Duel in Desert -- RESULTS?

[Bugaboo]

I don't trust the organizers of the Duel in the Desert (Las Vegas) to actually post results very quickly. Does anyone here have info on the top finishers?

Observations from those who attended also would be appreciated.

[Craig]

This was the best run event that I have been to. The people who put this event on deserve a lot of praise.

In Open Foil (Mixed Foil) we had 95 competitors - 15 strips. We started on time at 9am and by 5pm the final bout was over.

Sean McClain beat Michael Marx 15-14 in a great bout. This bout was one to see - started out with Michael taking an early lead and Sean seeming to have given up (based upon his body language) or at least feeling really frustrated.

Sean switched weapons - which seemed to knock some cobwebs loose - and scored 2 or 3 unanswered points. At that point, his confidence returned and the rest of the match had Sean and Michael trading touches.

The best thing about the bout was the contrast in styles. I don't think Marx flicked once and over half of Sean's points were on flicks. (Including a very nice jump-flick riposte to the back with Marx ducking.)

I ended up with good draws in the bouts and DEs and ended up 6th. Got schooled by Marx 15-3 in the top 8.

Here is the top 8 in Mixed Foil as I remember:
1. Sean McClain
2. Michael Marx
3. Julie Smith
3. Alex Wood
5. Mulholland
6. Craig Harkins
7. Bethany Cox
8. Maurin

Great tourney.

Craig

[Bugaboo]

I called Evan Ranes, one of the organizers. He said the results will likely be posted on the Web within the week.

[edew]

The events were all fairly well run. The women's sabre was almost a Group A1, except that Bethany Cox and Julie Smith couldn't get there on time (transmission broke down while driving from Utah). Still, it was a decent Group B1 women's sabre. Mixed Sabre had 33 or so people. David Cabouat won, beating Michael D'Asaro to earn his A. Other finishers included Paul Friedman, Nikolay Logatchov (last year's winner).

In Mixed Epee -- 103 strong -- Cody Mattern beat Ingo Grausam for the gold, but not for the silver. The 1000 pieces of silver, that is. I'll explain later.

In Women's foil, Felecia beat Julie Smith for both the goal and the 500 pieces of silver. Iris was third, losing to Julie Smith, while Felecia beat Bethany Cox.

For the gala finals on Saturday night, the program had the competitors fence to the final gold beforehand. That determined who won the gold. Then, the top two finalists (or the top two who wanted to compete) competed in an exhibition best 3 out of 5 (or 4 out of 7 for epee) for the $500 or $1000 in chips.

The gala started with Michael D'Asaro and David Cabouat with Michael winning 3 bouts to 1. He walked, no, ran away with his $500 and promptly lost most of it the next day guessing the Titans will do better against the Ravens.

Then Felecia and Julie went the distance with Felecia winning 5-4 after time expired in the fifth bout. Felecia started strong, leading 2-0 in bouts before Julie tied back with very brave and effective counter-attacks.

I didn't stay to watch the epee finals as I had tickets to the Penn & Teller show, but I was told the epee final between Cody and Ingo was very good. Ingo won, again, for the nth straight year, but had to fight to the very end. Ingo came out ahead 3-1 in bouts, but Cody pulled back to tie the bouts 3-3. They went to 4-4, had two simultaneous touches and then one light for Ingo.

Ingo, who has returned to Germany, fences only one tournament a year, and that is the Duel In The Desert.

I DITD it in Vegas this year (took 11th in Mixed Foil, and 18th in Mixed Sabre).

Oh, and the roller coaster ride at New York, New York is a blast. Go between 4-6pm on weekdays for the cheaper rate of $4, instead of $10.

Penn and Teller was pretty good too.

Next year, expect to see something new for the gala finals format.

[Papa Blue]

Eric,

In one place you said that Cody beat Ingo in another you say that Ingo beat Cody. What really happened.

Congrats on your great result, but you might not want to tell everyone about the highlights of your trip to NV, OK? I've heard some weird stuff about you.

Papa



------------------
-----------
Shut up and do footwork!

[Stryder]

The USFA insisted that the event be fenced entirely in their format. 15 touch bouts, direct elimination. But the event organizer wanted more drama that one bout could provide so he wanted to do a best of seven, five touch bouts.

The event organizer compromised by doing both.

The Tournament was fenced out in normal USFA fashion with the top eight earning their A 2001. Then the two finalists fenced the best of seven format for $1000.00 (these will be referred to as casino tokens in case someone makes the olympic team and they try to pull a Jim Thorpe)

[edew]

As Stryder mentioned (and I have mentioned in the other Duel In The Desert topic), the fencers completed the tournament to determine the gold. Cody got the gold. Then, they fenced again in the gala exhibition for the moolah.

I finished 18th in sabre (lost 5-4 in the pools to Junior...had him on the ropes as I was ahead 4-3) and 11th in foil (lost to Mark Mulholland 15-12).

And what weird stuff about me did you hear about?

[Papa Blue]

I don't know exactly but the grape vine says that a few of your morally decent person wires are crossed. I wouldn't worry though. That sort of thing usually blows over.

Darn kids
yours in armes
Papa Blue

[edew]

Nah. It's always good to have some moral corruptness in ones' self. Provides an aura of deviousness.

I may go into politics some day, you know.

[Nasty]

Eric as long as you own those short you use at practice you can never go into polotics and hope to get a b*** J**. (joke)
I hear you are married now?
I would think sean would have beat Mike but you never know, I hope in the next couple years I will get to go and compete at the Duel in the Desert more for the gabbling afterwards.
Sounds like a great time
Eli

[edew]

Do the gambling, yes. The shows are way more expensive than what you could possibly lose at most tables. Penn & Teller was $52/person. O and other circ de soleil shows run about $120/person, if you can get tickets.

Then again, if you want to see 200 people tap dancing, you can go by NY, NY and see the Lord of the Dance show.

I guess the only benefit from the shows is that there's no smoking.