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Fencing update
Oct. 11th, 2025 08:53 pmOr why there's been relatively little posting.
So three weeks ago I had my first two day competition since the leg break.
Due to advanced age (40), I now qualify as a veteran - you may all laugh - and because I am alive and female I immediately got called up by the Midlands for their veterans women's foil team.
It was nice, I got to see people I hadn't seen for a while (and get updates on a few other people). There's nothing quite like losing to a 70 year old (or several of them).
Lilleshall Sports Centre, very nice. I also learnt new tricks for straightening out foils!!
Since I knew how much two dayers tend to wipe me out so I'd took the day off on the Monday. Just as well because I came down with a hell cold. Overall, not too bad, but I was non-functional from about 10 am - 4 pm on the Monday.
The week after, I was at the RAF Open, which is great fun as usual.
But I went from being the youngest person at a competition to being the oldest. Like, not even close. At the Shropshire, A (who you would all like and is the union rep at his uni) did ask whether women's foil was like Logan's Run.
I laughed. And then had one of the younger foilists (who I know really well) jokingly suggest that at 19 she ought to start thinking of switching to epee.
Any which way, I finished 5th. I am phrasing it as top adult because the oldest of the top 4 was 16 and the sum total of their age is 60!
Other than stuffing up the quarterfinal I was very happy with how I fenced, especially that I managed to hit someone with a flick hit to shoulder. First time I've ever managed to do that deliberately to a right hander.
The "glorious" lowlight was one of the baby epeeists asking if I was M's mother. In the middle of my usual, "M is a delight and I would be proud to be his mother, I am not," I realised that as he's 21 (max) and I am 40, yes, I am old enough that I could be M's mother.
So three weeks ago I had my first two day competition since the leg break.
Due to advanced age (40), I now qualify as a veteran - you may all laugh - and because I am alive and female I immediately got called up by the Midlands for their veterans women's foil team.
It was nice, I got to see people I hadn't seen for a while (and get updates on a few other people). There's nothing quite like losing to a 70 year old (or several of them).
Lilleshall Sports Centre, very nice. I also learnt new tricks for straightening out foils!!
Since I knew how much two dayers tend to wipe me out so I'd took the day off on the Monday. Just as well because I came down with a hell cold. Overall, not too bad, but I was non-functional from about 10 am - 4 pm on the Monday.
The week after, I was at the RAF Open, which is great fun as usual.
But I went from being the youngest person at a competition to being the oldest. Like, not even close. At the Shropshire, A (who you would all like and is the union rep at his uni) did ask whether women's foil was like Logan's Run.
I laughed. And then had one of the younger foilists (who I know really well) jokingly suggest that at 19 she ought to start thinking of switching to epee.
Any which way, I finished 5th. I am phrasing it as top adult because the oldest of the top 4 was 16 and the sum total of their age is 60!
Other than stuffing up the quarterfinal I was very happy with how I fenced, especially that I managed to hit someone with a flick hit to shoulder. First time I've ever managed to do that deliberately to a right hander.
The "glorious" lowlight was one of the baby epeeists asking if I was M's mother. In the middle of my usual, "M is a delight and I would be proud to be his mother, I am not," I realised that as he's 21 (max) and I am 40, yes, I am old enough that I could be M's mother.
Content warning: some mentions of COVID and sporting injury
The 2019 Fencers Club London Open does feature one of my better stories of utter sporting terribleness - it is down in the books as "the time I lost to someone with a broken rib".
Now J is one of my favourite nemesises (and is aware I call her that) but still.
Even now, nigh on 6 years later, I can still tell you what I did wrong - I rushed it, I pushed too hard, I chased the victory. I learnt from it.
As you can imagine, at the time, I was livid with myself.
Other than uselessness on the fencing front, it was a nice competition. It was at Rickmansworth School, or, to quote what I said to the Italian fencer who was on the same tube as me, "I don't think I'm rich enough to be here." For someone of my political persuasion, I spend too much time at posh schools.
One of the fencing parents ran the food and it was delicious bacon bun time (it remains an all-time best fencing food).
We will skip over L offering me space in his flat, forgetting that he was in France that weekend, sending me his spare keys in the post and banning me from putting the "cheese wedge" (stinky fencing kit bag) in his flat, me having to put it in the loft space, there being engineering work so I had to go a very round about route there and back and a train delay on the way back.
The bonus was because the competition was on the Sunday, I got to go to the Smoke and Mirrors exhibition (https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/W_vuwBQAACoA_SY2), which I really enjoyed. I really enjoy magic, but I was brought up with the Houdini and Conan Doyle story so whenever anyone claims ghosts or the supernatural, I go looking for the trick.
So, if we ignore the fencing, I had a great time, and even that wasn't too bad, because I'd deliberately done the FCL as a stretch competition. FCL the club is one of the best fencing clubs in the country so you can imagine what the standard was like.
It was also there that C told me my excuses for not doing the Welsh Open weren't good enough, which is why the Welsh Open (3rd strongest competition in the country) was the first competition I did after COVID. Too many fencers are aware that 'I dare you' works on me.
J, and her broken rib, do highlight that you can't trust athletes to make sensible play/no-play decisions. In fencing, at our level, we're amateurs. So no prize money (FCL is actually one of the few exceptions to this).
We pay to attend.
We pay transport and any necessary hotel costs because the competitions (unless you are a sabreur) start too early to get there easily.
And, for me and J, we did this, knowing we're not going to win.
J is a sensible person, normally. She's a vet tech (guess how the rib bust). She needs to be able to move. She really ought to have been at home recovering.
But she wanted to fence.
Imagine what that's like if you're a young man or woman with money on the line. That sort of decision should be in the hands of someone whose not got money on the line, because Bloodgate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodgate) showed that team doctors can be suborned.
The 2019 Fencers Club London Open does feature one of my better stories of utter sporting terribleness - it is down in the books as "the time I lost to someone with a broken rib".
Now J is one of my favourite nemesises (and is aware I call her that) but still.
Even now, nigh on 6 years later, I can still tell you what I did wrong - I rushed it, I pushed too hard, I chased the victory. I learnt from it.
As you can imagine, at the time, I was livid with myself.
Other than uselessness on the fencing front, it was a nice competition. It was at Rickmansworth School, or, to quote what I said to the Italian fencer who was on the same tube as me, "I don't think I'm rich enough to be here." For someone of my political persuasion, I spend too much time at posh schools.
One of the fencing parents ran the food and it was delicious bacon bun time (it remains an all-time best fencing food).
We will skip over L offering me space in his flat, forgetting that he was in France that weekend, sending me his spare keys in the post and banning me from putting the "cheese wedge" (stinky fencing kit bag) in his flat, me having to put it in the loft space, there being engineering work so I had to go a very round about route there and back and a train delay on the way back.
The bonus was because the competition was on the Sunday, I got to go to the Smoke and Mirrors exhibition (https://wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions/W_vuwBQAACoA_SY2), which I really enjoyed. I really enjoy magic, but I was brought up with the Houdini and Conan Doyle story so whenever anyone claims ghosts or the supernatural, I go looking for the trick.
So, if we ignore the fencing, I had a great time, and even that wasn't too bad, because I'd deliberately done the FCL as a stretch competition. FCL the club is one of the best fencing clubs in the country so you can imagine what the standard was like.
It was also there that C told me my excuses for not doing the Welsh Open weren't good enough, which is why the Welsh Open (3rd strongest competition in the country) was the first competition I did after COVID. Too many fencers are aware that 'I dare you' works on me.
J, and her broken rib, do highlight that you can't trust athletes to make sensible play/no-play decisions. In fencing, at our level, we're amateurs. So no prize money (FCL is actually one of the few exceptions to this).
We pay to attend.
We pay transport and any necessary hotel costs because the competitions (unless you are a sabreur) start too early to get there easily.
And, for me and J, we did this, knowing we're not going to win.
J is a sensible person, normally. She's a vet tech (guess how the rib bust). She needs to be able to move. She really ought to have been at home recovering.
But she wanted to fence.
Imagine what that's like if you're a young man or woman with money on the line. That sort of decision should be in the hands of someone whose not got money on the line, because Bloodgate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodgate) showed that team doctors can be suborned.
I am still not dead
Apr. 5th, 2024 06:05 pmAlthough I could have done without the cold turning into "cold from hell" with a sinusitis of stage "if I cough one more time I am legitimately worried my brain will explode". Three days of having a totally blocked nostril, was not fun.
It basically meant I was down for a week. Followed by a fencing comp where I was only organising not fencing (and allegedly 18 km of walking in one day).
I then slept for two days, only surfacing for delicious Persian food and theatre, then back in work. Now to catch up on everything I missed in March.
It basically meant I was down for a week. Followed by a fencing comp where I was only organising not fencing (and allegedly 18 km of walking in one day).
I then slept for two days, only surfacing for delicious Persian food and theatre, then back in work. Now to catch up on everything I missed in March.
Leg update - only a week late
Mar. 3rd, 2024 11:56 pm1) I am now back in the office, oh yeah, so good. Like, I have the utmost sympathy for people who don't like working from offices, and I am very happy to have 2 days a week where I don't, but I do prefer being in the office regularly to full time working from home.
I have been promised the fire marshals have been trained in evacuating those with mobility issues. The fire marshal on our floor was away at the end of the week so I haven't had it confirmed by a trusted source.
2) I'm back to fencing. May have overdone it this week. J, who is one of my favourite training partners, not just because he's excellent left-hander practise. But he also gave no quarter so ... pain. Well not pain, just sore. Not helped by going over on that ankle walking to fencing. Also not helping is item 6.
3) Before the recent oops, I could do 2 1/2 hours on feet nonstop before they complained. Now that's down to maybe 1 1/2 hours but a lot of that was uphill, which also did not help.
4) Getting into and out of the shower no longer a thing of terror, which is a very good thing.
5) I am now allowed to go to the gym. Was meaning to go on Wednesday before last, but it was so cold and wet I decided to skip it.
6) The reason I didn't go last Wednesday was because I was in the Netherlands. First business trip since the break, first big customer visit ever. To quote Australian role equivalent, "they're nice in real life than in print". I will get back to Utrecht for fun reasons because that was some really interesting architecture.
I have been promised the fire marshals have been trained in evacuating those with mobility issues. The fire marshal on our floor was away at the end of the week so I haven't had it confirmed by a trusted source.
2) I'm back to fencing. May have overdone it this week. J, who is one of my favourite training partners, not just because he's excellent left-hander practise. But he also gave no quarter so ... pain. Well not pain, just sore. Not helped by going over on that ankle walking to fencing. Also not helping is item 6.
3) Before the recent oops, I could do 2 1/2 hours on feet nonstop before they complained. Now that's down to maybe 1 1/2 hours but a lot of that was uphill, which also did not help.
4) Getting into and out of the shower no longer a thing of terror, which is a very good thing.
5) I am now allowed to go to the gym. Was meaning to go on Wednesday before last, but it was so cold and wet I decided to skip it.
6) The reason I didn't go last Wednesday was because I was in the Netherlands. First business trip since the break, first big customer visit ever. To quote Australian role equivalent, "they're nice in real life than in print". I will get back to Utrecht for fun reasons because that was some really interesting architecture.
British Fencing are being sneaky fuckwits, again.
Email has gone out saying they (and Hertfordshire Uni) are conducting a survey on British Fencing's members views on transpeople and fencing.
Which gives the loud objectionable minority a chance to be heard over the silent (and basically uncaring either way) majority.
Have added my voice to try and counter-balance (I even phrased it as "I have to compete against cis-men at local competitions, and I don't finish last so I don't think trans-inclusion is going to negatively affect me").
BF's plan appears to be have "open" and "women's". I've raised the concern that it's going to encourage smaller competitions not to run a women's, which urgh. Partly because I'm old enough to remember when they didn't, and partly because I know many competition organisers would like nothing more than not to run 3 competitions, and they have a particular hatred/dislike/determination to ruin women's fencing.
Email has gone out saying they (and Hertfordshire Uni) are conducting a survey on British Fencing's members views on transpeople and fencing.
Which gives the loud objectionable minority a chance to be heard over the silent (and basically uncaring either way) majority.
Have added my voice to try and counter-balance (I even phrased it as "I have to compete against cis-men at local competitions, and I don't finish last so I don't think trans-inclusion is going to negatively affect me").
BF's plan appears to be have "open" and "women's". I've raised the concern that it's going to encourage smaller competitions not to run a women's, which urgh. Partly because I'm old enough to remember when they didn't, and partly because I know many competition organisers would like nothing more than not to run 3 competitions, and they have a particular hatred/dislike/determination to ruin women's fencing.
Work (conference), fencing and F1
Dec. 12th, 2021 05:31 pmTo do list for this weekend
1 - attend virtual conference running on Georgia (US) time zone
2 - attend fencing competition, that I could only attend because physical attendance at (1) was cancelled
3 - watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
3/3 achieved but only due to whichever demon looks after the clumsy and foolish.
1 - the chaos started on Friday. Conference attendance no longer happening so I got switched to virtual attendance. Not a problem.
Conference website crashes when I try to log on, but I finally get in half an hour late.
I'd blocked the afternoon out at work, but everyone decided that "[real name redacted] is in a meeting" on Teams means I am available to be called. Normally, I'd just type them a message going "in a meeting, will call when available". Unfortunately, because of the way Teams is set up, it shuts off the talk I am in. This happens, I get rid of the people who decided a phone call was needed for something that could have been an email. Return to conference just in time to hear "[something out company does] is useless in situation", without any of the context. Cue panic.
Thankfully, talk was recorded and have been able to listen today.
The other talk I missed for similarly reasons is also up on the website so I will survive.
2 - the fencing competition is an odd set up, teams of 1 epeeist, 1 foilist and 1 sabreur and at least 1 of the 3 has to be female. (As you can imagine, that means most teams only have 1 woman because fencing needs more women.)
I was going to be in the US so didn't have a team. Tell the organiser that I will be available, there's already one team who needs a female foilist (their foilist was poached to go ref in France) so I am loaned out to them.
Different team need a female epeeist and ask 3 days later. It is explained to them that I am already on a team. There is sulking.
Competition rolls round - ack 1 of my teammates is 18. I am now old enough to be my teammates mother.
It goes well, we win a silver (after a stewards's enquiry about the indicators [goal difference but for hits scored Vs hits received]).
It goes badly; teammate dislocated his thumb, I make two opponents cry and slash another one across the wrist.
I also miss one of the talks at (1) that I have to hear but see previous re fools and clumsy people, and it's been recorded.
3 - so I can see a different set of talks at conference (1) I had to listen to the Grand Prix on the radio. BBC app started late so I was 10 minutes behind. I think the main problem is that the stewards made the wrong decision first and then had to fix it.
1 - attend virtual conference running on Georgia (US) time zone
2 - attend fencing competition, that I could only attend because physical attendance at (1) was cancelled
3 - watch the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
3/3 achieved but only due to whichever demon looks after the clumsy and foolish.
1 - the chaos started on Friday. Conference attendance no longer happening so I got switched to virtual attendance. Not a problem.
Conference website crashes when I try to log on, but I finally get in half an hour late.
I'd blocked the afternoon out at work, but everyone decided that "[real name redacted] is in a meeting" on Teams means I am available to be called. Normally, I'd just type them a message going "in a meeting, will call when available". Unfortunately, because of the way Teams is set up, it shuts off the talk I am in. This happens, I get rid of the people who decided a phone call was needed for something that could have been an email. Return to conference just in time to hear "[something out company does] is useless in situation", without any of the context. Cue panic.
Thankfully, talk was recorded and have been able to listen today.
The other talk I missed for similarly reasons is also up on the website so I will survive.
2 - the fencing competition is an odd set up, teams of 1 epeeist, 1 foilist and 1 sabreur and at least 1 of the 3 has to be female. (As you can imagine, that means most teams only have 1 woman because fencing needs more women.)
I was going to be in the US so didn't have a team. Tell the organiser that I will be available, there's already one team who needs a female foilist (their foilist was poached to go ref in France) so I am loaned out to them.
Different team need a female epeeist and ask 3 days later. It is explained to them that I am already on a team. There is sulking.
Competition rolls round - ack 1 of my teammates is 18. I am now old enough to be my teammates mother.
It goes well, we win a silver (after a stewards's enquiry about the indicators [goal difference but for hits scored Vs hits received]).
It goes badly; teammate dislocated his thumb, I make two opponents cry and slash another one across the wrist.
I also miss one of the talks at (1) that I have to hear but see previous re fools and clumsy people, and it's been recorded.
3 - so I can see a different set of talks at conference (1) I had to listen to the Grand Prix on the radio. BBC app started late so I was 10 minutes behind. I think the main problem is that the stewards made the wrong decision first and then had to fix it.
So, like I said, I'd been foolish enough to be roped into the organising of this so the run up was stressful. It did mean the fencing was less stressful in comparison but ...
Basically, the short version is about 90% of people turned up, did what they promised to do and left. The remaining 10% seemed to hamstring that 90% something chronic.
The group of fencers in my pool can been best described as minor eek. It could have been worse but it could have been better. The best/worst bit was fecing against Z. I have known Z for too long. She is a lovely fencer. Lovely long lunge. She got the timing wrong with one of them and was already apologising before it hit. The bruise lasted for more than a month. (Totally not her fault).
I did beat 1 person (mostly I won because she kept leaping onto my sword. It was most peculiar. She'll be a good fencer once she's 2 years old, 2 years more experienced and 2 years better at not panicking - ). Was 40th out of 51 after pools so just outside the points.
It did mean I had a bit of a hard draw for the first knock out round. I lost 15-8. I was ecstatic, because that's the most I've ever got against O. She's sped up which probably will help her against the fencers better than me, but it gave me a few openings I normally don't get.
Finished 41st because someone broke seeding ahead of me. The one person I beat in the pools. Who finished 16th overall. Fencing sucks sometimes.
Other funny moments. I got lumbered with handing out the medals. Which is all well and good, except I am too short. So I had to get people to bend down a long way. Thankfully the sabre boys and the epeeists (both genders) are very forgiving.
Basically, the short version is about 90% of people turned up, did what they promised to do and left. The remaining 10% seemed to hamstring that 90% something chronic.
The group of fencers in my pool can been best described as minor eek. It could have been worse but it could have been better. The best/worst bit was fecing against Z. I have known Z for too long. She is a lovely fencer. Lovely long lunge. She got the timing wrong with one of them and was already apologising before it hit. The bruise lasted for more than a month. (Totally not her fault).
I did beat 1 person (mostly I won because she kept leaping onto my sword. It was most peculiar. She'll be a good fencer once she's 2 years old, 2 years more experienced and 2 years better at not panicking - ). Was 40th out of 51 after pools so just outside the points.
It did mean I had a bit of a hard draw for the first knock out round. I lost 15-8. I was ecstatic, because that's the most I've ever got against O. She's sped up which probably will help her against the fencers better than me, but it gave me a few openings I normally don't get.
Finished 41st because someone broke seeding ahead of me. The one person I beat in the pools. Who finished 16th overall. Fencing sucks sometimes.
Other funny moments. I got lumbered with handing out the medals. Which is all well and good, except I am too short. So I had to get people to bend down a long way. Thankfully the sabre boys and the epeeists (both genders) are very forgiving.
Architecture:
Is Europe's ghostliest train station about to rise again?- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-41445860
Religion:
Highway to Heaven - What one Canadian street could teach the world about religious harmony -https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/highway_to_heaven
Sport:
Fencing:
Lucy-Belle: Meet the swashbuckling fencer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47131943 Newsround is the BBC children's news programme. Therefore, it's always good when fencing gets a mention on it. I have been soundly beaten by both fencers in this clip, and they are both lovely young ladies. Unusually for fencing parents, Mr. Williamson is also calm and considerate.
Horse racing:
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Frankie Dettori breaks record on Enable - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/equestrian/41459569
Is Europe's ghostliest train station about to rise again?- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-41445860
Religion:
Highway to Heaven - What one Canadian street could teach the world about religious harmony -https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/highway_to_heaven
Sport:
Fencing:
Lucy-Belle: Meet the swashbuckling fencer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47131943 Newsround is the BBC children's news programme. Therefore, it's always good when fencing gets a mention on it. I have been soundly beaten by both fencers in this clip, and they are both lovely young ladies. Unusually for fencing parents, Mr. Williamson is also calm and considerate.
Horse racing:
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: Frankie Dettori breaks record on Enable - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/equestrian/41459569
(no subject)
May. 17th, 2021 07:23 pm( Large image of Dug from Up saying 'I do not like the throat swab' )
But having one does mean I get to go fencing tomorrow :D
But having one does mean I get to go fencing tomorrow :D
Leicester Open 2019
Dec. 29th, 2020 05:41 pmYes, I am still way behind
Okay, this competition I screwed up, because I thought it was 2 rounds of pools so I didn't maybe fight with full blood and guts in the "first" pool, because I wanted to try a few things against fellow female foilists that I can't practise in the club, and I thought I could make up for any losses in the second round. (Don't worry, I have learnt my lesson)
This meant I had a sucktacular draw in the knockouts. And I would have lost anyway, but no way was it a legit 15-4. Since I was well brought up, and because I needed to keep the ref sweet because I needed him to bring some other referees to the Birmingham, I just gave him the "could you explain that, sir" a couple of times. His point was that I wasn't aggressive enough in my attacks, they "didn't feel enough like attacks". Given I had been working on making my attacks look like attacks after the Lancaster and had been extending my arm (which even the referee in question admitted), this was somewhat frustrating. (I return to this topic when I write up the Birmingham).
In the referee's defence, after he'd been knocked out of the men's competition, he was willing to give more detail, which I have since put into practise.
Okay, this competition I screwed up, because I thought it was 2 rounds of pools so I didn't maybe fight with full blood and guts in the "first" pool, because I wanted to try a few things against fellow female foilists that I can't practise in the club, and I thought I could make up for any losses in the second round. (Don't worry, I have learnt my lesson)
This meant I had a sucktacular draw in the knockouts. And I would have lost anyway, but no way was it a legit 15-4. Since I was well brought up, and because I needed to keep the ref sweet because I needed him to bring some other referees to the Birmingham, I just gave him the "could you explain that, sir" a couple of times. His point was that I wasn't aggressive enough in my attacks, they "didn't feel enough like attacks". Given I had been working on making my attacks look like attacks after the Lancaster and had been extending my arm (which even the referee in question admitted), this was somewhat frustrating. (I return to this topic when I write up the Birmingham).
In the referee's defence, after he'd been knocked out of the men's competition, he was willing to give more detail, which I have since put into practise.
Lancaster Open 2019
Nov. 7th, 2020 06:55 pmAfter years of pleading by M-T, AKA the other Austrian*, I finally went up to Lancaster to fence at the Lancaster Open.
It was a good choice, the Lancaster's a nice, small, friendly competition, with two rounds of pools, and it's well run. Lancaster Uni is really easy to get to from Lancaster train station via public transport and there's a bus stop right outside Lancaster Uni sports hall. (Also, Lancaster train station is really pretty.)
The fencing was less good.
Or rather ,the pools went really well (was 4th after pools), the knockout went badly and I lost 15-8 to a girl I'd beaten in the pools. In the words of the ref, "have you considered extending the arm when attacking?" (I feel I need to add that I know the ref well enough not to mind, and yes, I am used to sarcastic advice from referees on this matter.) Once again, I lost to a fiendish left-hander (fiendish left-hander is actually lovely, but I reserve the right to sulk ;) ) The knock out was bad enough that the ref asked if I had ever considered attacking. (I know the ref well enough not to be offended by jokes at my expense.)
It was also the first time I fenced L-B W and her little sister, who are both tiny, young and terrifyingly good, but also lovely. And, unusual in general fencing but some how more frequent amongst the Scots, have a lovely fencing parent. As in didn't mind me beating younger sister (I am a damned good counter-attacker, and know how to deal with young and too fast for their hands for the moent) and asking for tips for the future.
I will be doing the Lancaster again. I mean, I did it in 2020 (the Lancaster was the last open I had a chance to do) and I will do it again once we're allowed back.
*yes, it stands for exactly what the other German-speakers think it does. She has threatened me with a sword for laughing before now.
It was a good choice, the Lancaster's a nice, small, friendly competition, with two rounds of pools, and it's well run. Lancaster Uni is really easy to get to from Lancaster train station via public transport and there's a bus stop right outside Lancaster Uni sports hall. (Also, Lancaster train station is really pretty.)
The fencing was less good.
Or rather ,the pools went really well (was 4th after pools), the knockout went badly and I lost 15-8 to a girl I'd beaten in the pools. In the words of the ref, "have you considered extending the arm when attacking?" (I feel I need to add that I know the ref well enough not to mind, and yes, I am used to sarcastic advice from referees on this matter.) Once again, I lost to a fiendish left-hander (fiendish left-hander is actually lovely, but I reserve the right to sulk ;) ) The knock out was bad enough that the ref asked if I had ever considered attacking. (I know the ref well enough not to be offended by jokes at my expense.)
It was also the first time I fenced L-B W and her little sister, who are both tiny, young and terrifyingly good, but also lovely. And, unusual in general fencing but some how more frequent amongst the Scots, have a lovely fencing parent. As in didn't mind me beating younger sister (I am a damned good counter-attacker, and know how to deal with young and too fast for their hands for the moent) and asking for tips for the future.
I will be doing the Lancaster again. I mean, I did it in 2020 (the Lancaster was the last open I had a chance to do) and I will do it again once we're allowed back.
*yes, it stands for exactly what the other German-speakers think it does. She has threatened me with a sword for laughing before now.
Merseyside Open 2019
Apr. 10th, 2020 11:01 pmYes, I know this is now more than a year late. I am catching up with things.
Actually, getting a hotel for the 2019 edition was a story in and of itself
( Details below )
So I catch the train up, and run into epeeists I know. I go with them to the hotel and find out that there are two Premier Inns in Liverpool near the airport, and I am in the wrong one.
( Also that the one nearer Liverpool Airport runs to theme naming and Ringo has every right to object. )
The whole place is overrun with Irish Liverpool fans, who pop over for the weekend. Unfortunately, that means that getting an evening meal becomes complicated.
Breakfast is also complicated by finding out that various of the referees (and one of my opponents) are also staying at this hotel. I hide behind a menu and eat quickly.
Once I finally got to the competition, it didn't get much better. There were various ways that you could describe my first round draw, but none of them are publishable. I got drawn against both AF and MP, which is a terrible way of starting a day. AF's ranking is always lower than it ought to be because she only does like 3 competitions a year, and it always screws up the pools.
Needless to say, the pool does not go well.
It does feature one of the most glorious fencing stories I have though.
There is a Liverpool Fencing Club beginner in the pool. She's fencing MP and gets carded for something and looked very confused (sorry, I was straightening my foil so I didn't see what happened). At the end of the match, she goes over to her coach for an explanation. Cue coach nearly killing himself laughing, as she said when he'd asked the referee what she been carded for, all the ref said was "cuckoo, cuckoo". In one of those 'fencing uses too many French words' moments, what the ref had actually said was "corps a corps" but if you don't know what that is, apparently it sounds like bird noises.
(I swear it's funny. To a niche audience.)
I win 1 (against the beginner) and lose 3. This is not good for my ranking.
Second round of pools, I get a different Liverpool beginner, a veteran who I sometimes beat, a veteran I almost never beat, and an occasional team mate. It also does not go well (1 win, 3 losses). The most frustrating was the two veterans because well, one of them was acting up and the other one, I missed her shoulder by centimetres to lose 4-5.
This all means I get a semi-terrible draw in the knock-outs. Somewhat frustratingly, I get a lead, but I then lose, when her coach tells her what to do. In French. I can't lip-read French. I did tell her coach that I would be working on it though ;) (Don't worry, I know her coach, and have known her coach for many years. In fact, her coach has knocked me out of things before.)
All of this meant I got points, just. I was 20th or last points scoring position. Not brilliant, but it'll do.
Actually, getting a hotel for the 2019 edition was a story in and of itself
( Details below )
So I catch the train up, and run into epeeists I know. I go with them to the hotel and find out that there are two Premier Inns in Liverpool near the airport, and I am in the wrong one.
( Also that the one nearer Liverpool Airport runs to theme naming and Ringo has every right to object. )
The whole place is overrun with Irish Liverpool fans, who pop over for the weekend. Unfortunately, that means that getting an evening meal becomes complicated.
Breakfast is also complicated by finding out that various of the referees (and one of my opponents) are also staying at this hotel. I hide behind a menu and eat quickly.
Once I finally got to the competition, it didn't get much better. There were various ways that you could describe my first round draw, but none of them are publishable. I got drawn against both AF and MP, which is a terrible way of starting a day. AF's ranking is always lower than it ought to be because she only does like 3 competitions a year, and it always screws up the pools.
Needless to say, the pool does not go well.
It does feature one of the most glorious fencing stories I have though.
There is a Liverpool Fencing Club beginner in the pool. She's fencing MP and gets carded for something and looked very confused (sorry, I was straightening my foil so I didn't see what happened). At the end of the match, she goes over to her coach for an explanation. Cue coach nearly killing himself laughing, as she said when he'd asked the referee what she been carded for, all the ref said was "cuckoo, cuckoo". In one of those 'fencing uses too many French words' moments, what the ref had actually said was "corps a corps" but if you don't know what that is, apparently it sounds like bird noises.
(I swear it's funny. To a niche audience.)
I win 1 (against the beginner) and lose 3. This is not good for my ranking.
Second round of pools, I get a different Liverpool beginner, a veteran who I sometimes beat, a veteran I almost never beat, and an occasional team mate. It also does not go well (1 win, 3 losses). The most frustrating was the two veterans because well, one of them was acting up and the other one, I missed her shoulder by centimetres to lose 4-5.
This all means I get a semi-terrible draw in the knock-outs. Somewhat frustratingly, I get a lead, but I then lose, when her coach tells her what to do. In French. I can't lip-read French. I did tell her coach that I would be working on it though ;) (Don't worry, I know her coach, and have known her coach for many years. In fact, her coach has knocked me out of things before.)
All of this meant I got points, just. I was 20th or last points scoring position. Not brilliant, but it'll do.
These thoughts were brought about by the epeeist who knocked me out of the 2018 Alice Ruggles Memorial Competition. She is not a shouter. I am. My hoodie nicknames have included Banshee and Everyone Can Hear You Scream, and I have earned them.
She said that she had been encouraged to be more voluble, but it felt completely alien to her.
As far as I can see, in fencing, there are 3 reasons to shout/scream:
1 - to convince the referee that the hit is yours.
2 - elation
3 - frustration
There are those who would say 1 doesn't happen, but they're either lying or in denial. I try not to do it, because it doesn't work on good referees and annoys all referees, but I have done it and will do it again, especially if my opponent starts it because every little bit helps, and I'll be damned if I let someone get a point just because they're more convincing.
Epeeists don't have reason 1 for shouting - if you're having to convince the referee that it's your hit at epee, something have gone very wrong somewhere. That might explain why epeeists as a whole are less shouty.
Not having to convince the ref might also help with the frustration aspect. That's one I am infinitely, frequently and loudly guilty f.
I understand why people disapprove of shouting in general, and think you are giving your opponent the upper hand if you express your frustration, but for me at least, it's a lot like a pressure cooker. If I am allowed to scream, it helps me release pressure. It means I can get on with fencing a lot more easily.
Much as shouting would have made A feel odd, if I don't shout, I feel constricted. After getting a bit of a whinge from a competition organiser about my volume and pitch, I tried not to for a while. I felt horrible. I could feel the frustration oozing round my body for days after a competition. It made fencing a lot less fun. I was very happy when I ended that deeply unpleasant experiment.
I suppose the fact that I don't *have* to scream means I shouldn't, but it's a definite quality of life improvement and I think it improves my fencing, because I am less tense.
She said that she had been encouraged to be more voluble, but it felt completely alien to her.
As far as I can see, in fencing, there are 3 reasons to shout/scream:
1 - to convince the referee that the hit is yours.
2 - elation
3 - frustration
There are those who would say 1 doesn't happen, but they're either lying or in denial. I try not to do it, because it doesn't work on good referees and annoys all referees, but I have done it and will do it again, especially if my opponent starts it because every little bit helps, and I'll be damned if I let someone get a point just because they're more convincing.
Epeeists don't have reason 1 for shouting - if you're having to convince the referee that it's your hit at epee, something have gone very wrong somewhere. That might explain why epeeists as a whole are less shouty.
Not having to convince the ref might also help with the frustration aspect. That's one I am infinitely, frequently and loudly guilty f.
I understand why people disapprove of shouting in general, and think you are giving your opponent the upper hand if you express your frustration, but for me at least, it's a lot like a pressure cooker. If I am allowed to scream, it helps me release pressure. It means I can get on with fencing a lot more easily.
Much as shouting would have made A feel odd, if I don't shout, I feel constricted. After getting a bit of a whinge from a competition organiser about my volume and pitch, I tried not to for a while. I felt horrible. I could feel the frustration oozing round my body for days after a competition. It made fencing a lot less fun. I was very happy when I ended that deeply unpleasant experiment.
I suppose the fact that I don't *have* to scream means I shouldn't, but it's a definite quality of life improvement and I think it improves my fencing, because I am less tense.
Now back to catching up after unexpected medal
Am I desperately scrambling to get this up before this year's Memorial competition, yes I am.
Last year's (and this year's and all future years) competition was somewhat complicated by the work Christmas party being the night before. Cue yours truly partying till 2, getting up at 8 am to catch a train to Leicester, fencing, party that night, and then fencing all of Sunday.
I was cream-crackered.
Matters were not helped by new high heels. My old high heels, which have served me since 2006, literally fell apart. Cue panicked hunt for heels. Now, there are various problems with the search. Some of them are all my fault - I refuse to wear heels that I can't kick people in, and run in. Some of them are more structural. I have size 5 1/2 feet (39 Euro, 6 US, goodness knows what Australian). Most UK shoe shops have stopped selling half-sizes. Therefore, I have to wear 6s. A lot. And, as far as I can tell, British women just have fat ankles. And I don't. So I literally fall out of a lot of heels. I found a pair, but they were, and indeed still are, sub-optimal, and I will be hunting this weekend for a replacement pair.
I came off better than my head of department who was fed sambucca all evening by our head of division, and ended up with glass in her feet (no, we don't know how), the now-fiance of one colleague who was ranted at for half an hour about the perils of married life by a different colleague and still proposed the day after anyway, and at least a few other people who I know were nursing sore heads the day after.
On the plus side, there was free facial glittering so I looked stunning/ridiculous.
The individual competition went okay. I mean, I am not an epeeist, I go for the esprit du corps and for the charity (https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/), and I finished just outside the points but not last. Got beaten by a tiny left-hander in the 16, which was expected but I took her to full time and she didn't reach 15. She also accidentally got given a hit to floor that I swear did not hit my foot, but there are competitions where I am not going to cause a ruckus, and this is one of them.
Went to the competition party. Terrified this year's uni club treasurer by telling him I was his predecessor from 12 years before (please imagine my crone-iest cackle at this point). A quite remarkable number of this year's committee are French!
Woke up the next morning and got to the hall in time for the team competition because I'd been put on stand by in case the 3rd member of Leicester Uni B couldn't make it due to a stomach bug. He made it (brave fool), but I was needed by Northampton B. Northampton B's third member couldn't make it for some excuse he'd pulled out of his hat so I got drafted in. Not a problem because Northampton B are lovely. Also not a problem because it mean the girly team (C who is lovely and would be GB number one but the BFA are morons, M who, rather infamously, is the person who chased me off an epee piste for being a bad ref but I have mostly forgiven her, A who I have known for far too long and M who is lovely and married to one of Northampton B) could have their team despite C needing to dash off before the end of the competition.
It did not go swimmingly. M just couldn't get his rhythm right, J was having a bad day and I am a foilist, and we probably came dead last. But lots of fun was had by all. The new epee rules (non-combativity for 30 seconds causes end of that specific bout-section in a team event) got called upon, because one fella couldn't figure out how to hit me and I couldn't figure out how to hit him. Given he's an actual epeeist, I think it reflects worse on one of us. Had lots of fun in a few fights, including fencing L from our club (he's at uni in Manchester and was on team we-fleche-a-lot, officially named "The Pomellers"). Lost horribly to E from the old Leicestershire and Rutland lot, duelled H (also a foilist) to a draw and accidentally hit D (D from Frisby for the one RL person who might read this) right in the ankle, which I feel horrible about.
Girly team got 4th, I think, but M nearly made IA cry along the way. Which is bad given he was reffing her, not fencing her. When I say mostly forgiven, I mean, I have forgiven her for me, I may never forgive her for IA. Because he is a sweetheart, if hopeless in that particularly fencing way.
So had lots of fun, even if I didn't fence particularly well, and only a limited amount of bruising. I was tired as heck afterwards mind you, and mildly zombiefied for the week after at work. I have learnt and am talking the Monday morning off this year.
For a more official write up, please see here - https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/post/ar-mem-fencing-2018
Am I desperately scrambling to get this up before this year's Memorial competition, yes I am.
Last year's (and this year's and all future years) competition was somewhat complicated by the work Christmas party being the night before. Cue yours truly partying till 2, getting up at 8 am to catch a train to Leicester, fencing, party that night, and then fencing all of Sunday.
I was cream-crackered.
Matters were not helped by new high heels. My old high heels, which have served me since 2006, literally fell apart. Cue panicked hunt for heels. Now, there are various problems with the search. Some of them are all my fault - I refuse to wear heels that I can't kick people in, and run in. Some of them are more structural. I have size 5 1/2 feet (39 Euro, 6 US, goodness knows what Australian). Most UK shoe shops have stopped selling half-sizes. Therefore, I have to wear 6s. A lot. And, as far as I can tell, British women just have fat ankles. And I don't. So I literally fall out of a lot of heels. I found a pair, but they were, and indeed still are, sub-optimal, and I will be hunting this weekend for a replacement pair.
I came off better than my head of department who was fed sambucca all evening by our head of division, and ended up with glass in her feet (no, we don't know how), the now-fiance of one colleague who was ranted at for half an hour about the perils of married life by a different colleague and still proposed the day after anyway, and at least a few other people who I know were nursing sore heads the day after.
On the plus side, there was free facial glittering so I looked stunning/ridiculous.
The individual competition went okay. I mean, I am not an epeeist, I go for the esprit du corps and for the charity (https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/), and I finished just outside the points but not last. Got beaten by a tiny left-hander in the 16, which was expected but I took her to full time and she didn't reach 15. She also accidentally got given a hit to floor that I swear did not hit my foot, but there are competitions where I am not going to cause a ruckus, and this is one of them.
Went to the competition party. Terrified this year's uni club treasurer by telling him I was his predecessor from 12 years before (please imagine my crone-iest cackle at this point). A quite remarkable number of this year's committee are French!
Woke up the next morning and got to the hall in time for the team competition because I'd been put on stand by in case the 3rd member of Leicester Uni B couldn't make it due to a stomach bug. He made it (brave fool), but I was needed by Northampton B. Northampton B's third member couldn't make it for some excuse he'd pulled out of his hat so I got drafted in. Not a problem because Northampton B are lovely. Also not a problem because it mean the girly team (C who is lovely and would be GB number one but the BFA are morons, M who, rather infamously, is the person who chased me off an epee piste for being a bad ref but I have mostly forgiven her, A who I have known for far too long and M who is lovely and married to one of Northampton B) could have their team despite C needing to dash off before the end of the competition.
It did not go swimmingly. M just couldn't get his rhythm right, J was having a bad day and I am a foilist, and we probably came dead last. But lots of fun was had by all. The new epee rules (non-combativity for 30 seconds causes end of that specific bout-section in a team event) got called upon, because one fella couldn't figure out how to hit me and I couldn't figure out how to hit him. Given he's an actual epeeist, I think it reflects worse on one of us. Had lots of fun in a few fights, including fencing L from our club (he's at uni in Manchester and was on team we-fleche-a-lot, officially named "The Pomellers"). Lost horribly to E from the old Leicestershire and Rutland lot, duelled H (also a foilist) to a draw and accidentally hit D (D from Frisby for the one RL person who might read this) right in the ankle, which I feel horrible about.
Girly team got 4th, I think, but M nearly made IA cry along the way. Which is bad given he was reffing her, not fencing her. When I say mostly forgiven, I mean, I have forgiven her for me, I may never forgive her for IA. Because he is a sweetheart, if hopeless in that particularly fencing way.
So had lots of fun, even if I didn't fence particularly well, and only a limited amount of bruising. I was tired as heck afterwards mind you, and mildly zombiefied for the week after at work. I have learnt and am talking the Monday morning off this year.
For a more official write up, please see here - https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/post/ar-mem-fencing-2018
The Shropshire Open 2018
May. 8th, 2019 07:27 pmSee, I am now caught up to the start of September 2018 (eeeek!)
The actual fencing went quite well. For the first time ever I was ranked in first after the pools. Okay, so yes, it wasn't the strongest field, but only person beat me is my favourite nemesis J. (J knows I call her this and is pleased and amused at the compliment. Other people do not understand how much love and affection comes with that nickname.)
Also, for the first time ever, I beat C. And then I beat her again in the second round of pools. The reason I could do this was that she was trying this attack that has become popular with the "new" timings. You start your attack, so you have priority, but you keep your hand level with your hip as you move forward, so it's hard for the opponent to parry your blade. You force your opponent to the end of the piste and they either concede a point by stepping off, or you hit them. Now, as the opponent, there are two things you can do:
1 - counterattack, but, because of the height of the hip and the distance the other person is from you, it's hard to get the timing right. Normally, you counter-attack when you see a pause or a slight draw back, with this attack that shouldn't happen. Instead, the arm should come across, which opens up option 2.
2 - As the arm comes over, the wrist has to change direction slightly to get the point on target properly. You parry when you see that movement. It's doable but tricky. Luckily for me, training partner D had been practising it for the month beforehand so I knew what to look for and C is not as fast as D, so I stopped her each time, and enough of them were single lights that she couldn't argue the referee out of all of them. C tries to argue against single lights quite frequently, but they do help convince the ref that actually, yeah, one of use should get that point and it is not C.
Unfortunately, in what becomes a theme for the rest of the year, after doing quite well in the pools, I screw up the knockout stage.
In my defence, I have beaten the woman who knocked me out (K) precisely twice in 15 years. And I was somewhat put off by C endeavouring to maim J on the piste next door. I do not exaggerate. C punch-lunged J's knee. J crumples, my opponent, who is a doctor, has to rush over to ensure that the sports centre staff don't make it worse while they attend to J, and by the time that's over, I've lost all ability to do. Because I am a 'nana that can't focus for long periods of time.
Also of interest is the news about chest protectors. Apparently the powers that be realised that making us wear a whole layer of neoprene over our chest protectors but under our plastrons, jackets and lames was only going to lead to sweat, complaints, tears and more sweat. Instead we now have to velcro a thin sheet of it onto our chest protectors. What that does to help, I do not know, but it is better than the other alternative. It's not better than the best option, which is that people learn to fence, but no-one listens to me.
Also, annoyingly and in something I found out only at the Birmingham, it's only female foilists who have to wear this nonsense.
Even more annoyingly, despite this becoming a rule in September (2019), the BFA have publicised this barely. Like at the bottom of a page on their unnavigable website. Thankfully, J has to keep on top of this sort of thing for her bambinos and doesn't mind passing the info on.
From T we got some more interesting news. T is a ~ 16 year old, so last year of cadets. I was complaining about the lack of competitions between the Shropshire (1st week of September) and the Merseyside (3rd week of February). She was saying she should be so lucky, because she didn't have a break in the calendar until after the Merseyside, because she had to do the cadet comps, and the junior comps to prepare to be a junior next year. Which might explain why all the cadets/juniors are always knackered at the end of the season and/or injured. I have recently (again at the Birmingahm) discovered that the BFA have realised there is a problem, 5 years after everyone else, but they have realised that there is a problem, and have got someone in to try and co-ordinate the tournaments. A is lovely and the job will defeat him and somehow, I think they're going to try to avoid paying him but ... it's a start.
The actual fencing went quite well. For the first time ever I was ranked in first after the pools. Okay, so yes, it wasn't the strongest field, but only person beat me is my favourite nemesis J. (J knows I call her this and is pleased and amused at the compliment. Other people do not understand how much love and affection comes with that nickname.)
Also, for the first time ever, I beat C. And then I beat her again in the second round of pools. The reason I could do this was that she was trying this attack that has become popular with the "new" timings. You start your attack, so you have priority, but you keep your hand level with your hip as you move forward, so it's hard for the opponent to parry your blade. You force your opponent to the end of the piste and they either concede a point by stepping off, or you hit them. Now, as the opponent, there are two things you can do:
1 - counterattack, but, because of the height of the hip and the distance the other person is from you, it's hard to get the timing right. Normally, you counter-attack when you see a pause or a slight draw back, with this attack that shouldn't happen. Instead, the arm should come across, which opens up option 2.
2 - As the arm comes over, the wrist has to change direction slightly to get the point on target properly. You parry when you see that movement. It's doable but tricky. Luckily for me, training partner D had been practising it for the month beforehand so I knew what to look for and C is not as fast as D, so I stopped her each time, and enough of them were single lights that she couldn't argue the referee out of all of them. C tries to argue against single lights quite frequently, but they do help convince the ref that actually, yeah, one of use should get that point and it is not C.
Unfortunately, in what becomes a theme for the rest of the year, after doing quite well in the pools, I screw up the knockout stage.
In my defence, I have beaten the woman who knocked me out (K) precisely twice in 15 years. And I was somewhat put off by C endeavouring to maim J on the piste next door. I do not exaggerate. C punch-lunged J's knee. J crumples, my opponent, who is a doctor, has to rush over to ensure that the sports centre staff don't make it worse while they attend to J, and by the time that's over, I've lost all ability to do. Because I am a 'nana that can't focus for long periods of time.
Also of interest is the news about chest protectors. Apparently the powers that be realised that making us wear a whole layer of neoprene over our chest protectors but under our plastrons, jackets and lames was only going to lead to sweat, complaints, tears and more sweat. Instead we now have to velcro a thin sheet of it onto our chest protectors. What that does to help, I do not know, but it is better than the other alternative. It's not better than the best option, which is that people learn to fence, but no-one listens to me.
Also, annoyingly and in something I found out only at the Birmingham, it's only female foilists who have to wear this nonsense.
Even more annoyingly, despite this becoming a rule in September (2019), the BFA have publicised this barely. Like at the bottom of a page on their unnavigable website. Thankfully, J has to keep on top of this sort of thing for her bambinos and doesn't mind passing the info on.
From T we got some more interesting news. T is a ~ 16 year old, so last year of cadets. I was complaining about the lack of competitions between the Shropshire (1st week of September) and the Merseyside (3rd week of February). She was saying she should be so lucky, because she didn't have a break in the calendar until after the Merseyside, because she had to do the cadet comps, and the junior comps to prepare to be a junior next year. Which might explain why all the cadets/juniors are always knackered at the end of the season and/or injured. I have recently (again at the Birmingahm) discovered that the BFA have realised there is a problem, 5 years after everyone else, but they have realised that there is a problem, and have got someone in to try and co-ordinate the tournaments. A is lovely and the job will defeat him and somehow, I think they're going to try to avoid paying him but ... it's a start.
Leicester Open
May. 14th, 2018 08:25 pmSo the week after the Birmingham I did the Leicester. Which I recommend if you're a fencer looking for a fun little competition.
Most especially if you're a female foilist who likes to sleep in, because the women's foil only started at 2.00, so, even with Sunday trains, I had plenty of time to get my act together and get to Leicester, even if I slept till 10.
It didn't mean there weren't any problems. I got to New Street on time, but the train was in the wrong place. Cue an entire train's worth of people running down the platform alongside a moving train as the driver encouraged us to go faster. Managed to get the train, despite all of the above and got to the competition in plenty of time.
In the first pool I got awkward leftie from the Birmingham Open, a Veteran with GB stripes, an Italian and the very good foilist I rescued when they were horribly lost at the Birmingham. I beat the leftie by being short and awkward in turn. I lost to the good foilist, which was fine, beat the GB vet because we had a good ref and the rules for when an attack starts and ends have changed (5 years ago, but the Vets hate the new rules, and I agree with them but thems the rules). She was not happy. And when I say not happy, I mean, was complaining about it to the other vet who was present. I enjoy annoying stripes!
The Italian does this very Italian thing with her footwork, and when it goes relative to her hand. It's genius, because the hand is going forward, so it is an attack, but the actual arm extension is after the foot movement so, if you're not expecting it, you parry when the foot goes, miss their attack completely, and then you've been hit. Luckily for me, I have trained with an Italian so I know what's going on. So, I somehow beat the Italian.
At this point, certain things are becoming apparent. 1 - I am having a good day. 2 - I am having a lucky day. 3 - Because I am a counter-attacking fencer having a lucky day, that means everyone is hitting me off-target. My upper arm already begins to resemble a pincushion.
Somehow, I am joint 5th after the pools.
Here the Leicester do something weird. They take the top x (6 for the men, 5 for the women) and have them fight off in their own pool, and then take the remaining fencers and divide them up into to pools as they would normally. When the fencers have fenced, the top x are seeded 1 - x, and then the rest fill in from x+1 from the second round of pools.
Anyone else confused? Luckily I had J to explain it to me. Three times. Slowly. (Ahem) The concept is apparently called a shark pool. I therefore, to the amusement of various people, I dubbed my pool "the manta ray pool". We're not as bitey as sharks!
Unfortunately, I got J in my second pool, and then 3 bambinos.
J fences very much like a bambino, very fast, very direct, very I am going to hit you. The problem was her timing was off and she was bringing her arm back in the attack. Which I told her when we were warming up together. You see why I hate fighting her.
The 3 bambinos were, I'd say, second-rank bambinos. All the excellent bambinos were away at the World Championships, and the Leicester is only a small open. The second level of the youth of today is very aggressive (on piste, off piste they're lovely) but has no point control. And my style works excellently against fast-with-no-point-control.
For the first time ever, I win all my fights in a pool!!!
You know those days when it goes right?! It was one of those.
My right arm, my right thigh and, somewhat perplexingly, my left thigh are all thoroughly bruised, because my style does involve me getting hit.
One of said bambinos asks me for advice afterwards, so I say to her I will tell her once I am knocked out, because I know how my luck goes. Which she completely accepts.
I'll let you all guess who I got in my knock out match. ... Which I won by the skin of my teeth because she twigged most of what I was going to tell her mid-match. Also at great cost to my little finger, which took a direct hit at the bottom and is still tender a month later (don't worry, not broken, I just heal slowly and, as I said, full force to find). Luckily I use a pistol grip which are designed to be used without the little finger.
I got the regulation 15 to get an ice pack, catch my breath and prepare for the next match. I could have had 150 minutes and I wouldn't have been ready. That particular youth of today was fast and had point control. Plus was about half of me wide, and her normal attack landed right in my lower left quadrant, which I am not used to having to defend at my height. It gives me something to work on for next time. Because there will be a next time (insert Dr. Claw laugh here).
So me and my bruises wended our way home after a solid day's work ranked 6th out of 15 at a competition.
Result!
There has since been a slight snafu with the rankings for the competition, but I have been promised it will be sorted.
Most especially if you're a female foilist who likes to sleep in, because the women's foil only started at 2.00, so, even with Sunday trains, I had plenty of time to get my act together and get to Leicester, even if I slept till 10.
It didn't mean there weren't any problems. I got to New Street on time, but the train was in the wrong place. Cue an entire train's worth of people running down the platform alongside a moving train as the driver encouraged us to go faster. Managed to get the train, despite all of the above and got to the competition in plenty of time.
In the first pool I got awkward leftie from the Birmingham Open, a Veteran with GB stripes, an Italian and the very good foilist I rescued when they were horribly lost at the Birmingham. I beat the leftie by being short and awkward in turn. I lost to the good foilist, which was fine, beat the GB vet because we had a good ref and the rules for when an attack starts and ends have changed (5 years ago, but the Vets hate the new rules, and I agree with them but thems the rules). She was not happy. And when I say not happy, I mean, was complaining about it to the other vet who was present. I enjoy annoying stripes!
The Italian does this very Italian thing with her footwork, and when it goes relative to her hand. It's genius, because the hand is going forward, so it is an attack, but the actual arm extension is after the foot movement so, if you're not expecting it, you parry when the foot goes, miss their attack completely, and then you've been hit. Luckily for me, I have trained with an Italian so I know what's going on. So, I somehow beat the Italian.
At this point, certain things are becoming apparent. 1 - I am having a good day. 2 - I am having a lucky day. 3 - Because I am a counter-attacking fencer having a lucky day, that means everyone is hitting me off-target. My upper arm already begins to resemble a pincushion.
Somehow, I am joint 5th after the pools.
Here the Leicester do something weird. They take the top x (6 for the men, 5 for the women) and have them fight off in their own pool, and then take the remaining fencers and divide them up into to pools as they would normally. When the fencers have fenced, the top x are seeded 1 - x, and then the rest fill in from x+1 from the second round of pools.
Anyone else confused? Luckily I had J to explain it to me. Three times. Slowly. (Ahem) The concept is apparently called a shark pool. I therefore, to the amusement of various people, I dubbed my pool "the manta ray pool". We're not as bitey as sharks!
Unfortunately, I got J in my second pool, and then 3 bambinos.
J fences very much like a bambino, very fast, very direct, very I am going to hit you. The problem was her timing was off and she was bringing her arm back in the attack. Which I told her when we were warming up together. You see why I hate fighting her.
The 3 bambinos were, I'd say, second-rank bambinos. All the excellent bambinos were away at the World Championships, and the Leicester is only a small open. The second level of the youth of today is very aggressive (on piste, off piste they're lovely) but has no point control. And my style works excellently against fast-with-no-point-control.
For the first time ever, I win all my fights in a pool!!!
You know those days when it goes right?! It was one of those.
My right arm, my right thigh and, somewhat perplexingly, my left thigh are all thoroughly bruised, because my style does involve me getting hit.
One of said bambinos asks me for advice afterwards, so I say to her I will tell her once I am knocked out, because I know how my luck goes. Which she completely accepts.
I'll let you all guess who I got in my knock out match. ... Which I won by the skin of my teeth because she twigged most of what I was going to tell her mid-match. Also at great cost to my little finger, which took a direct hit at the bottom and is still tender a month later (don't worry, not broken, I just heal slowly and, as I said, full force to find). Luckily I use a pistol grip which are designed to be used without the little finger.
I got the regulation 15 to get an ice pack, catch my breath and prepare for the next match. I could have had 150 minutes and I wouldn't have been ready. That particular youth of today was fast and had point control. Plus was about half of me wide, and her normal attack landed right in my lower left quadrant, which I am not used to having to defend at my height. It gives me something to work on for next time. Because there will be a next time (insert Dr. Claw laugh here).
So me and my bruises wended our way home after a solid day's work ranked 6th out of 15 at a competition.
Result!
There has since been a slight snafu with the rankings for the competition, but I have been promised it will be sorted.
Easter Weekend
Apr. 25th, 2018 10:47 pmMy Easter weekend went interestingly.
I had, by semi-accident, got the Thursday before Good Friday booked off. (I had annual leave left over from last year that had to be used up before the end of March. I hadn't realised that the end of March was Good Thursday, as it were.)
I went to the cinema to watch Black Panther (which I enjoyed, see previously). When I came out of the cinema and headed to the train station and ran into my section head. And thankfully amused her when I said I hoped co-worker C had put my leave in the departmental calendar (which I didn't realise you had to do because, although I <3 my boss, he, like me, has a forgetory instead of a memory). Luckily, C had.
Friday I got talked into helping set up for the Birmingham. Actually, that's unfair. I've promised to try to help out before but now that I finally have a job where I am not expected to work Good Friday so I actually did it this time. 5 hours later, I got to go home.
It wasn't *quite* as bad as I make it sound. I got to meet up with N, who has shredded his Achilies fencing. The exact description was that it felt like something hit the back of his leg, he thought it was a mask, he looked down, saw nothing, took a step and then pain.
The next day was women's foil. I fenced ... badly. I would like to blame the fact that I was having a three-pad bleeder of a day, but I suspect I would have lost horribly. Just not that horribly ;)
I did win one match, against what I can only describe as an awkward leftie. Lefties come in 4 flavours, "awkward good," "awkward bad", "classical style good" and "classical style bad". "Awkward bad" get a lot further in competitions than they ought to because they're just so damned awkward. This particular awkward bad has potential of being good, but at the same time, can be beaten by short, pesky and pokey. And I am nothing if those three things. So I actually beat her, admittedly also because I turned into a rage beast. Anyone who says you can't win angry just don't know how to use their anger properly.
Got knocked out in the second round (right tactics, poor execution, something I can work on, also, you know, I got 6 on the 22nd ranked in the country so you know, it could be worse), and finished 3 hits short of points. Oh if only I had fenced better!!!
As I was cooling down, I was wearing my hoodie, and apparently stomping enough that one of my friends called me "mini-Hulk". I tried to claim I was nothing like, which he granted, by saying, "no, I was more like Bruce Banner three seconds before he turns into the Hulk!" With friends like that ...
Trying to gain reassurance from another friend, I was told it was the way I walked. Apparently, I look like a cowboy after a long day in the saddle. Both of them were informed that they should watch it, I have swords.
The day after, when I finally got up, because I was cream-crackered, I went to help pack up. Which is another three hours of my life I won't get back, but that time I was at least fed and watered. I am easy to please.
Bank Holiday Monday, I did my usual thing of sushi and a film. The film was "Isle of Dogs." How much you like it depends on how much you like Wes Anderson. I found it slightly too Wes Anderson for me, a friend who hates him couldn't stand it and a friend who loves him thought it was great.
I had, by semi-accident, got the Thursday before Good Friday booked off. (I had annual leave left over from last year that had to be used up before the end of March. I hadn't realised that the end of March was Good Thursday, as it were.)
I went to the cinema to watch Black Panther (which I enjoyed, see previously). When I came out of the cinema and headed to the train station and ran into my section head. And thankfully amused her when I said I hoped co-worker C had put my leave in the departmental calendar (which I didn't realise you had to do because, although I <3 my boss, he, like me, has a forgetory instead of a memory). Luckily, C had.
Friday I got talked into helping set up for the Birmingham. Actually, that's unfair. I've promised to try to help out before but now that I finally have a job where I am not expected to work Good Friday so I actually did it this time. 5 hours later, I got to go home.
It wasn't *quite* as bad as I make it sound. I got to meet up with N, who has shredded his Achilies fencing. The exact description was that it felt like something hit the back of his leg, he thought it was a mask, he looked down, saw nothing, took a step and then pain.
The next day was women's foil. I fenced ... badly. I would like to blame the fact that I was having a three-pad bleeder of a day, but I suspect I would have lost horribly. Just not that horribly ;)
I did win one match, against what I can only describe as an awkward leftie. Lefties come in 4 flavours, "awkward good," "awkward bad", "classical style good" and "classical style bad". "Awkward bad" get a lot further in competitions than they ought to because they're just so damned awkward. This particular awkward bad has potential of being good, but at the same time, can be beaten by short, pesky and pokey. And I am nothing if those three things. So I actually beat her, admittedly also because I turned into a rage beast. Anyone who says you can't win angry just don't know how to use their anger properly.
Got knocked out in the second round (right tactics, poor execution, something I can work on, also, you know, I got 6 on the 22nd ranked in the country so you know, it could be worse), and finished 3 hits short of points. Oh if only I had fenced better!!!
As I was cooling down, I was wearing my hoodie, and apparently stomping enough that one of my friends called me "mini-Hulk". I tried to claim I was nothing like, which he granted, by saying, "no, I was more like Bruce Banner three seconds before he turns into the Hulk!" With friends like that ...
Trying to gain reassurance from another friend, I was told it was the way I walked. Apparently, I look like a cowboy after a long day in the saddle. Both of them were informed that they should watch it, I have swords.
The day after, when I finally got up, because I was cream-crackered, I went to help pack up. Which is another three hours of my life I won't get back, but that time I was at least fed and watered. I am easy to please.
Bank Holiday Monday, I did my usual thing of sushi and a film. The film was "Isle of Dogs." How much you like it depends on how much you like Wes Anderson. I found it slightly too Wes Anderson for me, a friend who hates him couldn't stand it and a friend who loves him thought it was great.
First a rant: There is precisely one other female foilist at my club.
She refuses to fence me. It is most frustrating. I need girlie foilist practise.
I can think of 3 reasons why this might be, none of which are good (or indeed accurate).
1 - She thinks she's enough better than me that she doesn't need to. Which she isn't. I mean, she beats me when we don't have a ref, but when we have a ref, it becomes a different result, shall we say. I don't mind when J doesn't fence me, because, yeah, he gets nothing out of our matches, but she's not enough better than me to get nothing out of it. [J is forgiven. He fenced me. I nearly hit him this time. I think D explained that I am useful flicking practise.]
2 - That I hit too hard. Which I don't think I do. I mean, I've never had any complaints, and I'm constantly apologising in case I do and get told to shut up because I don't. So I am going to presume that's not it.
3 - She just doesn't like losing (to women). Which is possible. Because it's noticeable that she only does sabre when her little sister isn't there, and she never does epee (because the two girl epeeists are 4th and 15th in the country and she would have no chance). And I'm like, I don't care. I will throw points her way if it makes her happy. I literally just need female speed and distance practise. Please!
Second, a competition:
So I did the Liverpool or whatever it's called this year.
My pool went very, very well, won 3, lost 1. In defence of one of the people I beat, C had a pulled intercostal so breathing was bit of an issue. Which is really the only reason why I beat her for the first time ever. Even knowing that, it is still a little disconcerting when your opponent starts clutching her chest in the middle of a bout.
She's fine. Well she has a dislocated and broken little finger (not me, one of the bambinos who shall be S the destroyer forever more) but she has not keeled over.
It was one of those competitions. Someone else has a self-inflicted sore palm when she fell over her own feet onto her foil guard (in short, ouch) and someone else fell over backwards twice.
The girl who fell over a lot came second, but oddly, I beat her in our pool match. I think it was because she'd told me she was actually an epeeist and that I have learnt to fencing with cunning and guile in my old age.
Knockout match went less well, finished up losing 4-15 or 5-15 (ref was very quick to turn the scoreboard off and the full results aren't up yet [actually I've just had an idea who I can ask]). I don't mind, A is very good and is off to fence on the World Cup circuit after Easter. (I'll get her next time ;) )
She refuses to fence me. It is most frustrating. I need girlie foilist practise.
I can think of 3 reasons why this might be, none of which are good (or indeed accurate).
1 - She thinks she's enough better than me that she doesn't need to. Which she isn't. I mean, she beats me when we don't have a ref, but when we have a ref, it becomes a different result, shall we say. I don't mind when J doesn't fence me, because, yeah, he gets nothing out of our matches, but she's not enough better than me to get nothing out of it. [J is forgiven. He fenced me. I nearly hit him this time. I think D explained that I am useful flicking practise.]
2 - That I hit too hard. Which I don't think I do. I mean, I've never had any complaints, and I'm constantly apologising in case I do and get told to shut up because I don't. So I am going to presume that's not it.
3 - She just doesn't like losing (to women). Which is possible. Because it's noticeable that she only does sabre when her little sister isn't there, and she never does epee (because the two girl epeeists are 4th and 15th in the country and she would have no chance). And I'm like, I don't care. I will throw points her way if it makes her happy. I literally just need female speed and distance practise. Please!
Second, a competition:
So I did the Liverpool or whatever it's called this year.
My pool went very, very well, won 3, lost 1. In defence of one of the people I beat, C had a pulled intercostal so breathing was bit of an issue. Which is really the only reason why I beat her for the first time ever. Even knowing that, it is still a little disconcerting when your opponent starts clutching her chest in the middle of a bout.
She's fine. Well she has a dislocated and broken little finger (not me, one of the bambinos who shall be S the destroyer forever more) but she has not keeled over.
It was one of those competitions. Someone else has a self-inflicted sore palm when she fell over her own feet onto her foil guard (in short, ouch) and someone else fell over backwards twice.
The girl who fell over a lot came second, but oddly, I beat her in our pool match. I think it was because she'd told me she was actually an epeeist and that I have learnt to fencing with cunning and guile in my old age.
Knockout match went less well, finished up losing 4-15 or 5-15 (ref was very quick to turn the scoreboard off and the full results aren't up yet [actually I've just had an idea who I can ask]). I don't mind, A is very good and is off to fence on the World Cup circuit after Easter. (I'll get her next time ;) )
As part of "yay I have a job and a life again" I have been fencing. The sad lack of competitions anywhere I can get to has meant I hadn't competed since the Shropshire (where I got no points). But the MOFT was on, and I always do the MOFT, so off I went.
Now, the MOFT had a tiny problem this year - I was not the only person coming back from an absence so there were a bunch of people with no ranking that normally had one so the pools were gleefully wonky.
The first pool went well. I won 2 and lost 3, but one of those losses was the best I'd fenced for a long while. One of the wins was over bambino from awkward London club, who I only beat because I am old, sneaky and evil.
Cue the near endless wait for the second round of pools. And me wailing when it did get called. Mostly mock wailing, because the entry level was good enough that I would have had a difficult pool no matter what. It was a very difficult pool. But fun. Lots of fast people, lots of swordfighting. I even managed to win one match!
Anyway, after that I was drawn against [name redacted but the same as a famous monster]. I asked K, who is from the same reason as [redacted], for advice, information and the usual. K comes out with "she's the one who dislocated my knee, but don't worry."
Now I knew how it happened, but I did wonder how do you dislocate someone's knee with a foil! Now I know. My knee is fine, don't worry, but I've got one hell of bruise, right where K's knee would be. But yes, that could have been painful. I lost, not just because of that, but I finished in the points anyway (because they actually marked the mid-tournament abandon as an abandon, not a scratch, because the MOFT organisers know what they're doing).
So yes. It could have gone better but I am pleased with my result.
Now, the MOFT had a tiny problem this year - I was not the only person coming back from an absence so there were a bunch of people with no ranking that normally had one so the pools were gleefully wonky.
The first pool went well. I won 2 and lost 3, but one of those losses was the best I'd fenced for a long while. One of the wins was over bambino from awkward London club, who I only beat because I am old, sneaky and evil.
Cue the near endless wait for the second round of pools. And me wailing when it did get called. Mostly mock wailing, because the entry level was good enough that I would have had a difficult pool no matter what. It was a very difficult pool. But fun. Lots of fast people, lots of swordfighting. I even managed to win one match!
Anyway, after that I was drawn against [name redacted but the same as a famous monster]. I asked K, who is from the same reason as [redacted], for advice, information and the usual. K comes out with "she's the one who dislocated my knee, but don't worry."
Now I knew how it happened, but I did wonder how do you dislocate someone's knee with a foil! Now I know. My knee is fine, don't worry, but I've got one hell of bruise, right where K's knee would be. But yes, that could have been painful. I lost, not just because of that, but I finished in the points anyway (because they actually marked the mid-tournament abandon as an abandon, not a scratch, because the MOFT organisers know what they're doing).
So yes. It could have gone better but I am pleased with my result.
