The RAFFU Military Anniversary Tournament (One Hit Epee) was held, by kind permission of the Station Commander, at RAF Cosford on Saturday 27 Sept 03.

After a delayed start due to accommodation problems, coupled with some problems for some competitors getting through the security, a large turnout of 36 fencers found themselves facing 11 rounds, with 35 individual matches, plus the prospect of the Invitational team match afterwards.

Individual. The individual competition was one of the closest ever, with Major Charles Stoner drawing out a small lead, while 5 other fencers vied and tussled behind him in second place. As the day progressed though, a couple of good rounds for Flt Lt Rauri Henderson-Begg saw him climb up into the running, whilst two bad rounds in a row saw fellow RAF fencers Wg Cdr George Liston and Sgt Phil McNulty slip from their places near the top. Eventually Major Stoner, with 31 victories from his 35 matches, retained the Seletar Cup which he won last year. Rauri Henderson-Begg and Major Roger MacMillan, tied on 28 victories each for 2nd place, which Major MacMillan then took after a fence-off. To emphasise the closeness of the event, only 4 hits separated 2nd and 9th places, with 3 fencers tied on 27 victories.

Team. The team event also proved interesting. In the McEwan Cup for the RAF Inter Unit 3 Man Team, it was heartening to see 2 teams of novices representing RAF Cosford, especially as both teams also managed some match victories, but there was no contest for the trophy as RAF High Wycombe, captained by Wg Cdr George Liston with Flt Lt Sarah Chambers and Sgt Phil McNulty, romped home with 8 match victories. In the scratch team event for the Charles Mott Memorial Cup, it was to be the Army’s day again, as two teams of Army fencers tied on 9 match victories. The “3 Amigos” team of Maj Charles Stoner, WO2 Gary Taylor and LCpl Andy MacKenzie took the title with 68 individual victories.

Ladies. A good day was also had by the Army in the ladies event, with Off Cdt Naveen Rahman taking the title with 19 victories from S/Lt Amanda Hale’s 18. Lt Sacha Brooks was third with 15 victories.

Veterans. Of the six veterans fencing, ex-RAF fencer Andy Mair managed to keep the RAF colours flying, taking the Highest Placed Veteran award with his 27 victories (and joint 4th place overall). Dr Austin Moore once again received the notable distinction of being the Most Senior fencer present.

Invitational Team. The Invitational Team event was also to prove to be particularly exciting. With time rapidly running out, it was decided to draw lots to decide first round opponents, with the winners then facing each other in the final. The Army team of Major Stoner, Major MacMillan and LCpl MacKenzie made the draw, finding themselves up against the Veterans team of Austin Moore, Doug Renton-Cooper and Ricky Howdell, and it was to be the younger fencers who went through comfortably 45-16. In the other half of the draw, the RAF team of Wg Cdr Liston, Flt Lt Henderson-Begg and Sgt McNulty faltered slightly, but eventually dispatched the RN team of Lt Cdr Adrian Olliver, Lt Cdr Matt Clark and LAEM Mark Needham 45-42, setting up a final match against the Army. With a self-confessed foilist and sabreur in the shape of Sgt McNulty doing as expected against the Army epeeists, unfortunately it was to prove too much for the two epeeists to overcome as the Army then took the last title of the day 45-29.

Conclusion. A massive 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. My thanks go to the RAF Cosford team and the Armourer, JT Gary Brailsford for setting up the gym and finally rectifying the teething troubles to grant me the six pistes I required. My biggest thanks have to go to Vice Chairman, Sqn Ldr Andy Alcock and Captain, FS Ashley Newing, for all their extremely hard work in not only compiling the scores after each bout, but for calculating from the mass of numbers who had won what trophies. Final thanks also to our President, Air Cdre Kurth for making the presentations at the end of a highly enjoyable days fencing.

Fencer	Representing	Victories	Place
Charles Stoner	Army	31	1
Roger MacMillan	Army	28	2
Rauri Henderson-Begg	RAF	28	2
Adrian Olliver	RN	27	4
Andy Mair	Veterans	27	4
Andy MacKenzie	Army	27	4
George Liston	RAF	26	7
Mark Needham	RN	25	8
Phil McNulty	RAF	24	9
Matt Clark	RN	22	10
Dave Long	RAF	22	10
Rob DesForges	RAF	21	12
Ricky Howdle	Veterans	20	13
Georgina West	Civilian	20	13
Naveen Rahman	Army	19	15
Amanda Hale	RN	18	16
Paul Saunders	Army	18	16
Mick Meyer	Veterans	17	18
Austen Moore	Veterans	15	19
Doug Renton Cooper	Veterans	15	19
Gary Brailsford	RAF	15	19
Sacha Brooks	RN	15	19
Charles Read	Veterans	14	23
Martin Russell	RN	14	23
Jamie Cheetham	RAF	14	23
Stuart Sharp	RAF	13	26
Chris Murdoch	RAF	12	27
Mark Todd	RAF	12	27
Sharon Booth	RAF	11	29
Marcus Heath	RAF	11	29
Alexis Mead	RAF	10	31
Gary Taylor	Army	10	31
Sarah Chalmers	RAF	8	33
Jon Green	RAF	8	33
Kat Jolly	RAF	7	35
Ahsan Rasah	RAF	6	36

 

Team		Match V	Team Total	Team Place
3 Amigos	Gary Taylor	9	68	1 Cmott
	Andy MacKenzie
	Charles Stoner
It'll Be Hard	Paul Saunders	9	65	2CMott
	Roger MacMillan
	Naveen Rahman
Royal Navy A	Adrian Olliver	8	74	3CMott
	Mark Needham
	Matt Clark
Spring Chickens	Ricky Howdle	8	64	4CMott
	Andy Mair
	Mick Meyer
RAF High Wycombe	Phil McNulty	8	58	1 McEwan
	George Liston
	Sarah Chalmers
Who Cares	Rauri Henderson-Begg	6	57	5CMott
	Dave Long
	Kat Jolly
Dirty Deviants	Chris Murdoch	5	48	6CMott
	Gary Brailsford
	Rob DesForges
Royal Navy B	Martin Russell	5	47	7CMott
	Amanda Hale
	Sacha Brooks
The Old Farts	Austen Moore	3	44	8CMott
	Doug Renton Cooper
	Charles Read
RAF Cosford A	Jamie Cheetham	2	37	2 McEwan
	Stuart Sharp
	Alexis Mead
Something Dodgey	Sharon Booth	1	42	9CMott
	Georgina West
	Marcus Heath
RAF Cosford B	Mark Todd	1	26	3 McEwan
	Ahsan Rasah
	Jon Green