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October 2005

EDITORIAL
Hi and welcome to the next edition of the Reprise. Well, the first thing that I have to do is apologise to Sgt Dave Long for not mentioning his name as the owner of the photograph below. The photographs in the article, THE BRAILSFORD PAPERS, have also been contributed by Sgt Dave Long. If you like these photos and wish to see more, please visit the website www.raffencing.co.uk.

The articles are now coming in thick and fast and I would like to thank all those people who have contributed. Don’t worry if you don’t see your article in this edition, I'm sure it will be in the next one. JT Gary Brailsford has provided excerpts from his memoirs, “The Life of a Fencer on the Civilian Circuit”, and will be a regular feature for the foreseeable future. The committee has seen a new name in its ranks that of Fg Off Graeme Hart, the new RAFFU coaching co-ordinator. Graeme has provided a nice little article laying out his vision for coaching within the RAF.

I must thank every one who entered the caption competition from the last edition. The winner of £30 AllStar vouchers is Cpl Kat Jolly with the winning entry “I can’t believe Shaun made me do this so he would have an article for Reprise”. Now please enter the next competition on page 5 for the chance to win an Allstar 3 weapon tester.

The next edition will be ready for publication at the end of January so if you have any articles you want printing get them in early PLEASE.

Cpl Shaun Taylor
HSMU RAF Boscombe Down
Amesbury
Wiltshire
SP4 0JE

Email - hol-a.hsmu@boscombedown.RAF.mod.uk
shaun.epee@btinternet.com
Telephone - 01980663134

COMIC STRIP
Cartoon kindly printed by permission of Lisa Lagergren
Http://homepage.ntlworld.com/davidtcook/lisa/strip/index.html/






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There are 39 fencing terms to find, the entries must show either a completed highlighted table or a complete list of terms. Send the entries to the editor and they must be in by 16 December. The winner will be drawn from all the entries and will receive a 3 weapon tester. If you want to see the tester follow the link to the Allstar web site found on the RAFFU web links page and look up the ref code TZ9a.

SPOTLIGHT ON A COMMITTEE MEMBER
Hello all, I am the new RAFFU Coaching Co-ordinator and took over from James Griffiths in June. I would like to thank James for all the hard work he put in to the job, and I look forward to furthering the development of RAF fencing.

I have been fencing for over 15 years (jings, that is scary!) and have fenced at national and international level for sometime. I am therefore very keen to pass on my experience to those RAF fencers who wish to listen. There is most definitely a massive amount of enthusiasm out there that needs to be channelled into better fencing.

My first priority is to qualify as a coach under the current British Fencing criteria in order to run more training weekends at a lower cost to RAFFU. I have already corresponded with the BF West Midlands representative who is willing to run a coaching course at RAF Cosford. I would like to get as many people on this course as possible, in the interests of improving station fencing clubs. I wont go into the specifics of the course here, but I would like to hear from all those that are interested so I can start looking at costs and how the RAFFU could subsidise the course. I should stress that I am looking for competent fencers who are either already running or looking to run a station club.

That’s all for now, but please get in touch if there is anything that I can help you with. I am posted to Leuchars in October, so I will be a wee bit closer to you lot down South!

Graeme Hart
Fg Off
RAFFU Coaching Co-ordinator
111(F) Sqn Ops Officer,
RAF Leuchars,
95151 Ext 4045

Email: farty81@yahoo.com

ANNIVERSARY TOURNAMENT 2005
The RAFFU Military Anniversary Tournament (One Hit Epee) was held, by kind permission of the Commandant of DCAE, Air Commodore S R Sims OBE BSc CEng MRAeS DLUT RAF, at RAF Cosford on Saturday 24 Sep 05. An increased turn-out on previous years saw 36 fencers arranged into 12 teams, facing 11 rounds of fencing and the Invitational Match afterwards, all to an extremely tight schedule.

Individual. The individual competition found representatives from the RAF, RN and Veterans all vying for the top spot early on, with Lt Cdr Adrian Olliver leading from the front and Sqn Ldr Andy Alcock and Flt Lt Jon Davy always doing enough to stay in contention. A late-comer to the race, Andy Mair made up a lot of lost ground in the last few rounds to sneak up into 2 nd place with 27 victories, just ahead of joint 3 rd place holders Andy Alcock and Cdr Matt Clark. After leading all the way though, Adrian Olliver held out eventually win the Seletar Cup with 29 victories.

Team . In the team event, the relatively inexperienced fencers from RAF Boulmer found themselves vying with the all female team from RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey in the Inter Unit competition. With both teams managing to achieve 1 match victory, it was total individual victories which gave the McEwan Cup to RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey with 31 victories against 26. In the scratch team event 4 teams vied from the start to take the Charles Mott Memorial Trophy; the RN team, The Lost Sheep, FlyColMan, RAF fencers Jon Davy, Flt Lt Sarah Chambers and JT Gary Brailsford, and Nooking Futters, another all RAF team of Andy Alcock, Wg Cdr Dave Orme and Cpl Rob Desforges. Things remained incredibly close throughout, but it was to be The Lost Sheep who edged out a narrow margin to take the trophy with 10 match victories over the RN who had 9 and Nooking Futters with 8. Two other teams also had 8 match victories but it was individual results that made the difference.

Ladies . The Ladies event this year was quite open right up until the final stages of the competition, with Lt Sacha Brooks, Sarah Chambers and Moya McNamara running head to head throughout the day. As the later stages of the competition took their toll, Sacha slipped behind and it was Moya who finished 12 th overall with 21 victories to finish as the highest placed female, with Sarah close behind with 18 victories.

Veterans . Of the Veterans competing, it was Andy Mair who demonstrated the greatest consistency throughout the day, taking the Highest Placed Veteran title with a highly respectable 27 victories (and 2 nd place overall). The Oldest Veteran was once again Dr Austin Moore.

Invitational Team. The Invitational Team event was an exciting competition. Conscious of the clock ticking, the 4 teams were pre-seeded by the drawing of lots, with the 1st round matches taking place between the RAF v Veterans and Army v RN. Both the RAF and RN comfortably won their matches, setting up a 3 rd/4 th place play-off between the Veterans and the Army. The Veterans convincingly took apart the relatively inexperienced Army side, winning the bronze medal comfortably 45-16. The final was a nail-biter for the RAF, with the lead changing hands several times before the RAF team of Davy, Alcock and Orme eked out the narrowest of leads. This lead was slowly but surely chipped at by the RN team, particularly the last fight between Adrian Olliver and Andy Alcock and it was with some relief that the double-hits started to arrive. Andy managed to weather the storm though and finally the RAF retained the trophy won last year with a 45-41 victory.

Conclusion. A large turnout of fencers ensured that this competition was a great success. The standard of fencing on display was extremely high, and it was encouraging to see new faces mixed in among the old and bold, although the absence of the Civil Service team this year was a loss. My thanks go to the Armourer, JT Gary Brailsford and the team of Cosford fencers for setting up the gym and ensuring the competition could run as smoothly as it did. Thanks also have to go to Sgt Dave Long, DOC (Admin), for ensuring that all accommodation was available and for ensuring packed lunches were provided, allowing the event to run continually without the need for a break. The best news was that the amendments made to the scoring software after last year were hugely successful in calculating the winners automatically, and therefore I might actually be able to fence and run the event next year. My thanks go to the fencers for ensuring that they did their utmost to fence their matches as quickly as possible, adding to the smooth running of the day. Final thanks also go to the representative of the Sports Board, Gp Capt Atkinson, for making the presentations at the end of a highly enjoyable day’s fencing.



THE BRAILSFORD PAPERS
Well here we go, after years of saying I’d do something for reprise I’ve done it. This is a year in the life of a fencer on the civilian circuit. The highs (a few) the lows (a lot) and the other bits (censored to allow publishing)

The season kicked off with the Essex open in Colchester. Having just been posted a week earlier I didn’t realise just how far it was. So on a sunny Friday evening I set off to Colchester (via Coltishall to get the rest of my things). Eight hours later I pass the turn off for Colchester, I must remember which one it is for Saturday! Well business done at Colt I head back to Colchester. (Miss turning I noted and did big detour) Next, find venue so I know where I’m going Sunday and luckily I find a B&B just round the corner. A few social drinks with a friend on the Saturday night and an early night to recover from the driving and I’m ready for my first comp of the year.

Not a bad start really seeded in the middle of my pool of 7 so thought I should do well. Was partly right as I went on to win 3 out of my 6 fights and am quietly pleased with myself, that is until the rankings go up 83 rd. “83 rd but I won 3 fights, how can this happen” On closer examination about 20 – 25 people had won 3 fights so the middle of the rather large field is only separated on indicators. Well no point moaning now, it will teach me to lose easy hits. Right first round DE against Jason Randall, not seen him before so didn’t know what was going to happen.

One shock later and I was 7-3 down with 1 minute to work out what I needed to do. I managed to pick up my game and make him work harder, even managing to claw a few hits back but 10-5 as just to late to start a come back and end up losing 15-12. I later found out he trains with Jonathan Ainsley a top 50 fencer (who is a friend) Not a bad start to the season. I found out later Jon had given Jason a few tips. (That twice he’s done that now. I will get my own back) Final place 88 th out of 136. One comp down and 620 fencing related miles done.

Next on the calendar is the one hit epee and Shropshire Open. I won’t dwell on the One Hit as the match report covers it all. The Open though. Slightly hung-over from the wonderful meal the night before, I get down to the business of fencing. Again not a bad start and win 3 out of 6 fights and actually manage a bye in the first round (though a lot of people did with just 67 entered)

An hour milling around with friends and catching up is spent while the first round and women’s event carry on, lend George a chair and watch some of our other fencers in action. 2 nd round at last and who do I have? A guy from my pool, Ian Worthington a foilist and son of a friend. In the pool it was close 5-4 to Ian so I know what to expect. Wrong, he starts to do foil to really confuse me and once again I go into the break well behind 8-1 down and with a very sore arm. Same as the Essex the second period starts and I claw my way back into it bringing it to within 3 points 13-10 behind but a couple of doubles later and its all over losing 15-13. Did I feel I’d done well? In the pool, yes, but I let it all go to waste in the first 3 minutes of my DE. I went away very pleased with my display in the 2 nd period and felt that if I’d fenced like that from the start of the match I could have been in the last 32 and not placed 44 th out of 67. Two events down and 1180 miles done so far this season and one celebrity seen. Andy Cole of Man U and Man City was there with his son playing football outside.

The final event in this little bit is the Sussex Open in Portslade just outside Brighton. Sleeping in the back of your car is not a good way to prepare for an event but it is cheap. The Sussex is unusual as the Epee is on the Sat and check in is not till 10am.

This allows plenty of time to get a good breakfast and gives the early arrivals a chance to help the armourer and Barry Paul, unload there vehicles (this leads to a discount and sometime a free t-shirt from Barry) Pools of 7 are again the order of the day with one big name in mine Howard West. Again fencing not to badly I ended up with 3 out of 6 with a –1 indicator, the big bonus was betting Howard 5-3. This time I just miss out on a by 2 places so had to fight my way into the last 32. “Never go into a fight confident you can win” is what I was reminded of in this fight, finding myself 3-0 down very quickly. Some thought and some humble pie later I win the fight 15-5. It might sound an easy win but the fact I went into it confident I would win it easily, saw my losing easy points I shouldn’t have. With this lesson learnt I prepare myself for my L32 match. “AHHH” I say to myself, the same as at Shropshire I have a guy from my pool in this fight but not just anyone but Howard and he looks as though he’s woken up now (he’d won his last 3 pool fights dropping only 4 hits) The fight starts off well with Howard only a couple of points ahead. Going into the break he leads 9-7. Maybe I was distracted by or, and the more likely, Howard’s greater ability starts to take it’s toll on me as he finds his range and my wrist, winning the fight 15-9. The highlight of the day though was a quick chat with the actor who’d played DCI Burnside in the Bill. A quiet night in Crawley was spent, nearly falling asleep in my pint in town at 10pm, back to the hotel and an early night with a pizza was had.

Foil check in was at 9 o’clock and in a borrowed lame I win my first fight 5-2. Could I have this weapon figured out at last? NO I lose the rest 5 hits to 3,3,3 and 4, though again I’m quiet pleased how I fenced and am looking forward to my DE, only to find that a trend seems to be forming. Once again it’s a guy from my pool.

Have I done something wrong I ask? In what turns out to be a close first period Paul Stanbridge lead's by 5 hits. Though enough in his own word “ To let my try things” This allowed me a chance to claw yet another fight back to a few hits, before Paul had to revert to his earlier form and only just wins 15-13 with a few seconds of the 2 nd period left. If all else fails, run at them very fast and try to avoid your friend on the piste next to you. A good weekend all round, some good fencing, a lot of laughs and seeing Shaun (the wonderful Ed) leave a nice bloodstain on a friend's Breeches.

What to take from my first 3 Opens of the year. I’m not fencing too badly, I’m thinking more about what my opponent is doing and how to beat him. It seems to be working as I’ve pulled large deficits back when I have thought about what I’m doing. Now I just have to start doing that from the first fight of the pools. However, it’s a better start to a season than other years. We’ll see as the year progresses how things go. On another note, all these events; have been attended by other RAF fencers; George (fencing and with his chair), Sarah, Shaun, and Andy. I will try in future events to make a note on how they, and others do, and add these to any further articles. My apologies for not doing so this time. I’ll be better prepared in the future.

BLAST FROM THE PAST
I believe this was taken for the 1983 Interservices Tournament and was provided by Vanessa Wilen, I have a couple of name’s for it.

Back Row 5th from the left Angus Cameron.

2nd from the right Mick Meyer.

3rd from the right Chris DeSilva.

7th from the right John Warburn.

Front Row 1st from the left Vanessa Wilen.

3rd from the left Moe Marrick.

If anybody knows any of the fencers could you please let the editor know? On a similar note, if you know anybody who would like to receive future copies of the REPRISE could you pass on there details to me and I will forward them to Sgt Phil McNulty who will include them in his contact database?

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORS

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN TAKING UP SWORD FENCING
There are many people within the Royal Air Force fencing fraternity, who are more than willing to answer any questions about fencing that you have. If you fancy a shot at this sport, please feel free to contact any of the Station OIC’s or if your station does not have an OIC, a good source of information is the RAF Fencing web site www.raffencing.co.uk.

Station Contact Details
RAF Boulmer Plt Off L Shelley 95818 Ext 7163
RAF Cottesmore Fg Off K Linton 95341 Ext 7569
RAF Cranwell Sgt M Gumley 95751 Ext 7560
RAF Fylingdales Flt Lt Chambers 95893 Ext 2350
RAF Kinloss Plt Off G Hart 95131 Ext 7631
RAF Leuchars SAC G Morris 95151 Ext 7371
RAF Marham Cpl D MacDonald 95951 Ext 6713
RAF Norholt Cpl S March 95233 Ext 8337
RAF St Mawgan Sqn Ldr C Ackroyd 95423 Ext 7321
RAF Uxbridge Cpl K Jolly 95232 Ext 6326
RAF Wittering SAC D Duffy 95351 Ext 7269

You can always contact the editor who will attempt to answer any queries you have or will know someone who can help you.