THRUST AND CUT
The E-Newsletter of Salle Green
No. 2007-2

30 March 2007

1.  SALLE OPEN TIMES THIS WEEKEND:  It is tax time, and we will have restricted hours this weekend to help get our books in final order.  We will not be open on Saturday.  We will be open for open fencing on Sunday 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, but our historical class will not meet at 1:00.  We will be back on a normal schedule on Monday.

2.  CENTRAL VIRGINIA AFL WEBSITE:  The Central Virginia Division of the American Fencing League now has its website up and operational at http://www.centralvirginiafencing.org/.

3.  ON TIME STARTS:  We have made some changes in the format of our intermediate classes - it is essential that students be on time and be ready to start at the posted start time for the class.  If you wander in, unready to fence, and take 15 minutes to get your gear together and on, you will not be ready to learn.  It is discourteous to your fellow fencers, it is discourteous to the Maitre, it is a waste of your money, and it is a waste of the Maitre's time in trying to prepare you as a fencer.  Be on time. 

4.  NEXT AFL MEET:  The next American Fencing League meet at the Salle will be a Foil Meet on 15 April, followed by a 1 Touch Epee Meet on 22 April.  Start times will be on time at 10:00.  FRED registration will be up next week - search for AFL in the tournament name search box.

THRUST AND CUT
The E-Newsletter of Salle Green
No. 2007-1

10 March 2007

1.  CONGRATULATIONS TO COLBERT AND ARCHER:  Brett Colbert (epee) and Sam Archer (sabre) entered their first electric competition on 4 March, the United States Fencing Association’s Virginia Division Youth Qualifiers for the Summer Nationals.  This was a tough competition with a number of fencers holding Cs, Ds, and Es in both weapons entered.  Both Brett and Sam scored touches, and each won one bout in their pools – Brett won his first direct elimination bout in Youth 14 Epee, finishing 8th in a field of 12.  Very well done for the first time out for both.

2.  CONGRATULATIONS TO COURTNEY PROTHERO:  Courtney is now fencing in Charlotte, North Carolina.  In her first epee tournament in the North Carolina Division she earned her E and placed highest of the women entered.

3.  AMERICAN FENCING LEAGUE SABRE MEET:  The Central Virginia Division of the American Fencing League will host an open dry sabre meet at Salle Green on Sunday, 18 March, starting at 10:00 am.  Entry fee is $2.00.  American Fencing League membership is required – ask for an application form in the Salle.  Preregistration using FRED is required (no preregistration means no fencing).  Even if you are not a sabre fencer we will need judges, scorekeeper, and timekeeper, so do not hesitate to come and help.  The Salle will be open for normal open fencing following the conclusion of the meet, and we expect no disruption to our 1:00 sword and buckler class.  To preregister go to: http://askfred.net/Events/Prereg/prereg.php?tournament_id=3550

4.  ARE YOU USING YOUR E-FACTOR?  Each month we post a list of how many bouts you have fenced in practice in the Salle, the number won, and touches scored and received.  These are used to compute an E-Factor, a measure of how efficient you are in winning practice bouts.  The more bouts you fence and win the higher the score, and the better your ratio of scored to received the higher the score.  At this point in the season scores for competitive fencers should be in the 100 range each month – for recreational fencers any number is acceptable, but the higher the more dangerous you are to your opponents.  By watching your numbers each month, you have a good idea of how you are progressing.

5.  SALLE THREE WEAPON POINT CHAMPIONSHIPS:  We also post regularly the current point totals for our Salle Annual Three Weapon Championships.  You earn 1 point for last place in any competition (Salle, including the ladder, American Fencing League, or United States Fencing Association), and 1 more point for each place above last.  The fencer with the most points on 1 August wins the Three Weapon Point Championships.

6.   THE ONE THOUSANDTH LESSON:  Not actually lesson number 1000, but lesson 1000 since we have been using our current tracking system, was taught in Classical Foil on 3 January to Linda Barrett.

7.  YES, PENNIES COUNT:  In the long term planning for the new Salle we have identified a wide range of things that we will need to complete the building and its outfitting.  For example, a scoring machine (and we will need at least 4 more) is approximately $400, an overhead reel system
approximately $250, a rack for weight sets costs …  We have a box on the counter for pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollar pieces, etc., and a number of members have been dropping in bits of spare change.  Every penny literally makes a difference in helping to furnish your new fencing home
– and every penny is appreciated.

8.  LADDER RESULTS:  The November-January Ladder was not as hotly contested as some previous ladder tournaments, with the exception of the Classical Foilists who fought a full series of bouts, with the lead changing several times.  Final results were:

CLASSICAL FOIL: 1st John Shields, 2nd Brian Ainley, 3rd Linda Barrett
SABRE: 1st Austin Ivey, 2nd Sam Archer, 3rd Ryan Pellegrino
EPEE: 1st Joseph Iaquinto, 2nd Pat Norman, 3rd James McMath
1 TOUCH EPEE: 1st Pat Norman. 2nd Brett Colbert, 3rd Minta Smith

9.  NEW CLASSICAL RANKS:  Congratulations to Linda Barrett for being the first Salle member to earn Classical Foil Rank 4, and to Kathleen McKenna for earning Rank 3.  Brian Ainley and Jarrett Revels earned Rank 1 in Classical Foil.

10.  JANUARY BEGINNERS CLASS:  Conor Ginnell, Tiffany Mondilo, and Gabe Rush successfully completed the January Beginners Class at the end of February.  Welcome to the world of fencing!

11.  SURVEY:  In your mail box at the Salle is a general survey – we would greatly appreciate your completing and returning it.  Your input is very important to us, and to making sure that the Salle continues to develop its programs to meet your fencing needs.

12.  INTERESTED IN THE AFL CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS YEAR?  We have a couple of fencers who have expressed an interest in competing in the American Fencing League's dry championships.  It means a trip across country and additional training, but if you are interested let Maitre Green know.
 

c.  All bouts are 5 touch – electric or dry is at the discretion of the two fencers.

d.  Referees and judges will be used when available.