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 http://e24.fba.mytemp.website/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