Reading Fencing clubs is always active with competitions against ourseleves and other clubs in the region.
Please be advised of the development and construction plans for the new MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) at Reading Blue Coat School, which now has a start date of Monday 30 July.
The project is thought to take between 8-10 weeks to complete, and as a result there will be disruption potentially up until October half-term if there is any additional time required. Certainly up until the start of the new school term at the beginning of September, the whole access road outside the front of the sports centre will be out of bounds. There will however, be a clear path along the side of the science block for pedestrian access to the sports facilities, gym dining hall etc. The building site itself will be an enclosed compound, so no-one should be able to gain access to it.
Other than the restricted access to the sports centre access road, the main change for all bookings over this period will be the fire evacuation procedures. Instead of Walled Garden being the assembly point for all fire drills/alarms, the new meeting point will now be at the back of Way Hall (on Way Hall field).
Many thanks for your co-operation in this busy but exciting time for the school’s sports facilities!
Our 2018 Annual General Meeting is being held this Wednesday. You can view the agenda, last year’s minutes, and the various reports by clicking here.
We’ll have a few copies available on the night, however, please bring your own or save paper and view it on your smartphone/tablet.
Many fencers that have taken part in our local county and regional competitions will likely have come across Joan Mason. Volunteering well into her 70s, Joan passed away recently at the age of 90.
The funeral will be held next Tuesday, 24 July, at Slough Crematorium at 1030hrs and is open for anyone to attend.
Please be aware that the above event planned for this Sunday at St Gabriel’s School has been postponed due to entry levels and a welfare issue (summer temperatures).
You should check the SR website for any updates on when future events take place.
As UK Sport looks ahead to Paris 2024 with a new public consultation, the athletes within the sports, including fencing, cast aside by UK Sport’s current investment policy have little hope for change.
Your say in this consultation (link here) will influence how the sport’s athletes are supported in the future.
For the full BFA CEO’s letter in full, click here.
There were three RFC teams who travelled to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) for the first in another round of club matches.
The RFC fencers were – Chris Smith, Mike Smith, James Radford (RFC A), Rathish Punneli, Niall Maynard, Lewis Jackson (RFC B), Ashlee Grainger, Chris Pyrah, Josh Jackson (RFC C).
There were two rounds of team relay matches, with the RFC teams winning all but one match. RFC A won their final match against RMAS A in a very tight affair by 45-40, where both teams claimed slender leads for the first few bouts, before extending their lead towards the end of the match.
The full results were as follows:
RMAS A v RFC B – lost 45-34 RMAS B v RFC A – won 45-19 RMAS C v RFC C – won 45-24
RMAS A v RFC A – won 45-40 RMAS B v RFC C – won 45-18 RMAS C v RFC B – won 45-34
A return match will be hosted by RFC on 11th July, open to all fencers except those with international experience. If you are interested in fencing, please either email the club or speak to Phil.
Rebecca Mayle won the Women’s Epee in the recent Chichester Open.
Steven Bateman and Niall Maynard finished 28th and 41st respectively in the Men’s Epee.
Well done to all our fencers!
The England Youth Championships (BYCs) took place last weekend in Hatfield, with entrants having qualified by finishing in the top 3 places of the Southern Section championships. There were a couple of RFC fencers in action.
Elizabeth Ryan came 17th in the U11 Girls Epee and Aedyn Pratley was 45th in the U15 Boys Epee. Genevieve Pratley also came 6th in the U11 Girls Sabre.
Well done to all our fencers!
Some helpful tips on fencing training and performance has just been published by a fellow épéeist, Dr. Lindsay Bottoms. Click here to view.
Well done Rebecca Mayle who wins the prize in this months club competition. Full results here.