Mass. epee clubs?

[willy]

Hi -- I am wondering if there is any decent women's epee at any of the clubs in MA. Also, is there any epee at Tanner City? That's the club I am closest to for the next couple of weeks. Would appreciate any advice any of you would be willing to share.

[DJ Apostrophe]

Hi.

I can't say if there is currently any Women's Epee at Tanner City... but I can say that we (http://www.prisedefer.com) have plenty of it. Wednesday is the best night and Friday is right behind. Monday is starting to develop into one, and even Thursday to a lesser extent.

Things usually get started about 7 or 730, and last until 10 or so. I hope you come by. Call the club ( 978-663-6633 ) if you have any questions. Directions are on the website: http://www.prisedefer.com/Directions...lkner_mill.htm

I hope to see you.

-w

[dreamer90024]

As a female epeeist in Massachusetts I have to say that the biggest presence at the moment is Prise de Fer. While I don't fence there, I've come up against their fencers in competition and they are good fencers.

It would depend where in Mass you were though. PdF is in Billerica. In Beverly there's a pretty good club as far as epee goes called 3MB (3 Mullarkey Brothers) and Zeta Fencing Studio is (I think) about 20 minutes outside of Boston. The only female epeeists at that club that I know of are two middle aged women, but they both compete nationally and Zorin did coach Kira Hohensee, so he probably knows what he's doing. Zeta is now an epee and sabre club only. The Boston Fencing Club doesn't have any strong women's epee competitors at the moment, but they have in the past and the men's epee (to my knowledge) is fairly strong.

And if you're looking in Western Mass I have to throw a word in for my own club, the Northampton Fencing Center. We're a pretty small club at the moment, but we've got good space and excellent epee coaching and couple good women's epee fencers.

I think that pretty much covers it as far as strong presences in women's epee in the NE division goes. Oh and there's also the Rhode Island Fencing Academy and Club if you're up for the drive. They have a fairly strong epee program, though as far as I'm aware it's mainly a junior program.

[whtouche]

and Zeta Fencing Studio is (I think) about 20 minutes outside of Boston. The only female epeeists at that club that I know of are two middle aged women, but they both compete nationally and Zorin did coach Kira Hohensee, so he probably knows what he's doing.

I know when you're young, older people tend to seem much older than they actually are, but I can think of at least one female epeeist from Zeta who would probably resent being labeled a "middle aged woman"

[dreamer90024]

I know when you're young, older people tend to seem much older than they actually are, but I can think of at least one female epeeist from Zeta who would probably resent being labeled a "middle aged woman"

Well I have met two and they are the only epeeists from Zeta I know of and I'm fairly sure that one, if not both of them, fences Vet, but perhaps we are thinking of different people. Perhaps I should resent you implying that there's something wrong with my perception

Oops I just remembered one fencer whom you would be right about, but I still think I'm right about the other two, and they were the ones I was thinking of when I wrote that.

[epeemike81]

The only female epeeists at that club that I know of are two middle aged women, but they both compete nationally and Zorin did coach Kira Hohensee, so he probably knows what he's doing. Zeta is now an epee and sabre club only.

It's worth noting that Kira was already an A and a highly ranked national fencer when she first started going to Zoran.

And that she is now off at Princeton and her remaining siblings attend.... Prise de Fer.

-m

[trazom]

I am moving to Providence area, although that might change in the next year to closer to Boston. Before grad school I competed nationally, and am thinking about getting back into it on a casual, recreational level. Are there clubs local to the area which are good for adult fencers?

After I stopped fencing, I continued to referree a bit, but, I am now a little out of practice. I really want to pick this back up. Are there clubs and referees which are willing to mentor? I know what I'm doing in epee for the most part, and had been working on adding foil and sabre before grad school consumed all of my free time. I did referee epee at nationals for a couple of years.

Thanks.

[willy]

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful info -- I fence in Norcal, though my parents live here, so it is nice to have other training options when in town. I will check out Prise de Fer next wednesday.

[hello?]

Kira was indeed a good fencer when she got to Zoran's...BUT she got her A with Zoran strip-coaching her, during a Nationals Div-1-A...if I am not mistaken. She has not renewed it since she left...

[dreamer90024]

Kira was indeed a good fencer when she got to Zoran's...BUT she got her A with Zoran strip-coaching her, during a Nationals Div-1-A...if I am not mistaken. She has not renewed it since she left...

it's true she hasn't renewed it, but I was under the impression that's because she mainly fences NCAA and other college tournaments, which do not give out ratings

[MyrddinsPrecint]

I am moving to Providence area, although that might change in the next year to closer to Boston. Before grad school I competed nationally, and am thinking about getting back into it on a casual, recreational level. Are there clubs local to the area which are good for adult fencers?

After I stopped fencing, I continued to referree a bit, but, I am now a little out of practice. I really want to pick this back up. Are there clubs and referees which are willing to mentor? I know what I'm doing in epee for the most part, and had been working on adding foil and sabre before grad school consumed all of my free time. I did referee epee at nationals for a couple of years.

Thanks.

if you're in the providence area and don't fence sabre, i would suggest trying RIFAC. if it's a good match for you, it's closer than the boston-area clubs.

RIFAC is not, however, for everyone, like pretty much every other club in existance. so then try some of the bostonish area clubs, which have mostly been discussed already in this thread.


(and, as a rhode islander, i'm refering to "boston" in a REALLY vague way. more directional than anything else. )

[jenna930]

Hi!

3MB in Beverly is very close to Tanner City (two towns over). We have many strong epeeists at our club. We are open on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 7-9 and you are welcome to come by anytime. For more information, see our website (www.3mb.org).

[oiuyt]

Not that it matters a huge amount as to where good WE fencers in the Boston area are, but here are some of Kira's (A-earning) results:

Bronze DIA National Championships, Sacramento, CA July 2001
8th DI National Championships, Louisville, KY April 2002
Gold DIA National Championships, Greenville, SC July 2002

Notice that she's earned her A at least 3 times in different cities, at different tournaments. I don't which, if any, of these were while working with Zoran. In 2001-2002 she was still listed as a member of Northeast division. 2002-2003 (15th in DIA) she was listed as a member of New England division, and this is presumably after her move to Zeta. Whether that move predates the 2nd and 3rd A's I don't know, but I know the first A was while still working with Chris Pullo (Seacoast), and I believe all three were.

Another club that hasn't been mentioned yet in this thread is Amoskeag, just over the border in Nashua, NH. Couple of points-list level WE fencers there.

-B

[epeemike81]

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful info -- I fence in Norcal, though my parents live here, so it is nice to have other training options when in town. I will check out Prise de Fer next wednesday.

well, I'm here at Prise de Fer.....

you don't seem to be....

what happened? and can we expect to see you some other night?

-m

[willy]

Well, I was planning to go to PDF last night, but got stuck in traffic south of Boston until it was too late. So, sorry to flake out! I don't think I am going to make it this trip to Mass, but will next time (probably in the spring). I really appreciate all the help.

[epeemike81]

No problem.

if you want, we will be there fencing tonight.

-m