Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 17, No. 6. April 22, 1953

Fencing Club Exhibition

Fencing Club Exhibition

The college Swords Club held a most successful demonstration of the art of fencing in the Upper Gym on Monday, March 30. Visitors had been invited to attend and were rewarded by seeing some of the best fencing which has occurred around the place since the Provincial Tournament was held here.

Each of the three weapons used by the Swords Club were demonstrated, namely the foil, epee and the sabre, First on the floor wore Julius Stafford (club captain of the Wellington Swords Club, Empire Games sabreur and sometime provincial champion) and Fane. Flaws of Victoria ( also an Empire Games representative and ex-provincial champion). The sabre is the roost spectacular weapon-play to watch as it is the only weapon which still retains a cutting edge. Following this was a demonstration of epee fighting, this weapon being the direct descendant of the old duelling sword. When fighting epee, the whole body is legitimate target, and points ore scored only by thrusts with the point. The demonstrators of this weapon were Walter Stafford, nation and provincial epee champion, and Eric Flaws, president of the Amatour Fencing Federation and prominent epeeist. The foil, the classic weapon of the fencing salle and the one to which all beginners to the sport are first introduced, was demonstrated by Alan Fenton, a member of the Wellington Sword Club senior men's team, and Ian Free, provincial intermediate Foil champion and captain of the Victoria College Tournament team last year. Also demonstrating foil, for it is the weapon from which ladles get most pleasure, were Miss Olga Brooke-Taylor and Miss Julie Flockton, both of the college club in 1950 Miss Brooke-Taylor was N.Z.U. ladles' champion, while Miss Flockton was runner-up ladies national champion in the same year. An interesting and willing bout of epee was seen between Charles Fearnley, Empire Games fencer from Wellington Swords Club and Peter Hampton, Victoria's club captain Mr. Hampton, who is also runner-up to the provincial foil title had a most exciting bout with the title-holder, Walter Stafford.

The demonstration which lasted an hour, was followed by supper and the evening was concluded by visitors being invited to watch the large crowd of fencers present participate in general fencing loose play.

The Swords Club, which organised the evening, welcomes new members to this interesting and healthful sport and offers a welcome to all on Tuesday nights in the Gym at 7.30. Supper is served every club night.

White Plume.