Al 1_thumb.jpg;Al 1.jpg;The first Open of the new season kicks off, with a good show put in from RFC.  Hats off to RFCs latest recruit, Kelly Bird, who took Bronze in the ladies épée event!;
Al 2_thumb.jpg;Al 2.jpg;Alain Barbasiewicz (right) improves on last years result, coming 11th.;
Al 3_thumb.jpg;Al 3.jpg;Al Barbasiewicz.;
Ben 1_thumb.jpg;Ben 1.jpg;Ben White (left) lunges to win one of his poule fights.  In a tough first round, and still aged only 14, he earns two victories.;
Ben 2_thumb.jpg;Ben 2.jpg;Ben (left) is unlucky in the elimination rounds, but gains experience and bags some ranking points.;
Ben 3_thumb.jpg;Ben 3.jpg;Ben (left) is one of RFCs most promising cadets, and is performing well in his first season.;
Paul 1_thumb.jpg;Paul 1.jpg;Paul Dazeley (right, wearing red mask) is another youngster, and does well in the poules.  He is unlucky to lose in the L64 - beaten 15-14 by Alain!;
Phil 3_thumb.jpg;Phil 3.jpg;Philippe Barbasiewicz (left) gets off to a flying start, winning all his poule fights.;
Phil 1_thumb.jpg;Phil 1.jpg;Phil (left) does well to make the L32 and secure his ranking points gained last year.;
Phil 2_thumb.jpg;Phil 2.jpg;Phil Barbasiewicz (left).;
Roger 1_thumb.jpg;Roger 1.jpg;Roger Macmillan (left) tears into the opposition in the poule stages.;
Roger 2_thumb.jpg;Roger 2.jpg;He gets a tough draw in the tableau, and is unlucky to finish 69th (losing by 1 hit).;
Steve 1_thumb.jpg;Steve 1.jpg;Steve Bateman (right) stretches out for a hit in the poule stages, winning 3/6 fights.;
Steve 2_thumb.jpg;Steve 2.jpg;Steve (left) sneaks under radar to score another hit.  Winning his first elimination fight, he comes a respectable 51st to start his climb up the rankings.;