Best of 2018

In the New Years tradition, lets look back on 2018 at Capital City Fencers’ Club. It was a busy year at the club. We hosted tournaments, offered in-school workshops and beginner classes, traveled to competitions on the mainland, and got up to all sorts of hi-jinx during practice.

Supporting young fencers travelling to competitions

We had a lot of fun traveling with our young fencers to out-of-town fencers in 2018. They had fun and won some medals, too! Thanks to the volunteer drivers and coaches who made it possible! We supported 12 young Victoria fencers to travel together to four tournaments off the island in 2018.

May 2018 Ahmed with his TFA tournament medal

December 2018 TFA Lawrence wins bronze in Y14 epee

Noelle takes silver in TFA December 2018 Y14 women’s foil

Francis takes Junior Epee bronze, December 2018 TFA youth tourny

Francis (right) won silver and Joseph (left) took bronze in TFTA’s October 28, 2018 yourth tournament Junior men’s epee event.

coaching advice

Hosting tournaments

Escrime Sundae

60 fencers competed in 6 events at Escrime Sundae. The tournament was co-hosted with UVIC at the CARSA performance gym.

fleche

Raul vs Duncan

cadet epee medalists

Noelle vs. Noah

Senior Foil medalists

Beginners foil medalists

 

Beginners Invitational Tournaments

We ran two beginners invitational tournaments! The events were open to any fencers who had completed a beginner program in the last 12 months. Experienced youth fencers from Capital City Fencers Club acted as referees and tournament coordinators.

March 2018 drew 19 beginner foilists, who competed in Y10 years and 12+ age groups. Beginners from Capital City Fencers’ Club, class at Saanich Recreation, and Pacific School for Innovation and Inquiry.

12+ years fencing beginners tournament March 2018

Y10 Foil Beginners

foil bout, 12+ years event

a break between fencing bouts

volunteer youth refs March 2018

Beginners Invitational fencing bout

In November 2018, 21 foilists competed, again in two age groups. Fencers came from beginner classes at Capital City Fencers Club, Saanich Recreation, UVIC and Pacific School for Innovation and Inquiry.

Beginners invitational medalists, 10-12 year foil medalists

Beginners Invitational medalists 13+ years

medalists, volunteers, and coaches

Workshops

We hosted fencing skills workshops at our club, and we also reached out to Greater Victoria Schools. Miko and Orion introduced 200 middle school students to fencing in their gym classes in 2018, and offered intensive skills workshops for club members.

December 2018 Advanced Fencing Skills Workshop: Miko leads footwork practice

Socials

And we had our goofy contests and social events.

20180530 connor leprechaun

At the start, before the gifts are stolen

It’s not just the gifts, it’s how you win them

After a night of fencing and gift stealing

 

Thanks, volunteers!

Where would we be without our volunteers?

Well, for starters, we would have no beginners class, our equipment would not work and we couldn’t run our tournaments!

So, thanks to our volunteers, who keep the club running! Special thanks to:

• Our beginner class coaches, Benson and Trevor, who not only teach our beginner class, but support our new fencers in their first beginner events all year!
• Rob, who keeps all the equipment in top shape! (We promise to put everything away in 2019.)
• Joseph, Lawrence, Francis, Noelle, James, and Noelle, our youth referees who took the lead at our beginners invitational events
•  Orion, Miko, Isaac and Caleb, volunteer coaches and John, Ginette and Stacy carpool drivers, who ensured young fencers had the chance to compete in youth events on the mainland
• And to all the club members for showing up early for set up and staying late for clean up for every single tournament.

Rob cleaned up the equipment cabinet. Thanks Rob!

Our club is a non profit, volunteer driven and democratically run. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the BC Government to our club, which was renewed in September 2018. Thanks to our outgoing 2018 Board: Rob, Stacy, Orion, and Felix, and welcome to our 2019 board: Rob, Stacy, Trevor, Isaac, and Joseph!

See you all at our first club practice starting January 7, 2019!