Mixed Doubles?

[akaiyuki]

On the SoCal fencing event calendar there's a fun event "Faulkner Mixed Doubles" scheduled on 12/17. There's no other information on it so my question is....
What is that!??? Any SoCalers who might know the format of the event? Or has anyone been to an event that sounds familiar to this?

[4qtrs]

Hi Akaiyuki,

I think I can shed some light on the event. It is based off of an old event that many people have told me that they missed. Due to the date and the season we thought it would be nice to have more of a fun social event that is open to everyone.

The basic premise is that you have a mixed gender team fence to 10 touches and switch at 5 or at the time limit (3 min.), with the losing team picking the second weapon. (The other fencer must have fenced that weapon at least once in competition - otherwise the 3rd weapon was used if both fencers had never fenced with it. The fencer choosing the weapon has fenced all three, the weapon which has been fenced by both fencers will be used. All fencers must declare which weapons they have fenced at the start of the meet.) A coin toss determine who gets the choice of which gender goes first and then the other team picks the weapon.

Thoughts?

Suzy

[Jvanhousen]

The old Faulkner mixed doubles event started back around 1947. I gather that since the big old perpetual trophy had rows of engraved plaques attached with the winners' names and the date on them stretching back that far. Some of the names are pretty cool: Maxine Mitchell, Linkmeyer, Okawa, I think even Mori.
It was foil only, coin flip to see which sex started, they fenced till 3, then the other half of the couple came in to finish the 5 touch bout. I think the official event w/ the old trophy ended around the early 80's, but SoCal held a few variations on it at the Faulkner studios bringing in the other weapon formats Suzy described, for a couple of years.
I only fenced in the foil mixed event, and I wonder if having the options of fencing 3 weapons and having to have all the required gear at hand might get to be a bit cumbersome. But maybe not.

[4qtrs]

I haven't quite worked out all of the weapons. I know that someone told me that if they choose sabre, it was fenced dry. However, I am concerned about having enough equipment on hand for that.

We do have a large lost and found with weapons, but maybe it would be better to limit it to foil and epee. Then again I would hate to leave out the sabre folk.

[oiuyt]

Or, you know, run mixed doubles events in each weapon, the way most divisions/clubs that do something similar do.

The 3/5 split is new to me. What I've experienced in the past is 5/10. I like the idea of 3/5 pool bouts and then 5/10 DE bouts.

Could also do 2-person mixed teams where the DE bouts are 4 encounters of 5 to a total of 20. Let each team select their order.
A-C
B-D
A-D
B-C

-B

[notalent]

We have done various different versions thru the years, as Jvan has indicated. I think the problem with the format is the need for both fencers to have equipment to do all three weapons. The last incarnation of this was a 2 or 3 person mixed team event that each person fence a 15 touch bout in their weapon(s) with the score on the pool sheet 3-0 or 2-1 we had 8-10 teams the last time it was done 6-8 years or so ago, perhaps TrojanMD recals when it was. As for this time we could do sabre dry, I haven't forgot how to poll (and influence) the jury. If I didn't have to worry about fencing foil I would probably fence it.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by notalent

The last incarnation of this was a 2 or 3 person mixed team event that each person fence a 15 touch bout in their weapon(s) with the score on the pool sheet 3-0 or 2-1 we had 8-10 teams the last time it was done 6-8 years or so ago, perhaps TrojanMD recals when it was. As for this time we could do sabre dry, I haven't forgot how to poll (and

I rememeber that day....Laura was on my team, in fact!

I remember teams with names like the Paper Cuts anf the Angry Beavers (from CalTech...)

it WAS fun....but I also remember getting grief about it taking time away from teh competitive schedule 9since i was the div secretary at the time...I was the logical target of opportunity)

[4qtrs]

Originally Posted by notalent

If I didn't have to worry about fencing foil I would probably fence it.

So, are you in favor of fencing in a team with a specific weapon? Or letting the fencers pick the weapon?

[4qtrs]

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Could also do 2-person mixed teams where the DE bouts are 4 encounters of 5 to a total of 20. Let each team select their order.

I like that idea.

[notalent]

I like the idea of picking weapons, its tough to have gear for 3 weapons. That and there is a reason I don't fence foil, I suck at it

Originally Posted by 4qtrs

So, are you in favor of fencing in a team with a specific weapon? Or letting the fencers pick the weapon?

[ciffangh]

So, I know it does say *mixed* doubles, but would it be allowable to have a team of a single gender; that is, a team of both girls or both guys? It seems like there are more guys than girls in the area--a problem if you want to encourage more people to go (and the more people, the more fun I would figure ).

[4qtrs]

I have to admit that this comes at a good time becuase I am writing up the next newsletter and this is one of the events I am going to cover.

Although it says mixed doubles, I don't know that we should rule out same sex teams.

[formerfencer]

Originally Posted by 4qtrs

Although it says mixed doubles, I don't know that we should rule out same sex teams.

I thought the idea of 'mixed doubles' was to rule out same-sex teams. The event becomes quite different without that distinction. I do like choosing the weapons, though... for no reason other than I don't own an epee.
All this is irrelevant for me, since my would-be partner-in-crime is out of town for the weekend.

[4qtrs]

Well, it has been advertised as mixed doubles and I think it would be more fun that way. Even if it does exclude some people.

However, I think we have lots of women in SoCal, Orange Coast and San Diego who fence one of the three weapons and the idea is to mix it up and have a good robust team.

[akaiyuki]

I'm in favor that mixed gender should be encouraged but same gender teams should not be ruled out. Since this is a fun event, I think many will try to form the oddest team possible anyway. However, for some others, it might not be as easy to find someone else of the opposite gender who is going and does not have a partner already.

Based on attendence of past mixed events, I do think that there are more guys than girls fencers around the SoCal area.

[notalent]

One problem with same sex team is that men tend to preform better against women. That is not to say that women can't beat men, just that on average they dont.

Originally Posted by 4qtrs

Well, it has been advertised as mixed doubles and I think it would be more fun that way. Even if it does exclude some people.

However, I think we have lots of women in SoCal, Orange Coast and San Diego who fence one of the three weapons and the idea is to mix it up and have a good robust team.

[mifencer]

Here in Michigan we have a mixed double tournament near Valentine's Day. It's a lot of fun. You can come with another fencer or you can come stag and we'll match you up (and there's no questionnaire to fill out!). A little twist to the previous mention versions, we have a handicap system up to 3 points.

They don't allow same-sex couples, which is a good thing (so I have been told by the women).

[4qtrs]

I like the idea about matching people up. I think we will try that and then if there is a same gender team we may handicap them.

That seems fair to me, what do you guys think?

[akaiyuki]

What if you have two girls who don't mind going up against mixed gender teams or two guys for that matter? ^^;

[4qtrs]

I think we can accomidate the situation.

If people come matched, or want to be matched, or if it is two guys they have a neg handicap and if it is two girls there would be a positive handicap.