Commonwealth Fencing Championships

[Zelda]

For those of you who are interested, the web site for the Commonwealth Fencing Championships being held in Newcastle Australia in November is active. The address is www.cf2002.org The site contains Athlete bios, event schedules and will have a results page when the competition starts. I wish I could say I am going but I'm not. However I train with 2 of the womens foil team and one of the womens sabre team was my first coach. I am definately biased in saying GO AUSTRALIA! We may even come out with some gold!

[epeefencer74]

With Seamus in there I have no doubt that the epee gold belongs to Oz. I would like to go even if I can't fence. If nothing else just to see people like Seamus Robinson and Nigel Nutt fence. Plus a holiday in Sydney would do my frayed nerves some good.

[Cyranox11]

Hey Zelda
Thanks for the link.
My wife and I were selected for the South African Team, but we just couldnt get enough sponsorship together for both of us to go, so we decided neither of us would go, major bummer!!!
Hope you all have a ball there...
Men's Epee should go to Oz, as far as I know we arent sending a men's epee team so we wont be able to avenge our 44-45 defeat at the last champs!!!

[Zelda]

Cry, U R welcome. Bugger about not being able to make it over! I think you are only send 1 male saburer in the mens events.

[Cyranox11]

Hi Zelda
Yes, we were really looking forward to a trip to Aussie land. It would have been cool to meet you and Boo...
Anyway its not to be...
Yes, we are only sending one male fencer and a sabreur at that (definitely South Africa's weakest weapon).
I qualified for foil and sabre, whilst my wife qualified for foil.
We are sending full Ladies foil amnd sabre teams but only one ladies epeeist.
We are decidely under-strength at these champs and are sure to have our bottoms soundly spanked!
Although I do have some hope for ladies foil...
Later
Cyr

[haggis]

I'm not going either but several of my fencers are. Seamus will probably start favourite for epee gold but Tom Cadman (ENG) could give him a run for his money and I think Conrad Chin (SCO) is a dangerous outside bet to have in the draw. His converted-foilist style is likely to spoil somebody's day . Pity there's no Quentin Berriman.

In women's epee, I'm looking forward to a showdown between Evelyn Halls (AUS) and Georgina Usher (SCO) with the result in KL being reversed

In the women's foil, I reckon Camille Datoo (ENG) and Eloise Smith (N. Ire) are strong contenders for gold. Although I'd love to see Linda Strachan (ENG) bow out of competitive fencing with the Commonwealth title.

Men's foil - really open. Dave Mansour (WAL) possibly, since the England team seems a bit light. And Nigel Nutt back in the Aussie team!!! In his Biog he mentions winning the Scottish Open foil in '91. A certain Haggis lost to him in the final and was heartily sick at the result.

Men's sabre - your guess is as good as mine (probably better!). Paul Hoenigmann (SCO), as always, fancies his chances.

Women's sabre -

Hope that those of you who are going have a great time.

Haggis

[Boo Boo]

Womens foil... Camy would be my favourite for the Gold (although she is currently recovering from injury), but I agree that it would be nice to see Linda go out on a high. Debbie (SCO) should do well if she stays focussed.

Womens foil team - don't want to say in case I curse it...

Womens sabre team - England

Mens sabre - not sure, but watch out for Robin Knight...

Interesting that there is no Fiona Mac (although I already knew that for a couple of months) or Ivana Ivanova (if I have spelt that correctly...) of RSA - she looks very tough (seeing her fence at A-grades).

Athlete Biographies are now on the website. My picture is not particularly flattering - it was taken "in between" rounds at the Essex Open (so that isn't gel holding my hair in place... :-( ).

Its a shame that you can't come Cyrano, it should be a good event (very exciting!).

Boo

[Zelda]

I've just looked at the british/scotish and welsh teams. The number who I was regularly trounced by at Salle Boston is depressing!!! Good luck boo, BTW that photo isnt that bad.

[Cyranox11]

Hi Boo

Yes, you did spell Ivana's name correctly.

It is a huge pity that so few South African's are going...
The current African Ladies' Epee Champ (my coaches wife), Ivana, all our Men's Epeeists and Men's Foilists, its a sad day indeed

I am not sure why so few are going, i think it may have something to do with lack of time andthe expense...

I would have liked to see a final between Fiona and Ivana...
I could then have said that I have trained with the 2 finalists at Commonwealth Champs

[Boo Boo]

It is a real shame about the RSA team, but I understand - it is expensive... (still, for the British, Australia sure beats Manchester in November - or any time of year, for that matter). Maybe next time they will hold the champs in RSA? That would be good :-)

I didn't think that the photo was that bad either, but my husband was in hysterics.... (Hhhmmmm, know who I can rely on for support....) :-(((

Boo
(with a bit more practice, you will be beating the Salle Boston lot ;-))

[Zelda]

Boo, heres to hoping. I have a bet on with a teacher at my old high school that I will make the 2006 Comm Games team.

[Pierfrancesco]

go the aussies!!

oi oi oi...

[Zelda]

For those who care Womens Foil and Mens Sabre results are now up at least until the top 4. Boo Boo came a respectable 10th. http://www.cf2002.org/Res_Frameset.htm

[Pierfrancesco]

not sure whats going on with the mens sabre. only the start list is up..

[Cyranox11]

Sabre is up. Results until semis are available...
Well done Boo!

[Zelda]

Pier, try the side bar.

[Pierfrancesco]

no aussies in the top 8 of either event today.. oh well! haggis and boo boo were pretty spot on with their predictions (and well done to boo boo). bit of UK domination!

i'm sure it will change tomorrow

[Zelda]

News just in.... Frank Bartolillo (An aussie!!!) just beat David Mansour of Wales 15/4 to win the Commonwealth Men's induvidual foil. GO FRANKIE!!!!

[Pierfrancesco]

woohoo frankie. he didn't just win, he wooped some welsh arse! i would have loved to have been there!!

as an aside, whats going on with the cf2002 site? last time i checked earlier tonight, they had results for the mens foil down to the last 4. now they've only got the start list???

5th in womens foil teams. not too bad!

[Zelda]

Pier, it resets to the start list every time you enter it.