Anybody going to the Middlebury Open?

[darius]

I lied. Despite the silliness of driving to Vermont on a Friday, back on Sunday, and then returning to VT on Wednesday, I'm coming to Middlebury, with seven University of Rochester fencers.

Original plans were for the Arnold. While I want the event to succeed, but the prospect just didn't seem exciting ... in some weapons, they're below the sixteen-person threshhold for the 2nd day, you know that you won't be fencing any of the elites (in another event), and I see the top attending competitors at practice every day.

darius

[DJ Apostrophe]

Viveka updated the tourney numbers, thought everyone might like to see.. note that numbers are capped at 64 for each morning (across all events) and 64 for each afternoon... so if you haven't pre reged for open foil or epee... you might want to do that now:

Saturday morning:
Youth (12-) U foil-10 registered as of 2/28,
veterans foil-8 registered as of 2/28,
open sabre-11 registered as of 2/28

Saturday afternoon:
Open foil. 43 registered as of 2/28

Sunday morning:
Novice foil (age 13+)-10 registered as of 2/28,
veterans epee-10 registered as of 2/28

Sunday afternoon:
Open epee. 59 registered as of 2/28

-w

[KD5MDK]

Wow. I thought the Southwest was a sparse place to fence sabre, but we at least regularly make B1 and B2 tournaments.

[telkanuru]

Any news of the strength of the fencers registered for the opens?

[Mauler]

I've been to Middlebury Open maybe three or four times in the past. Great folks, fun fencing. For any novice to intermediate fencers the exprience is AWESOME. For higher level fencers (especially from isolated regions) it's an additional weekend they can bout with their old friends.

Open Sabre has been generally very weak due to the travel distance from Sabre-strong regions (ie, NYC, Boston). And there has been very little local development in the weapon. Foil and Epee, however, draw a large crowd and there are enough local talents to keep things interesting.

The fact that it's a Sectional Circuit event should encourage more involvement from North East and hopefully New England and Hudson-Berkshire as well, if not anyone else. However, as Brett mentioned, NCAA Regional Championships are being held on the same weekend. Most sectional referees and top collegiate fencers have conflicting obligations that weekend.

Local hospitality, btw, has always been fantastic. First year I was there, Viveka gladly welcomed 15 or so hungry and smelly Sabre-pukes to spend the weekend at her place.

[oiuyt]

Wow. I thought the Southwest was a sparse place to fence sabre, but we at least regularly make B1 and B2 tournaments.

This is a division which, 2 seasons ago when I was regularly making the 4-hour (each way) drive to fence in their local events, was home to exactly 2 people who owned electric sabre kit. And since then one of them has moved across the country.

I assume that some other GMD members have equipment now, but it's not a division known for quantity of sabre fencers.

And we all know most sabre fencers are lazy and aren't going to drive off into the wilds of VT for an unknown quantity tournament. And given that we know the tournament will be weak, they are even less likely to go. And there's an open tournament in Boston the same weekend for those who do want to compete, which clearly doesn't help (although didn't seem to hurt the F/E crowds). Hopefully some people will start targetting it as an easy way to pick up circuit points and that will increase the attendance and strength for future years.

Unfortunately I'm coaching at NCAA regionals that day which precludes me from being in attendance.

-B :)

[telkanuru]

It didn't hurt the epee crowd because epee is on saturday at worcester and sunday at middlebury! I'm going to both! [insert manical laughter]

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Actually the circuit is run by me, personally, rather than by the section per se. This is the first year of existance for the circuit and it was started with 6 events: Granite State Open (Northeast Division, specifically NH), Turkey Stab Open (Connecticut Division), Middlebury Open (Green Mountain Division/VT), Senior Sectionals (Long Island Division this year, althought obviously this changes), Hudson-Berkshire Championships (Hudson-Berkshire Division, mostly NY, these are open events despite being divisional championships), and the Pomme de Terre (New England Division, MA). Top 4 of 6 results count towards the standings, 2 events have already taken place. Winner in each of six weapons will receive a decorative sword prize. Darius- talk to me in person sometime for more details.

........ i'm assuming it's the open event of PdT only, and the unrated is being blatently ignored????????? i mean, that's the only way it makes sense at all..... but i figure i'll double check : )

[DJ Apostrophe]

It didn't hurt the epee crowd because epee is on saturday at worcester and sunday at middlebury! I'm going to both! [insert manical laughter]

the same with foil... open foil in middlebury is Saturday,and in Boston (Waltham) it is Sunday... sabre is less the case as sabre open in Middlebury is Saturday and Women's sabre open is in Worcester on saturday and Mens sabre is in Boston (Waltham) on Sunday.

-w