Newsletter April 2013On Target

Wanna be on Television?Channel 7’s Saturday Disney show will be shooting a story on junior fencing at Marrickville during squads on Tuesday 28 May. Saturday Disney’s presenter, Candice Dixon, will take a lesson from Jess Brooks then join in squad activities. It’ll be a great opportunity to showcase fencing to a young audience of potential fencers!

Saturday Disney airs on Channel 7 between 6am-7am on Saturdays and on 7TWO between 7am and 9am on Saturdays. We’ll let you know when their fencing segment is scheduled to go to air.

Newsletter of Fencing NSW February 2013Newsletter of Fencing NSW April 2013

Schools Fencing Season About to Get UnderwayThe 2013 schools fencing season kicks off in early May and continues through Terms 2 & 3 in the most intensive series of events on the NSWFA calendar.

First up are the AJ Rae and Roseanne White schools teams competitions on 4 and 11 May which are the qualifying events for the National Schools Teams Championships in Brisbane on 3 and 4 August.The NSW Schools Individual Championships start on 18 May and run throughout Term 2.

Details of the schools fencing program can be found at www.ready2fence.orgIf schools have any pre-season queries, please direct them to the Schools Fencing Co-ordinator, Vince Elias, at schools@nswfencing.org.au

Below Some 45 young fencers joined the first NSWFA YOG Development Camp in mid-April for three days of fitness

training, footwork, bladework and bouting supervised by the Head

Coach, Antonio Signorello, assisted by John Downes (epee),

Hugh Cotman (foil), Alex Andre & Mitch Fox (sabre).

Do iT! {Like to Run the Show?}

If you’d like to put your managerial skills to the test and learn how to carry out the responsibilities of the Directoire Technique (DT), we’d love to hear from you.

Our hardworking schools DT member, William Hay, needs back-up to handle the large number of schools entries on Saturday mornings. We’ll teach you how to run the En Guarde competition management computer program and how to successfully deliver a large event in limited time.

If you’d like to give it a go, please contact Vince Elias at secretary@nswfencing.org.au

Newsletter April 2013On Target

AFF MotionsNSWFA will be proposing motions at the AFF annual general meeting on 19 May as follows:

1. That Commonwealth Championships currently listed in Category D of the AFF Selection Policy be combined with other events in Category E. Further, that Commonwealth Championships should not be compulsory for AFT/AFS members. This will allow an opportunity for non AFT/AFS fencers to be eligible for selection to Commonwealth Championships along with the other events currently listed in Category E.

2. That national rankings be published for U15s. The U15s represent the coming generation of competitive fencers in Australia and should be encouraged by the award of national rankings, even though there is no selection for international competitions required at this level.

3. That a full set of medals be awarded in teams events at the Australian U15, Cadet and Junior championships. The U15/Cadet championships is the major national event hosted by NSW and rivals the national open and veteran championships in entries. Under current policy only team gold medals are presented with certificates for second and equal third placed teams. In view of the effort that U15 and Cadet fencers from around Australia and overseas make to attend this event - a showcase for the coming generation of fencers - they should be rewarded with medals. The same should apply to the Junior national championships.

4. That NSWFA should accept a national standard set by the AFF for weapon sizes for U13/U11 events; and that NSWFA should propose to the AFF that size 0-3 be specified for U13/U11 foil and epee, with 0-5 for sabre. This motion is in accordance with resolutions passed at the 2012 NSWFA annual general meeting.

5. That AFF ranking points should automatically be awarded for Universiade (World University Games). Currently, fencers must apply for Universiade results to be included in AFF rankings.

AFF ElectionsAt the AFF AGM in Melbourne on 19 May, a new Executive will be elected for the next four years, coinciding with the Olympic cycle.

All current members of the AFF Executive have nominated for election. NSWFA has endorsed the nomination of Graham Markey who has served as Treasurer for the AFF for the past four years.

The AFF Executive are elected on an individual basis with a responsibility to act in the best interests of Australian fencing - they are not elected to represent a State association.

Voting to decide the Executive of the AFF is by the member State associations represented by a Delegate.

The NSW Delegate is the President, Duncan Fairweather. However, as he will be overseas at the time, the NSW Delegate for this meeting will be the Secretary, Vince Elias.

Veterans RankingsFrom this year, State rankings will be calculated for veterans. This is in anticipation that at some point a veterans teams event will be included in the AFF national championships. A motion from the AFF Veterans Commission proposing that veteran teams be included in the national championships may be proposed at the AFF annual general meeting in May.

NSW veterans were advised of this motion on 10 April and asked for their views. Response so far has been positive though clearly there are practical issues such as venue availability, scheduling, format and cost to be worked out.

AFF website updates: www.ausfencing.org.au• Announcement  of  the  re-signing  of  the  Leon  Paul  sponsorship agreement for AFT members;

•  Calls  for  Nominations  for  selected  AFF  Commissions,  most  notably the Tournament Management Commission and the Selection Commission;

• Call for Nominations for the FIE Seminar and Examination imme-diately prior to the Asian Zone Championships in Shanghai, China;

• Call for Nominations for the pre-AFC2 camp in Adelaide 

•  Announcement  of  the  updated  team  for  the  Oceania  Cadet  Championships

• Announcement of  the updated  team  for  the Fencing Singapore International

Please note also that nominations for the Australian Fencing Team (Cadets & Juniors) close Monday 29 April.

NSW Fencing is supported by:

Legal Counsel AppointedThe NSWFA Executive has appointed a leading Sydney barrister, Francis Douglas QC, as  Honorary  Legal  Counsel.  We thank him for accepting this appointment.

Epeeists head to MarconiThe popular Marconi Cup for epee is coming soon - Sunday 5 May.Men’s Open 9.15amWomen’s Open 9.30amVeteran Men and Women 12.30pmUnder 11 & Under 13 1pm (boys and girls)

Marconi Fencing Academy - Prairie Vale Road, Bossley ParkThe entry fee is $25. Enter online via www.nswfencing.org.au or pay on the day. No extra charge.

FightingFit

Stress Causes BloatingIf you’re struggling to lose weight, even though you’re eating right and doing the right exercise, ask yourself, ‘Am I stressed’?

You may not be aware that the stress of modern-day life can interfere with your digestion. Our bodies basically cease digesting when we’re highly stressed. Further, our cortisol levels increase in the initial stages of stress, which results in increased belly fat.

It’s important to notice how you feel before you eat. If you’re feeling stressed and agitated, it’s much better to have a light meal - miso soup, chicken or vegetable soup or lentil stew are much better options than what people often go for in times of stress – chocolate, coffee, chips and alcohol!

The way you eat also matters. Eat slowly, chew well, and don’t eat too late at night so your food has ample time to be digested before bed, and you wake up feeling refreshed. On training nights, try to just have something small if you’re hungry after fencing (preferably within 30 minutes of finishing training if possible), with as little sugar as possible.

U15-Cadet nationals - call for volunteersVolunteers are needed to help NSWFA successfully present the U15/Cadet Championships in early July. This is the largest event hosted by NSWFA during the year and is held over five days. The commitment of volunteers will help to ensure its success.

If you would like to help with:

• setting up strips before the event and packing them away afterwards

• assisting with weapons control

• managing the reception desk

• selling merchandise

• arranging medals for presentation

• cleaning up at the end of each day

• generally helping things run smoothly

please contact Vince Elias at secretary@nswfencing.org.au

If you are a qualified first aider with time to spare, please let us know.

And for referees...From this year, the AFF will be rostering paid ($100 per day) referees at age nationals, starting with the U15-Cadet National Championships in Sydney. If you’d like to be considered for the referees’ roster, go the AFF website; www.ausfencing.org.au and register your interest.

Note for sabreurs...Sabreurs are advised that the FIE has decided that a new homologated sabre glove will come into use from 1 September. The new glove is designed to give greater protection from blade contact. For more information check the FIE website www.fie.org

What do TSC and the FIE have in common?Did you know that both the international fencing body (FIE) and The Swords Club here in Sydney turn 100 this year. For the history of the FIE, visit their website - www.fie.org - where you can learn how modern fencing evolved. For more on the TSC centenary, read on the next page ...

On Target Newsletter April’ 2013

Lets be Fighting Fit

Sally

Newsletter April 2013On Target

EN GARDE! THE SWORDS CLUB OF SYDNEY100 YEARS OF FENCING Stanton Library Heritage Centre 234 Miller St, North SydneyThe En Garde Exhibition celebrating 100 years of fencing by The Swords Club was officially opened by the Mayor of North Sydney, Jilly Gibson on Wednesday April 10, 2013. More than 100 people joined in the celebrations with a champagne preview of the Exhibition.

En Garde is the fruition of two years collaboration between The Swords Club and Stanton Library  to mark  the centenary of  the Club. Kelly Mitchell  (Stanton Library) and Suzanne Newton (TSC) curated the Exhibition with assistance from the Council Historian, Dr Ian Hoskins. The Australian College of Physical Education also provided access to their archives which proved to be a rich resource for fencing artifacts, written ephemera and historical photographs. The Swords Club is also appreciative of the many individuals who assisted with the Exhibition by loaning equipment and memorabilia for the displays and sharing their personal stories.

Rose Anne White former President of The Swords Club was guest speaker for the evening. She gave a lively insight into the Club during the 50s and the importance placed on the care of equipment and furniture by Professor Joan Beck.

One of the highlights of the evening was when Bill Cope introduced himself. He had recognized his younger self in a photo in the local paper. The photo also featured Tom Cross, John Fethers and Rod Steel. During the night he shared many interesting tales about The Swords Club and his time fencing in Europe in the 1950s.

The En Garde Exhibition forms part of the National Trust Heritage Festival throughout April and May. The Exhibition continues until October 2013. Details of the Stanton Library  opening hours are available at northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Photos - 1. Exhibition Case 2. Martin Ellis, North Sydney, Director Community & Library Services, Kelly Mitchell, Rose Anne White and Paul Weingott: 3. Mayor Jilly Gibson introducing Rose Anne White 4. Fencing memorabilia on display 5. Linda McLaren, Vivienne Tucker, Rose Anne White, Suzanne Newton and Nandy Sucic

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