EDITORIAL
HAPPY NEW MILLENNIUM!
Hello and welcome to this, the first edition of REPRISE for the new millennium. As the new editor it’s been an experience putting this edition together, especially as Christmas and Y2K issues have taken up so much of my available time (The joys of being “on call” for New Years Eve). However, it’s here now and I hope you enjoy it. If you don’t, please don’t hold it against me ... it’s my first time!
1999 was a busy and successful year for RAF fencing, retaining the Inter Services title again (although the competition is getting stronger every year), a highly enjoyable trip to Poland, partial success at the Battle of Britain tournament and several successes on the civilian circuit.
After such a good year it is a shame it had to end on a sad note with the imminent departure of Wg Cdr Angus Cameron. Always at the forefront of RAFFU events, and dedicated both to Service and civilian fencing he will be greatly and fondly missed by all.
Many thanks to all those who sent in articles for inclusion and I hope you and your families had a wonderful Christmas and will have a bright and cheery New Year.
VIEW FROM THE CHAIRMAN
As I write this, Christmas is days away, the snow is settling outside, the fire is glowing and my whisky glass is half empty (or half full?). I look into the embers and think, ‘was it a good year for RAF Fencing?’
There is no doubt that winning the Inter-Services, again, must make it a good year but was it an excellent year? Some great individual results and there is an array of talent coming through. I remember Lt Col Burr saying (sometime during the dambusters’ bowling reunion this year (post triangular festivities!)) that the thing about “crab fencing”, is that whilst people leave, there are always new faces stepping into the breach. It has been a conscious decision over the last couple of years to not forget the “middle guard” – they are the future. It seems to be a strategy that is paying off.
It is with some sadness that I say goodbye to Angus. I have known him for over 20 years, meeting back in the distant days of John Warburn, Carl Walderman, John Crouch et al. Over the years Angus has contributed in many, many ways to Services’ fencing and there is no doubt that it has benefited from his administrations. I am sure that I can speak on behalf of all of us by wishing him all the very best in his new environment.
To the ghost of Christmas future, I must echo the cries of the Coach and Captain, your results will reflect your efforts on the civilian circuit – it is whether you chose to seize the opportunity. The fencers who have just received their blues and those on the short list for next year did take the plunge and have improved as a result. The triangular is not for the taking; our strong results over the last couple of years are a reflection of positive team spirit, a strong coaching team and fencers who have put in the effort over the last 12 months.
Well, what was the verdict on 1999? Yes, it was a pretty good year; come to think of it, Steve Jackman bought a round – it was a brilliant year! See you in 2000.
Gp Capt Nick Kurth
Chairman
DATES FOR THE DIARY
RAF Command Championships Cosford 19 – 20 Feb 00
Seniors Cosford 5 – 7 May 00
One Hit Epee Cosford 23 Sep 00
Juniors Cosford 28 – 29 Oct 00
The following is a list of civilian events for which travel authority has been granted, providing Fg Off Lynette Bolton is notified in advance:
Scottish Open Stirling 8 Jan 00
Cambs Winter Tournament Cambs 8 Jan 00
Aldershot Open Aldershot 15 – 16 Jan 00
Corble Cup London 22 Jan 00
Slough Open Bracknell 5 Feb 00
Surrey Challenge Slough TBN Feb 00
Merseyside Open Liverpool 26 Feb 00
Clara Rayner Memorial Newton (TBC) 4 Mar 00
British Sabre Champs TBN 25 Mar 00
If you are intending to compete at any of these events please complete Annex A to letter RAFFU/10/Match Sec dated 14 Oct 99, or contact the Match Sec directly.
Ed’s Note: Remember, travel authority has been granted so it doesn’t matter how you get there or get home, you can’t lose out and the experience is invaluable.
MONEY MATTERS
Flt Lt Carol Ackroyd
Treasurer
We have been granted £885 from the Sports boards towards our operating costs for the year (forecast at £1274). Additionally, we have been promised £850 to spend on a new set of score towers, which we plan to purchase prior to the Inter Commands. This will bring our total sets to 4 and improve our facilities at competition considerably. Moreover we have also been allocated a generous equipment grant of £1300 for next yearyear; I will be in liaison with the Chairman and our Armourer to confirm how best to spend this money.
We also have a provisional grant of £1900 towards a tour. Therefore the opportunity exists for all fencers to earn their places in the team, providing a suitable invitation, travel arrangements and time off for participants can be arranged. It is worth mentioning at this juncture, that if you wish to have your “share” of the grant you must be a member of the Sports Lottery. Why not join now?
Our Armourer, Cpl John Sowerby, has recently purchased some more Duellist spool clips, which are certainly easier to operate on the piste and are a worthwhile upgrade for fairly minimal expenditure.
Finally, a reminder that I am happy to order Tracksuits for anyone short of an idea of how to spend their Christmas money! Just give me a call and I will let you know the details.
YOU KNOW THAT THING WITH BUSES?
Cpl Phil McNulty
Editor
Everybody has heard it said at some point in their lives:
“You wait half an hour for a bus then 3 turn up at once!”
I’ve always thought that was a total fallacy, but recent events down here at RAF Oakhanger have changed my mind.
I was posted into the Station almost 4 years ago in February 96. At the time I’d only recently taken up fencing and was extremely keen to stick with it. I was disappointed to discover on arrival however that there was no fencing club on camp ... indeed I was the only fencer down here. I then began to investigate the possibilities of setting up my own Club and, to this end, attended a Club Leaders course down in Portsmouth. Full of bubbling enthusiasm I returned to the Station and immediately made enquiries to ascertain how many budding Zorros we had on Station. Instead of Zorro though, I got zero. No one was interested.
Time passed, and occasionally I would put out feelers again. I got the same response every time. Sorry, not interested. Needless to say my enthusiasm began to wane, and I gave up hope of ever starting a Club here.
When Cpl Dave Long, based at Odiham, suggested last year that I run the Club there I jumped at the chance ... here was a way I could avoid my wife’s cooking for one night a week! So as Dave made the arrangements with the PEd flight at Odiham I waited patiently for the day I would start.
Then it happened.
Returning to work after a brief time away I was greeted by an e-mail from a new arrival to the Station. She had fenced in the past and wanted to take it up again.So, I returned her e-mail, explaining that matters were in hand to allow us to train at Odiham and that by the new year I would be more than happy to “de-rust” her corroded fencing skills.
Then after returning from a winter holiday to Cyprus I was greeted by another e-mail. Another new arrival, another fencer. Did I know of any coaching clubs in the area? Again, I responded with the current situation, smiling quietly as I realised that Oakhanger now had enough fencers to enter a team event for the first time in it’s history.
So, a few handy words of advice to anyone wishing to set up a fencing club of their own:
1. If you really want it to happen, it won’t.
2. When you finally realise that it’s not going to happen, arrange something else.
3. As soon as you arrange something else, the ways and means to achieve your first objective will suddenly become available.
4. NEVER attempt to scrap your second plan in favour of returning to the original idea ... you will then be detached somewhere cold for 4 months. And on your return the ways and means to achieve your first objective will have;
a. been posted.
b. died.
c. decided they didn’t really like fencing and taken up macramé instead.
5. NEVER wait more than ten minutes for a bus.
WEAPON FAULT FINDING
Sgt Ashley Newing
DOC (Admin)
Foil
This short article is intended for the benefit of those who do not understand the workings of the Foil and
Epee (That’s me and I’m an Armourer! – Ed). The main difference between the two is that the circuit
in a foil is broken when the point is depressed, while in the epee, the circuit is made by depressing
the point. There are a number of things that can go wrong with the foil. A broken wire can occur at any part of its length, but often at the tip, where a fencer turns the point in order to make a better circuit, and eventually the wire, being twisted by the point, will break. This will give a constant off-target light. Also if the wire is broken at the socket, where the wire is attached by the screw, the cotton outer covering of the wire will very often hold the broken wire in place, giving the impression that it is still intact.
Another fault is a loose barrel, or if the barrel is insulated from the blade by rust, which can bring up an off-target light in the course of the bout.
The screws that hold the point in the barrel are an essential part of the circuit and, if rusty, will form an insulation, causing an intermittent fault.
If connected to the box, the off-target light goes out, but no hits register and nothing happens when the point is depressed, there is possibly a bare wire somewhere, usually where the handle is tightened against the socket and coquille, trapping the wire and causing a permanent circuit. The screws, holding the point in the barrel, which are part of the circuit, if screwed in too far have been known to give the same symptoms. Another intermittent fault is caused by a weak pressure spring, which allows the circuit to break momentarily, very often following a beat on an opponent’s blade. This will produce a white off-target light on the box. A foil spring should support a weight of 500 grams.
The socket itself can also be a source of trouble when it wears with use and the body wire plug shakes about causing the off-target light to come on. The only answer to this fault is to dismantle the socket and stretch the spring inside. This puts extra pressure onto the body wire plug.
If an off-target light is flashing on the box when the fencer is connected to it, the fault can occur anywhere from the point of the foil to the box, therefore one should methodically work ones way back to the box.
Unplug the foil, and check the body wire (if you look at the part that plugs into the foil, you will see that the screw right at the end is insulated from the rest of it). Connect these two parts of the plug, possibly using the coquille of the foil, to make the circuit. If the off-target light goes out then the foil is faulty. If the off-target light stays on, go to the other end of the body wire where it plugs into the spool wire. Ease it out slightly and connect the two pins that are wider apart. Use a coin, the blade of the foil or anything that will make a circuit. If the off-target light goes out then it is the body wire that is faulty. If it remains on, disconnect the ground lead from the spool and connect the two wider apart pins. If the off-target light goes out, change the spool. Finally, if the off-target light still remains on, it would almost certainly be an unserviceable ground lead.
Epee
Although it seems that there are a large number of faults that can happen with a foil and its associated equipment, generally it is more trouble free than epee. There is less to go wrong on an epee, but it seems to give more trouble. You do not see foilists constantly adjusting their weapons the way that epeeists can be seen to do.
There are two springs in an epee point, the larger one has to support a weight of 750 grams, while the smaller one has to be set for the correct travel of the point (not less than 1mm) using the special gauges. During an epee competition these springs can require adjustment.
It is essential that the guard and blade are kept free from rust, as this is an insulator and can cause a hit to be registered against you. If this occurs in a competition, and you cannot reproduce the fault, the hit will stand against you.
It is also important to have a point that fits into the barrel without any slack. If there is slack and you hit your opponent with the blade going in at an angle, the small contact spring can miss the contacts at the end of the wire and the hit will not register on the box.
One should also make certain that the body wire socket is clean and free from oxidisation, and that the earth screw, which is the wide pin hole, that holds the socket assembly together, is tight. All these things can cause loss of hits.
Ed’s Note: Many thanks to Ashley for this informative and useful guide. It should help make the Armourer’s job easier.
EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES FOR FENCING
Cpl Jon Sowerby
Armourer RAFFU & Guild of Armourers, British Fencing
British Fencing has drawn up these Guidelines in accordance with contemporary Rules for Competitions issued by the Federation International D’Escrime. In the event of the rules changing and laying down more rigorous safety requirements, the requirements of the rules will naturally override the Guidelines. It is also laid down in the terms of reference for the Armourer, RAFFU to promote an awareness of the rules affecting fencers clothing and equipment and the importance of correctly maintained weapons.
Accidents and injuries are rare in fencing. If everyone were to follow these guidelines all the time, they would be even rarer. Fencers are responsible for ensuring that equipment is in a safe condition, and in particular that it conforms to the following requirements.
Fencers are strongly recommended to wear masks with 100mm bibs. No attempt should be made to repair the steel mesh of a mask. If the mask is weak or damaged, it should be thrown away. Masks should be checked for rusting, softness, holes or excessive deformation from the original shape. The bib should also be properly sewed on and there should be no gaps at the side or under the chin. A back-strap is mandatory for fencing competitions. Referees can apply to those without back-straps the same penalty as for appearing on the piste with equipment which does not conform to the Rules for Competitions. A back-strap consists of elastic at least 2 inches wide, secured to the mask side mesh at each end, passing under the mask spring piece at the back, and tensioned to keep the mask firmly in place.
Fencers’ clothing must be made of sufficiently robust material (Cloth) able to resist a pressure of 800 Newton’s. Jackets should be of the correct length and fastened on the opposite side to the sword arm. There should be a minimum of 4 inches (10cms) overlap between breeches and jacket when fencer is on guard. On no account should clothing be used which is damaged, show visible tears, or has been corroded or weakened by excessive use or age.
With electric weapons, it is particularly important that lightweight jackets should not be used and that in epee a jacket made of material of over 12ozs per square yard is used. Breeches should be closed below the knee.
Plastrons should be of a double thickness material with no seams under the armpit, and they should not be attached to the jacket in any way. A simple under jacket or T-shirt is not sufficient. Plastrons should always be worn when fencing. Socks should be long enough and remain over the knee during fencing. Shoes should have a sole which grips the floor and should be replaced if the soles are worn smooth.
The gauntlet should be long enough and firm enough to stretch and remain over the sleeve of the jacket whilst fencing. Gauntlets should not have any opening other than is necessary to admit the body wire and they should be inspected regularly. Any holes and tears should be repaired.
Weapons should be checked regularly to ensure they are in a safe usable condition. Blades should be observed and tested to see whether any portion is “soft”, that is to say whether any portion of the blade bends more than the rest. “Softness” indicates a dangerous weakness, which may lead to a break. A “soft” portion is indicated when a blade bends into an irregular or uneven curve. The portion which bends more than the rest is “soft”. So never use or fence against someone using a blade which shows signs of “softness”. It should be replaced or disposed of to prevent it being used by someone else.
Blades do attract rust and should be kept clean to ensure that they do not become a danger to other fencers. If blades develop sharp edges, these should be rounded with an emery cloth; they should never be filed or ground. Sabre blade points should not have become sharp by continual scraping on the piste. Continuous use of a weapon can leave very sharp edges round the guard circumference, and these can produce quite severe cuts on the opponent’s knee, leg or hand. Such guards should not be used.
The inspection and general condition of the blade must be considered if it is to be used for fencing. Penetration by a broken blade is almost the only cause of serious fencing injuries. Any doubt about its condition or age must consider it to be unusable for fencing and be disposed of immediately to prevent its use.
Safety and equipment serviceability is paramount if we are to fence safely in the Royal Air Force. Equipment is frequently checked at competition level and any breech of the rules will result in the item of equipment being rejected. The responsibility for equipment held by the Royal Air Force lies with the Armourer RAFFU, and for equipment held at station level by the Armourer of the Club, thus ensuring that equipment will be checked and maintained by the highest standard for fencing.
I hope this information will be of use to you all.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN TOURNAMENT
Cpl Phil McNulty
Editor
Due to the cancellation of the Leuchars Air Day, this years Battle of Britain tournament was held on 11 Sep 99 at Meadowbank Sports Stadium, Edinburgh. Although accommodation had been arranged at Redhill Cavalry Barracks, I had taken a trip up to Arbroath for my son’s birthday. Unfortunately, in order to reach Meadowbank in time for the competition I had to catch a train at early o’clock. By the time I reached Edinburgh I had time for a taxi trip out to the Meadowbank area, quick nap in a B&B and then on to the Stadium. Not the best of starts to a fencing competition I had ever had. First to arrive at the Stadium I waited patiently for the rest of the team to arrive, only to find out that the other foilists weren’t able to make it. So, we had a full epee and sabre team, but I was the only foilist. Pete McKenzie Brown, with cries of wonder ringing in his ears that he had made it on the right day, grudgingly admitted that he had initially gone to Murrayfield Stadium!
Thus began much pleading, begging, cajoling and even threatening of the other teams in the hunt for spare and redundant foilists. The Civil Service did the honourable thing and kindly loaned us one of their fencers. The Navy did the same but with one slight difference ... the man they offered us hadn’t turned up yet. Don’t worry though, they cried, he’ll be here!
As the first matches started it was fortunate that the RAF foil team were not required straight away. This meant that I could pass on my support to the sabreurs and epeeists. The epee team had a difficult seeding pool but fought outstandingly to win all of their matches. The sabre team had obviously imbibed a few too many ales the night before though, and they lost to the Civil Service in the seeding rounds.
Over in the foil, they were finally ready for us, but still no sign of the Navy replacement! So it was that we drew the short straw and had to fence as a two-man team, putting us at a serious disadvantage from the word go. I was not disappointed with my performance, as we dropped to defeat after defeat, I was fencing to the best of my abilities; our opponents were simply so much better than we were! Finally though, after a hard fight, I won a bout. It was our only win, but it meant the day wasn’t a complete disaster.
By this time, the epee team had reached the semi-finals, where they were unfortunate to lose to the Civil Service. The sabreurs, after the morning’s lack lustre performance, had finally woken up and their efforts improved considerably. It was to loud cheers from the RAF camp that they won a re-match against the Civil Service to run out Sabre Champions.
All that was left was to total up the team scores and there was a surprise in store as the RAF came second to the Civil Service, beating the Civil Police Team by one match. That one victory in the foil, although seemingly just a consolation, had made a difference at the end of the day.
Needless to say I told my boss that without my performance we would have been third! Well, you’ve got to do whatever it takes to get funding these days!
The teams were:
FOIL: CPL P McNULTY
EPEE: FLT LT J DAVY, FLT LT P McKENZIE-BROWN, SGT A NEWING
SABRE: WG CDR A CAMERON, SQN LDR S JACKMAN, CPL M GUMLEY
*NOTE: This article seriously plagiarised Steve Jackman’s Match Report!
JUNIORS CORNER
Cpl Dave Long
Male Juniors Representative
Dear readers,
With 1999 bowing out, and the New Year well on it’s way let us look to the future of the RAFFU with
a great deal of pride. As the male spokesperson for our association I feel very privileged to see a lot of the work that goes on behind the scenes. Many of these people do so not to get promoted, or to get that little bit extra in their assessments, but because of their enjoyment and dedication to the sport. It is an unfortunate thing that some of these people will be moving on to pastures new because they (you know who you are!) have done the most outstanding and sterling job in keeping the “ Fencing family spirit ( I stole that quote from the chairman)” going.
It would be a real shame to allow this ‘spirit’ to fizzle out and die. So, please if you have any ideas no matter how mad and daft they may seem, whether the idea is to do with the running of the fencing union, or a venue for the next social event. In fact anything at all (within reason!) then let someone on the committee know about it. Remember we cannot know what you would like as none of us has the power of the force, so stand up and be counted.
But let’s not forget that we all do this to have a good day of fencing and to have a good time, with a joke or two thrown in for good measure. Who can forget the two “unfortunate” fencers who after a night out sampling the beverages in the local area, had a little nap before the morning’s commencement of battle in the toilets of the sports hall so that they wouldn’t be late. Or one certain helicopter operator who to his everlasting embarrassment was “a month too late!”
In short we all like a good laugh, but to continue having them we have to project this euphoria that we all seem to have about fencing. I feel that if other people who do not fence see how much fun that we are having, they too may want to be part of the Fencing Union.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing you all in 2000.
CONGRATULATIONS
At the time of going to press this is an unconfirmed report, but it seems that Dave Jerry and Adrian Bettridge have both been awarded MBE’s in the New Years Honours List. As I say, this is unconfirmed but I’m sure I speak for all of us when I congratulate them both. As Ashley put it in her last e-mail to me, as the Coach does Dave’s stand for Makes the Buggers Exhausted?!
In addition, I was awarded an AOC’s Commendation in the LC Dissollution Honours List.
Congratulations also to Cpl Graham Cant for lifting the Birch Shield at the Juniors in October. It was a close competition but unfortunately I haven’t seen a Match Report yet so can’t say what the results were, but the weapon winners were:
SABRE: Cpl Graham Cant, Waddington
FOIL: Cpl Phil McNulty, Oakhanger
EPEE: Cpl Ben Smith, Waddington
FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
So that’s the end of this Millennium Edition of Reprise. I hope you’ve enjoyed it and that the articles included have stirred the budding author in you. Send in your articles ... nothing will be refused!
Many thanks again to all those who contributed to this edition, and if I don’t see you before, see you at the Commands.