Welcome to the Autumn 2 newsletter! Halloween is this weekend and Bonfire Night follows soon after. Did you know our logo uses flames as a nod to Lewes’s famous bonfire heritage? Speaking of logos, read on for some exciting news about our club kit.
🗓️ New Minis Term (Sundays, 9:00–10:00am)
- Dates: Sunday 1st November – Sunday 13th December (7 weeks)
- Fee: £56 for the full term
- Advance notice: the following term will run from 10th January to 7th February.
👉 Fees can be paid via the website: lewesfencingclub.org.uk/purchase
🕒 All Other Sessions (Unchanged)
- Sunday: 10:00am–12:00pm
- Wednesday: 7:00pm–9:00pm
🤺 Courses: Spread the Word!
Do you have friends or family who’d like to try fencing? We’d love to welcome them.
- Adult Course (14+): A 6-week course on Wednesday evenings, starting 13th January, 7:00–8:00pm. Cost: £70.
- Taster Sessions (ages 6–13): One-hour taster sessions during our Sunday 9:00–10:00am session, £12 per session.
To book or check availability, please ask them to email enquiries@lewesfencingclub.org.uk.
🎄 Christmas Social
We’re heading back to the Dorset for our Christmas social on Sunday 13th December, with food served at 12:30pm! We’ve been there a few times now, and they always put on a great spread and can cater for any dietary requirements. Please come along and join us. It’s a lovely chance to catch up off the piste.
💻 New Website
Our website has had a refresh. Take a look at https://www.lewesfencingclub.org.uk/. If you think anything is missing or could be improved, please let us know.
⚔️ New Weapon: Sabre
If you’ve already looked at the website or were at the club last Sunday, you’ll have noticed that we now offer sabre, with coaching led by Alice Lancaster. You can read Alice’s profile here: https://www.lewesfencingclub.org.uk/our-courses-coaches/our-coaches/
We’ll continue to offer the same excellent épée coaching, and sabre will be an addition to it. Sabre will follow the same format as our épée, with plenty of chances to learn from the other weapon. Whether you’re an established sabreur, trying a different weapon or looking to develop your competitive fencing, coaching is tailored to your experience and ambitions. Fencers who want more intensive training can also book high-performance coaching with Alice, covering specialist footwork, strength and conditioning, and competition preparation.
Our aim is to build a thriving, welcoming sabre and épée community at Lewes, where fencers can enjoy both weapons, develop their skills and reach their potential.
⚠️ Safety Reminder: Neighbouring Pistes
We need to mention this one again. When you’re fencing next to another piste, please keep an eye on what your neighbours are doing. This matters even more with the wireless kit. We regularly see people getting very close to fencers on the next piste, often without a mask on.
- Need to retrieve something from the middle of the piste, such as a wireless pack or a drink? Wait for your neighbours to pause, then move quickly.
- Fencing on the neighbouring piste and spot a problem? Call a halt and, if there’s room, move away from the adjacent piste to create a safe buffer.
📅 Upcoming Épée Competitions
Here are the épée competitions within about two hours of Lewes over the next few months. They’re a great way to test your skills, and we’d love to see some LFC fencers on the start lists!
November
- LPJS Salle Paul Phoenix Épée: Sunday 8th November, Leon Paul Fencing Centre, London (Leon Paul Junior Series)
- Leon Paul U14 Open: Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th November, Leon Paul Fencing Centre, London
- Sussex Open: Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd November, The Triangle Leisure Centre, Burgess Hill. Épée, foil and sabre.
December
- British U23 Épée Championships: Saturday 5th – Sunday 6th December, Leon Paul Fencing Centre, London
- Capital Open: Saturday 5th December, Redbridge Sports Centre, Ilford
- 12th Leon Paul Épée Open: Saturday 12th – Sunday 13th December, Leon Paul Fencing Centre, London
- Leon Paul Mixed Pairs Challenge: Friday 18th December, Leon Paul Fencing Centre, London (team event)
Full details and entry links are on the British Fencing events page: britishfencing.com/find-fencing-events
👕 Club Kit: Great News!
We’re working with our kit supplier on our very own club kit website, which should go live in the next week or so. We’ll post the link on our website as soon as we have it. In the meantime, we still have club T-shirts available and would love to see them find a home before the new range arrives. If you’d like one, please speak to Della or Gordon.
🙌 We Need Your Help
The club runs on volunteers, and we’re always grateful for extra support. Here are a few ways you could get involved:
- Parents’ Representative on the committee: Our committee is very low-key. Most discussion happens on WhatsApp, with the occasional meeting in a pub. The role is about being the eyes and ears for our under-18s from a non-coaching perspective.
- Session setup and pack-down: More hands means less work for everyone.
- Course administration: Helping with course bookings and keeping a steady intake across all age groups.
If you can help in any way, big or small, please speak to any committee member.
Best wishes,
Claire, Della, Gordon, Lewis and Simon
The LFC Committee