for any entries received after that.

Age of fencers

Years of birth for this season are:

U12  – Born 2003 or 2004   (It is not possible to accept younger fencers)

U14  – Born 2001 or 2002

U16  – Born 1999 or 2000

U18  – Born 1997 or 1998

British Fencing membership – Valid BF membership is required. Please ensure that you renew your membership if necessary before entering.

Southern Region – Fencers may only enter this Regional event if they have specified Southern Region on their British Fencing Membership. Fencers may only fence in a qualifying event in one region in any season.

UK residents – As these are the qualifying events for the British Youth Championships (BYCs), fencers must be UK residents.

BYC qualification and entry fee – At least the top four fencers in each competition will qualify for the BYCs. More will qualify in any competitions with 17 or more fencers. All qualifying fencers will be asked to pay the £21 BYC entry fee at the competition on 1 March.

In a change of rules for 2015, if qualifying fencers are unable to attend the BYCs for any reason, their place will be reallocated by the Region to the next ranked fencer. However I must be notified on the day if a fencer cannot take up their place.

EQUIPMENT 

Under 12/Under 14

• 800N or 350N plastron
• 350N mask jacket and breeches
• Two size 2 epees or sabres

Under 16/Under 18

• 800N plastron
• 350N mask, jacket and breeches
• Two size 5 epees or sabres

Additional requirements for sabre

• Lame jacket
• Electric glove or cuff
• Electric mask with headwire

Arrangements for Under 10s

The Region is looking into the possibility of running U10 foil and epee competitions as part of a regional training day. Details will follow once these are confirmed.

British Fencing will run BYCs for all 3 weapons – these will NOT be held on the same weekend as the rest of the Championships.

• Under 10 Epee Championships – 12th April 2015
• Under 10 Sabre Championships – 26th April 2015
• Under 10 Foil Championships – 17th May 2015

For further details see:  http://www.britishfencing.com/events/british_youth_championships/

Please contact me if you have any queries about this Southern Region competition.

Fiona Loughran
Competitions Secretary
Southern Region Fencing