John Burris, Ashley Easterling, Richard Easterling, Mark Mason, David Molands, Connor Pratt, Kevin Pratt, and Josh Young completed our September-October Beginner's Class on Tuesday, 20 October.  In the direct elimination class tournament, Kevin Pratt placed 1st and David Molands placed 2nd.  Welcome to the exciting world of fencing, and we look forward to seeing each of you in Salle classes and in open fencing.  

On 17 October Salle Green sent the first large team of fencers to a United States Fencing Association tournament since the 2006 Summer Nationals.  We had David Dimmett (placed 2nd) and Connor Speidell (placed 3rd) in Youth 10 Epee; Jordyn Wade (placed 11th) in Youth 14 Sabre; Hallie Blevins (placed 6th) in Youth 14 Women's Foil; and Brandon Hiner (placed 13th) in Youth 14 Men's Foil.  Brett Colbert did a first rate job of providing support and coaching for the fencers.  This was the first time out in electric competition for all of our fencers and was an excellent learning experience.  David Dimmett and Connor Speidell qualified for the North American Cup circuit event in April in Virginia Beach and for the Summer Nationals. 

Three Salle members completed the Moniteur 1 Workshop for professional fencing coaches held by the Pan American Fencing Academy and hosted by Salle Green on 10 October: Lucienne Cassinera-White, Pat Norman, and Dan Ramsey.  This 8 hour workshop covered the fencing skills Moniteurs are expected to be able to teach, the warm-up and footwork portions of the lesson, and the construction of drills.  The second workshop in the Moniteur series will be held at Salle Green on 5 December.  

The United States Fencing Coaches Association has renewed the Salle's designation as a Guild Academy for the 2009-2010 season.  Guild Academy status recognizes the quality of the coaching staff and a commitment to ethical coaching and business practices. Salle Green is the only Guild Academy south of New Jersey and north of Atlanta, and is one of 7 clubs so recognized nationally.

The Salle Weblog (or Blog) is linked from this newsletter and is also linked  in the links column on the left side of our website front page.  Each week we are posting the weekly foot and handwork exercises for your practice between sessions - these are mandatory if you want to improve as a fencer.  We are also posting the weekly strength workout.  So use the Blog to be better informed about what is happening in the Salle and to train to be a better fencer. 

3 October 2009 - Second Annual Big Blue Open in Durham, North Carolina:
 
12 September 2009 - Virginia Division US Fencing Association Kickoff Open:

Amelia Steel, the 4H Fencing Club in Amelia, will be hosting a Fence Dry youth tournament on 14 November, starting at 9:00 am.  Watch for further details.