Blog

Hi

We hope you are all ready for a frightful Halloween tonight and are looking forward to a banging Bonfire night next week.

Minis Group (9am – 10am)

We welcome you back this weekend at 9am (3rd November), our new grading scheme is coming to fruition, when numbers allow we will start teaching metal weapons to those that have graded along side the plastic ones who are still on the pathway.  The term for the Minis will finish on the 15th December and start back on the 5th January

Competitions

A new fencing season started in September and our first local competitions start really soon.

The first is the open on the 23rd November at the Triangle Burgess Hill, this is a Saturday so hopefully we will have a good showing.  Entries are via the Sport 80 website.

Hot on its heels on the 14th December at the Davison School in Worthing is the Sussex Senior County competition, again this is a Saturday and booking is via Sport 80.

The first one in 2025, is the County Junior on the 11th January at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy, Whilst over 13’s can fence in the above two, this comp covers those born between 2010 and 2016. There will be regulations based on age groups for this competition, please speak to Della, Gordon or Lewis for more details. Entry is via Sport 80.

Christmas Social

Our social this year is on the 15th December after our club session, it will be at the Dorset again, we have tried other venues to make a change, but cannot find anywhere that is able to take a group.  If you have any ideas, please do let us know and we will investigate for future socials.  The social is open to all club members, past, present and those away for uni.  Family and friends are also welcome.  Tickets will be available shortly once we have confirmed the menu.

Beginners course

This week saw the last night of our beginners course. We hope to see them all come back and enjoy the club and sport some more.  This does mean we now open booking for our next course, the course will start towards the end of January starting on the 29th for 6 weeks.  Please tell your friends, it would make a good Christmas present.

Club Wear

Talking of Christmas presents, we have a few T-shirts and hoodies left in club colours, please see Della if you would like to get one for your Stocking.

Session Breaks

As always we will close for the Minis over Christmas, but because Christmas falls mid week we will also have closures affecting the other groups. Wednesday nights are closed on both the 25th December and the 1st Jan. We will also be closed on Sunday 29th December

PLEASE NOTE DUE TO HALL MAINTAINENCE WE WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY THE 6th NOVEMBER

Sunday 10th November

We know a number of you are in parades etc on or around Remembrance Sunday, as always we will be observing the minutes silence on the 10th.  Please do consider this whilst at the club.

Help!!!

As always we could do with help around the club, either formally on the committee or informally just looking after kit, working on the website etc.  If this is something you would like to offer, please do get in touch.

We look forward to seeing you all soon.

Ashley, Claire, Della, Gordon, Jo, Lewis and Simon.

The LFC Committee

Hi, Well, summer has not been great for the Sun although it seems to be picking up now.  Thanks to everyone who continued to fence throughout the summer, this is the first time we have done it and the numbers were good so we see no reason to change it next year.

Olympics and Paralympics

We hope you all got a chance to see some of the fencing at the Olympics, its a shame there was no GB team, but we are represented in the Paralympics, the schedule can be found here https://www.paralympic.org/en/paris-2024-paralympics/schedule/wheelchair-fencing, Channel 4 has promised to show all the events on their Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNxbq2vWbmXQeyZPGYTnT6Q and BF have a Paralympics zoho here https://www.britishfencing.com/paralympics-zone/

Mini’s

We welcome back our mini group as of the 8th September at 9 am, you guys will be back fencing with us at 9am for 7 weeks, with term ending on the 29th of October.  Payment of £35 can be made at the usual place https://www.lewesfencingclub.org.uk/purchase/

Towards the end of July Lewis sent out a survey. Thanks to everyone who has responded, you help us shape the club. Here is the feedback and changes:

Club-Wide

• We will create more opportunities to work towards BF Grades (3, 4, 5 and 6) for U12s, U14s, Cadets and Seniors during pair work classes.

• We have created a clear pathway through the club, which has 3 levels. This is shown in a flowchart which we will display. Your stage and level indicates what we can help you work towards.

• We are aligning our club groups (e.g. Minis) with age group names used nationwide (e.g. Under 10s). A graphic has been created to explain this.

Minis (U8s & U10s)

• Head coach works with U10s classes

• There will be opportunities for Under 10s to progress to metal swords where proficiency and safety with plastic swords have been demonstrated. As differential development in this age range can create large physical differences between children, all progressions will take the child as a whole into account.

• Minis classes will become more child-led for activities and a clear structure will be put in place for peer-assisted learning. This will support Minis to achieve the British Fencing grades BF1 and BF2 (metal group only) and newly created Lewes Fencing grades M1, M2, and M3 (plastic group).

The Minis especially will experience quite a bit of change, we’d really appreciate your support in helping them through this. Lewis is more than happy to talk through the improvements of you’d like to know more. The goal is to provide more support and differentiation for fencers, whilst encouraging exploration of events at earlier ages for those that want to.

Wednesday nights

This continues to gain more fencers and are generally busy busy, we have 12 people regularly, if the older fencers 14+, want to get more time in on the strip please do consider it.

Dates for your diary

28th September 1pm-5pm, Lewis will be running a course at his Dragonhead base, booking here https://forms.office.com/r/EYN9Ywdexs

19th October, Elite Epee Event in Surrey see https://eliteepee.com/

26th October, Lewis will be running another course at his Dragonhead base, see him for more details

28th-30th October, Indigo Training at Davison leisure center in Worthing, we will put the details up on the door, we have a number of members who have done this previously so you could ask around if you are unsure.

23rd November, Sussex Open, booking can be made on Sport 80

14th December County Senior championships, yet to be fully confirmed.

15th December, Christmas social, yet to be fully confirmed.

18th January Sussex Junior event, yet to be fully confirmed.

8th February 2025, BYC Qualifiers, booking can be made on Sport 80

Don’t forget to check Sport 80 for other events.

BF Development

For those who are looking to really compete at higher levels please consider the BF Athlete Development Program, more info can be found here https://www.britishfencing.com/athlete-development-programme-zone/joining-the-adp/, entries open again in January. Please speak with Lewis if you are interested in this.

Club Wear

We still have club t-shirts available, if you would like one please speak to Della or Gordon

Volunteering

If you have any skills you think the club would benefit from, eg Website work or just want to help mould the club, please talk to one of the committee.

Adult Course

Our course for Adults will be starting on the 25th September and the following 5 weeks, if you have any friends or relatives that may want to try please do get them to email the club.

And finally Goodbye but see you soon.

We will be loosing a number of our fencers to University in the coming weeks, we are stressing to them that them leaving does not mean that can never come back and we hope to see you in the holidays (and reading weeks).  You know where to find us, and make sure you sign up to the Fencing Societies.  We wish you all the best of luck in your exciting new adventures.

Once again, thanks for being great club members and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Ashley, Claire, Della, Gordon, Jo, Lewis and Simon.

The LFC Committee

A quick reminder of our summer hours until September.

Sundays

Minis (With Della): Closed no fencing.

Steamers (with Della, Lewis and Gordon): as normal 10am  to 11am (but you can stay until 12pm)

Lewis’s main group: as normal 10am  to 11am (but you can stay until 12pm)

All others: as normal 10am-12pm

Wednesday night

Anyone happy fencing on piste: 7pm to 9pm (nb no tuition or formal coaching)

Both sessions open to PAYG as well as members, Sunday members can do PAYG if they would like to come to both.

Summer Survey

To try and understand what our members (and PAYG fencers) want from the club Lewis has compiled a Survey, whilst we do ask for the Fencers name it is optional.  Please visit here to complete the survey.

Give Fencing a go Olympic Open Day – Free
Open to all your friends and family we will be opening the club for anyone to have a go (with plastic and foam weapons).  The event will run from 10am – 12pm on the 28th July no need to book and no charge, just come in when you/they have some time.  

Club Kit

We still have hoodies and t-shirts with our new logo if people haven’t got theirs yet, hoodies are just £35 and T’s from £15.

Indigo Course

Maggie Maynard is running another Indigo course.  It runs from 3rd until the 5th August at the Davison leisure centre Worthing, you can do 1 (£50), 2 (£100) or 3 (£145) days.  Email maggie@sea-lodge.co.uk for more details.

Lost Property

We have a light blue hoodie, with a sharks mouth for the hood left behind on the 7th July, we have it safe in the Kit room.  If its yours please come along on any Sunday morning or Wednesday evening to pick it up.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Ashley, Claire, Della, Gordon, Lewis and Simon.

The LFC Committee

Hi All

Welcome to the Easter term

Most of us will have been fencing through out the break but Mini’s we look forward to seeing you this Sunday. To confirm :-

Mini’s: 9am through to 10am

Warmup, fencing games and footwork: for Steamers and above from 10am to 10:20am

Steamers: 10:20am to 11am

Group Lessons * 2 : 10:20 am through to 11am

Piste fighting: 10 am through to 12 pm

Mini Fees

Mini’s £30 for the 6 week term 18th Feb through to 24th March Inc

NB There will be no Fencing on the 31st March as it is Easter Sunday.

Mini’s: Please make payment for the term here asap to confirm your place.

Steamers: Please confirm by email you still wish to fence with us.

Competition Round Up

BYC Qualifiers: 

There was a good representation from Lewes and our friends.  There were over 150 competitors on the day with a lot of fencing by all.

The results were as follows

Charlie C L8

Vincent S 3*

Carter R L16

Harrison H 1*

Charles P L32

Fintan L L32

Oleksij T L16

Zedd S L16

Alexander LH L64

Harrison B L32

William KL32

Emily C 3*

Congratulations to Vincent, Harrison and Emily for achieving medal places.

The BYC Qualifiers lead to the actual BYC’s in Sheffield later in the year.  Congratulations to:

Charlie C
Vincent S

Harrison H

Oleksij T
Zedd S

Emily C

All who qualified.

Finlay  L will also be at the BYC having Qualified automatically from his great placing last year.

Good Luck to everyone.

Upcoming Competitions

South East Senior: 10th March, open to everyone 13 and over on the 1st January 2024 (must fence with a size 5 blade) entries via Sport 80 https://bf.sport80.com/v/29900/e/events

Sussex Open: 19th May entries via Sport 80 https://bf.sport80.com/v/29900/e/events

You can see a full events list here https://www.britishfencing.com/find-fencing-events/ and via Sport 80 Events Page

If you have any questions about entering please speak to Della, Gordon or Lewis.

Referee Alert!!

Gordon M and Finlay L both had their Referee L2 practical test at the BYQ Qualifiers and both passed with flying colours. Well done guys.

Wednesday Nights

We all know Sunday is our main club day, but we also fence on Wednesday nights, it’s just a fight night, excellent for just regular fencing and practicing the skills you learnt on Sunday.  You can come on a PAYG basis or incorporate it in your Standing Order if you come regularly.

Adult Course

If any friends or family have been jealous of your fencing or expressed an interest, we are starting our next adult (14 and over) course on 17th April, a 6 week course, 7-8pm.  They can register their interest here.

Club Kit

Thanks to Finlay L and his girlfriend we have a new logo, to go with it we have ordered some T-Shirts and Hoodies with the new branding.

We hope to have this by the end of February, pricing and availability has yet to be announced.  It’s not mandatory to buy club kit, but it would good if you do any competitions so that we stand out!!!

If you have any questions on anything relating to the club do just get in contact.

See you all soon.

Ashley, Claire, Della, Gordon, Lewis and Simon.

The LFC Committee

Hi All

We hope you have had a great Christmas.  For those who had fencing toys for Christmas, we hope you are looking forward to trying them out.  And for those who had overindulged are ready to get rid of the extra mince pies.

Our new Sunday term starts on Sunday the 7th January, there are no changes to the format,

Mini’s: 9am through to 10am

Warmup, fencing games, and footwork: for Steamers and above from 10am to 10:20am

Steamers: 10:20am to 11am

Group Lessons * 2 : 10:20am through to 11am

Piste fighting: 10am through to 12pm

Fees – Members

Mini’s £25 for the 7 week term 7th Jan through to 4th February Inc

Concessions and Students*: £20 per month paid by Standing Order for one session per week

Adults*: £24 per month paid by Standing Order for one session per week (Sunday or Wednesday)

Two sessions per week is £32 and £40 respectively per month paid by Standing Order (Sunday and Wednesday)

Mini’s: Please make payment for the term here ASAP so as to confirm your place.

Steamers: Please confirm by email you still wish to fence with us.

* Our next Scheduled Sunday break for other Club Members is Easter Sunday 31st March

Fees PAYG

Concessions and Students £8 per session, Adults £10 per session.

Competition Round Up

Sussex Youth: 17th of December saw the youth in competition, we had a great turnout and set of results. 

Unders 10’s Eric : Gold

Under 14’s Harrison H: Gold Charlie: Silver Alfie: Bronze Charlie C: 6th

Under 18’s Boys William K: Gold Oleksij: Bronze Baptiste: Bronze Alex LH: 7th Zedd: 9th Harrison B: 10th Nat: 12th

Under 18’s Girls Emily: Gold

Well Done Everyone.

Upcoming Competitions

Sussex Senior: 14th January, open to everyone 13 and over on the 1st January 2024 (must fence with a size 5 blade) entries via All Entries https://allentries.co.uk/competitions/view/SCC-23

South East Youth Championships (British Youth Championship Qualifier): 4th February entries  via Sport 80 https://bf.sport80.com/v/29900/e/events

You can full events list here https://www.britishfencing.com/find-fencing-events/ and via Sport 80 Events Page

If you have any questions about entering please speak to Della, Gordon or Lewis.

Wednesday Nights

We all know Sunday is our main club day, but we also fence on Wednesday nights, it’s just a fight night, excellent for just regular fencing and practicing the skills you learned on Sunday.  You can come on a PAYG basis or incorporate it in your Standing Order if you come regularly.

For those fencing on Sundays, as you have had a couple of weekends without any fencing, please feel free to join us this week on the 3rd 7 pm-9 pm.  There will be no charge (if you pay by PAYG normal rates will apply).

Adult Course

If any friends or family have been jealous of your fencing or expressed an interest, we are starting our next adult (14 and over) course on 17th January, a 6 week course, 7-8pm for 6 Wednesdays.  They can register their interest here.

And finally, we wish you all a very Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Ashley, Claire, Della, Gordon, Lewis and Simon.

The LFC Committee