Australian National Rankings 2011


The National Rankings for 2011 are updated.

Link to AFF ausfencing.org 



Rule Change


The FIE has announced a change of regulation to the ruling 

t.28.1            If a competitor crosses one the lateral boundaries of the piste, they must step back one metre from the point where they left the piste; and if they go off the piste during an attack they must return to the position they occupied when they started their attack and then step back a further metre

[but cf t.29 still remains] A competitor who involuntarily crosses one of the boundaries of the strip as the result of any accidental cause (such as jostling) incurs no penalty whatever.



World Championships Change


The FIE has announced that the World Championships date will be changing timeslot from season 2012/13 onwards: to a window between July 15th – August 15th.

This will ultimately change the calendar in Fencing in various ways.

It may change Australian Fencing schedules…

Keep an eye out for updates…



Australian National Champions 2011


Following on the tradition of the National Champion questionsairre, the 6 2011 Champions kindly contributed some answer following their Championship win.

“The Sword Fighter Dozen”

Australian 2011 National Men’s Foil Champion: Steven Glaister.

1: How long have you been Fencing? What made you start?

A: I started fencing when I was seven years old but I did not join a fencing club until I was nine.  My father Steven Snr who is an ex-Olympic team member, a British National coach and FIE foil referee started giving me lessons at home with a plastic epee I bought at a local toy shop.  He told me that I could join the club when I was bigger and stronger so I didnt get to join until I was nine. 

2: How long have you been Competing at National level? 

A: I started competing nationally when I was thirteen. Back in the UK there is a big national circuit. I would be travelling all over the UK throughout the year, from London to Edinburgh, Essex to Cardiff.  My father would be refereeing at these competitions so it wasn’t a hassle for he to drive me around everywhere…two birds with one stone, you might say.

 

3: What made you choose your weapon? 

 

A: I have always fenced foil, Manchester fencing club where I trained at back home has always had a good number of decent foilist so I have never been interested in the other weapons to be honest.

 

4: Where is your favourite place to fence or to train?

 

A: Since arriving in Melbourne I have trained at North Melbourne Fencing Salle on Arden St. I found that the atmosphere at the Salle is great, and a home from home for me.  The people training there made me feel welcome as soon as I arrived. The facilities are fantastic and theres always someone willing to spar with.  

 

5: How important have a coach and training partners been to you? 

 

A: Very important. I was lucky enough to have two great coaches. Both ex-Olympic team members and both with great insight into the sport. I wouldn’t be the fencer I am today if it wasnt for the fantastic coaching I had from them, Robert Kiss and my father Steve Snr. And also I have always had tough training partners to spar with not only at Manchester Fencing Club. I was accepted onto the British National Cadet Squad when I was 15 years old so spent time training with the best of my age regularly at training camps throughout the years.

 

6: What are your ambitions for 2012? work / training / competition?

 

A: I am just going to continue my winning streek of gold medals and train for the next competition in the new year.  I have been lucky enough to have the opperunity to assist in the coaching of  some very talented young individuals on a tuesday evening with the Victorian state squad coach which allows me to improve on my coaching skills so I am very happy at the minute with what is happening in my fencing life and hope it continues throughout 2012.

 

7: Who if anyone have you modeled your fencing on? Or do you have a favourite Fencer ( Internationally) ? 

 

A: In all honestly I have never though about it. I just fence the way I do and thats that. I would say I probably fence like a mixture between my two coaches.  I dont really watch a fencer to see their technique, I just look for their flaws and how I would beat them.

 

8: What are your future ambitions? 

 

A: My ambition is to be able to continue on my path to represent Australia internationally in the future.  I have a few years to wait and a few hurdles to jump but hopefully it will happen.

 

9: What difference if any did this national event have to others?

 

A: I havn’t had much experience of the national competitions so far. I have only been to two. I thought that they where both well run and great venues however, the Canberra venue was fantastic.  The finals piste rivalled any international I have been to.  But at the end of the day where ever you are, you always spend all day in a sweaty sports hall hoping to be the last man standing even though you want to leave as soon as possible.

 

10: What is your weekly training Regime?

 

A: I try to train three times a week. I never used to, back in the UK I trained tuesday and thursday evenings.  There are more competitions on a regular basis back home though, so I would be competing every other weekend at some points of the year.  Whilst being here I train monday, tuesday and wednesday evening.  It seems to be enough at the minute.

 

11: What advice would you give future Australian champions? 

 

A: Enjoy what you are doing, make sure you enjoy yourself when you train/compete and  be open to constructive critisism from your coach.  Remember there is always room to improve and fence someone who is better so just work hard.

 

12: What do you think should happen to / in Australian fencing?

 

A: I dont think I’ve been around Australian Fencing for long enough to comment on that. Maybe ask me next year when I win the Nationals again….;)

 

 Thanks so much Stephen. Good luck for 2012…..




Australian National Champions 2011


Following on the tradition of the National Champion questionsairre, the 6 2011 Champions kindly contributed some answers following their Championship win.

“The Sword Fighter Dozen”

Australian 2011 National Mens Sabre Champion: James Walsh

1: How long have you been Fencing? What made you start?

A: I started fencing when I was 11.  I just wanted to try something different. A sport that not many people I knew had tried.

2: How long have you been Competing at National level?

A: I’ve been fencing at the National level for 10 years.  I started doing U15 National Champs in 2001.

3: What made you choose your weapon?

A: I prefer Sabre because it is the fastest, but also the most technical of all the weapons, in my opinion anyway.

4: Where is your favourite place to fence or to train?

A: I love fencing and training in Italy. The last two years we have been fortunate enough to train with the Italian National Sabre Sqaud in Rome. That has been amazing.

5: How important have a coach and training partners been to you?

A: I could not continue to improve without my coach, Antonio Signorello or without my training partners.  I have been very lucky to be able to train with Antonio and the squad he has assembled.  

6: What are your ambitions for 2012? work / training / competition?

A: I will continue to train and early in 2012, will travel to Europe with the Australian Mens Sabre Team to compete in 3 World Cups and hopefully be able to improve my International ranking. I am a small chance to qualify for the Olympics and of course that would be a dream, but at this stage my main focus is just on continuing to improve my fencing.

7: Who if anyone have you modeled your fencing on? Or do you have a favourite Fencer ( nternationally)?

A: I have not modeled my fencing on any one fencer in particular, but the fencer I most admire is Nicholas Limbach (GER Olympic Silver medalist ed).  I was fortunate enough to train along with him and the rest of the German team when they came to a camp in Rome.  His total comprehension of every element in Sabre and his level of skill in every facet of the sport are quite amazing. (James fenced Nicholas in the World Champs D/E at the recent World Champs in the round of 64. ed).

8: What are your future ambitions?

A: My ambitions are to continue to improve Australia’s standing internationally and hopefully start to make 32’s, 16’s and 8’s and so on at World Cups, Asian Championships and World Championships.

9: What difference if any did this national event have to others?

A: Every national event is different, depending on the size of the comp, who is fencing and how the draw ends up, but I try to approach each comp, each bout and every point as exactly the same.  Doesn’t matter who is on the other end.  I just need to fence my game and work hard for every hit, whether it is in the poules or a final.  

10: What is your weekly training Regime?

 A: I train Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are fencing sessions focusing on bouting.  Thursday and Fridays are generally just for lessons with Antonio.  Saturday mornings are gym sessions.

11:  What advice would you give future Australian champions?

A: Training cannot be approached in the abstract.  Everything you do in training has to have a purpose that will come through in your fencing during a competition.  Never just train absentmindedly without considering what you are doing and why.

12: What do you think should happen to / in Australian fencing?

A: I think Australian fencing is on the right track.  In the last few years a number of changes have been made that have already benefitted all of Australian fencing.  I would like to see this trend continue and Australian fencing continue to modernise and change for the better.

Thanks so much James..good luck for 2012.



Australian National Champions 2011


Following on the tradition of the National Champion questionsairre, the 6 2011 Champions kindly contributed some answers following their Championship win.

“The Sword Fighter Dozen”

Australian 2011 National Womens Foil Champion: Emma Ryan 

1: How long have you been Fencing? What made you start?

A: My Dad was a fencer. I started fencing when I was 11 in England, I fenced until I was 17.  My club disbanded and I lived too far away from a place to train so I stopped.  I took up fencing again about 5 years ago when I moved to Melbourne. 

2: How long have you been Competing at National level?

A: 2 years as a cadet in England and 5 years as a Senior in Australia.

3: What made you choose your weapon?

A: Difficult question as I swapped from Foil to Epee about 2 1/2 years ago, but still cant resist the urge to pick up a Foil.

4: Where is your favourite place to fence or to train?

A: I dont think its the venue thats important its the people with whom I train. I fence alongside some great fencers and some close friends.

5: How important have a coach and training partners been to you?

A: My coach will be bemused that I did so well in Foil as I have Epee lessons every week.

6: What are your ambitions for 2012? work / training / competition?

A: Enjoy myself, a medal in Epee at some point would be nice.  Perhaps an overseas competition.

7: Who if anyone have you modeled your fencing on? Or do you have a favourite Fencer ( nternationally)?

A: There are lots of fencers where I train that I admire and aspire to fence like, I dont think I need to look overseas.

8: What are your future ambitions?

A: More medals!

9: What difference if any did this national event have to others?

A: This event was special to me as it was the “National Championships” and I desperately wanted to win 1.  On the day my distance and timing was spot on and that doesn’t happen often.

10: What is your weekly training Regime?

 A: I often work shifts so I train at 3 different venues to ensure I can train at least 3 times a week.

11:  What advice would you give future Australian champions?

A: Sometimes I wonder why I fence, it takes up all my time and money.  I go to a competition and lose my 1st D/E and question why I bother.  But occasionally I beat someone whom I didnt expect to beat or I hit with a perfect action and once in a while I win a Competition, these are the reasons why I dont give up.  So if you are feeling despondent, dont give up, ride the wave till your turn comes, because it will.

12: What do you think should happen to / in Australian fencing?

A: I dont know!, a reality TV show or a movie! 

Thanks so much Emma.. good luck for 2012



Australian National Timetable 2012


Australian Fencing Federation Circuit Competitions for 2012:

Updated 4 June 2012 

Commonwealth Junior Championships St Helier, Jersey 12-17 February

AFF #1 Melbourne [DH McKenzie] March 23-25

Junior & Cadet World Championships Moscow, Russia 31 March – 8 April

Asian Zone Championships Wakayama, Japan 20-21 April

Senior Asian Fencing Championships Wakayama, Japan 22-27 April

AFF #2 Adelaide [Robin Chaplin] June 9-11

Schools Individuals: Brisbane June 16-17

Cadet U15 Nationals: Sydney June 30-5 July

Schools Teams: Brisbane August 4-5

AFF #3 Circuit : Perth August 17-19

Junior National Championships: Brisbane 22-25 September #note date change!!

Asian Junior / Cadet Championships: Indonesia Bali September 30-9 October #note date change!!

Australian University Games: Brisbane September 25-28

Commonwealth Veterans Championships : Singapore September 27-30

AFF #4 Open and Veteran National Championships : Canberra December 7-11

……updated 4/6/12… a few changes



Australian National Champions


Attached is an updated file of the Australian National Champions since records were kept in Australia.

Australian ChampionsNational Champions

Keep an eye out for the National Champions questionnaires coming soon……. 

(10/12/12)



Alex Donaldson recognized


Congratulations to Alex Donaldson who was rewarded for his tireless work in Australian Fencing and his achievement of Life Membership of the Australian Fencing Federation.

More details on Ausfencing.org Link



Australian National Veterans Championships 2011


Results 

Veterans Mens Foil: 1st Zoltan Vilagosh VIC, 2nd Adam Reynolds VIC (40+), =3rd Richard Purdie NSW (60+), =3rd Andrey Tyshchenko NSW, Volker Hrovat (70+).

Veterans Womens Sabre: 1 Alex Andre NSW, 2 Yoshiku Chibuku JAP, =3rd Harriet Jordan NNS, =3rd Min Yi Du NSW.

Veterans Womens Epee: 1st Sarah Osvath NSW, 2nd Abby Nutt NSW, =3rd Harriet Jordan NSW, =3rd Julie Seggie NSW (50+), Alison Blom NSW (60+).  

Veterans Men’s Sabre: 1st Steve Johnson WA, 2nd Charles Gwynn NSW, =3rd Tim McGill VIC, =3rd Mark Scully TAS, Gary Sudran WA (60+). 

Veterans Mens Epee: 1st Georg Mittermair ACT, 2nd Murray Thompson VIC, =3rd Frank Barrett VIC (50+), =3rd Richard Purdie NSW (60+), Peter Witkop NSW (70+).

Veterans Womens Foil: 1st Jenny Bonney-Millett QLD, 2nd 2 Yoshiku Chibuku JAP, =3rd Fiona Budniak NSW, =3rd Abby Nutt NSW.

For full results ausfencing.org Link:



Australian National Open Championships 2011


Results
Men’s Foil: 1st Stephen Glaister VIC, 2nd Marek Jamrozy WA, =3rd Chris Jones VIC, =3rd Jeremy Hart QLD.

Womens Sabre: 1st Jess Brooks NSW, 2nd Sam Auty VIC, =3rd Cheryl Chan NSW, =3rd Caitlin Taylor VIC.

Womens Sabre Teams: 1st VIC, 2nd NSW, =3rd NSW B, =3rd SA.

Womens Epee: 1st Jo Halls VIC, 2nd Sarah Osvath NSW, =3rd Evelyn Halls VIC, =3rd Dianna Sher VIC.

Mens Foil Teams: 1st NSW A, 2nd QLD A, =3rd VIC A, =3rd VIC B.

Oceania Womens Epee Teams: 1st Australia, 2nd New Caledonia.

Mens Epee: 1st Romain Cortois NSW, 2nd Joe Slowiaczek NSW, =3rd Seamus Robinson VIC, =3rd James Lewis WA.

Womens Epee Teams: 1st VIC A, 2nd NSW A, =3rd VIC B, =3rd QLD.

Oceania Mens Epee Teams: 1st Australia, 2nd New Caledonia.

Mens Epee Teams: 1st NSW A, 2nd QLD A, =3rd VIC A, =3rd SA.

Women’s Foil1st Emma Ryan VIC, 2nd Lishan Sung NSW, =3rd Claire Daniel QLD,  =3rd Jenny Bonney-Millett QLD.

Mens Sabre: 1st James Walsh QLD, 2nd Frederick Jaccard NSW, =3rd Zac Leonard WA, =3rd Jasper Rowley NSW

Womens Foil Teams: 1st NSW A, 2nd QLD, 3rd NSW B.

Mens Sabre Teams: 1st NSW A, 2nd QLD A, =3rd QLD B, =3rd WA.

For full results-: ausfencing.org Link


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