24/06/10 - Guy Bishop (Cptn, LVI^th)

Well, it's definitely been a while since I last wrote here. Anyone still following this, I respect your devotion and will shower you in gifts of glory... or would if I could find my team. That's right ladies and gents! They're all off doing work and so on. Anyway! I did have plans for people to be adding to this one a weekly or monthly basis but that plan seems to have failed. On the up side we're going to be finishing this term in a week or so and then it's on to the next one. Can I put forward to any new pupils who may have somehow stumbled onto this page - COME TO FENCING!

But yes, all things considered, this next year could be a make or break season. The club's popularity has sunk to the point that it may not be worth keeping it running another year. For that reason:

YOUR (FENCING) COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!

We plan on making some new activities tied with fencing which pupils could take part in. Things like 'Challenge-the-Teacher' Competitions and perhaps a stage fencing day, should anyone want to join in. If you're into the theatre then this might be just the thing for you! Our coach has had years of experience training actors to do what we do, so you should do it too! As an extra incentive I'm looking up prices for Team Shirts so that the fencing team can have SOMETHING that is ours, even if it only marks the final glory year. On the upside it means that the school won't have to suffer through so many of my emails shot through with TERRIBLE puns.

Anyway! In case I don't update again before the summer, this is Guy signing off.

04/10/10 - Guy Bishop (Cptn, UVI^th)

I am very conscious of leaving it too long without a word to the blog. So here's my attempt for today: 

Thursday 23^rd September - We received a draw against Eton at home. This match may not have been our best, and I know I was pulling my own hair out at some points, but with some serious fencing, not a small amount of luck and Leke Akerele's amazing left-handedness we managed to draw level with Eton in terms of victories. With an incredible performance by first timers Sai Lakhiani and Leke Akerele, we drew against Eton's finest. 

Thursday 30^th September - A match against Winchester College, again at home. This team I remembered from last year as being one of the hardest matches we had. This year, it was a cake walk. Without two of their best, who left last year, Winchester floundered against Wellingtonian might. With two wins for the A Team both foil and Epee, the B team only just lost out on giving Wellington a complete victory over Winchester. A shame, but still a victory. I look forward to meeting them again in the Spring when our team will only be stronger. 

Team A - Foil

FIVE WINS TO WELLINGTON

 15/11/10 - Guy Bishop (Cptn, UVI^th)

Good news - I'M NOT NEGLECTING THE BLOG! Last week was eventful for Fencing. On Tuesday we resolved the Blücher's by in the first round of fencing with the team fencing BOTH the Talbot and the Raglan in quick succession, with the result that the Blücher is going through to the Semi-Finals. Tomorrow (Tuesday) we're going to have three matches in the Dance Studio. 

The Hoptoun vs The Hardinge

The Murray vs The Beresford

The Benson vs The Stanley

This means that we will have resolved the second round in a single week. Which is wonderful. The Semi-Finals should occur on Friday. 

On Thursday we fenced Bradfield and sent them away with wins in the A team Epee, and both the B Team Epee and Foil. Our B team is rising to new heights. Aaron Jerome, 4th Former and the A team third man, wrote this about the match: 

Match report: Bradfield vs.Wellington

Today we started the match with foil. The A’s lost this weapon with only 3 wins as opposed to Bradfields 6 victories. however the b team was much more successful winning all but one match. This was a great success for the team since foil the weaker weapon at wellington.

After this we moved onto epee. This weapon was much closer with the A’s winning by one victory and close score of 5 - 4 to wellington. The b’s once again were very successful with a 6 - 3 victory over their epee b team.

That's it for this week. Tune in next time. 

¬Guy

End of season round-up, March 31st

House Fencing attracted serious entries from almost all the houses.  There is clearly great potential out there!  Many Wellingtonians seemed  almost instinctively to take to the épée.  And yes, the Blücher, home of our distinguished fencing captain, did win, but it was not that easy.

This was not a term of famous victories, but the senior épée team won quite a few bouts.  That said we need to work on the foil a bit more.  There were stalwart performances from veteran Will Johnson as well as solid performances from talented newcomer Leke Akerele. 

There is new blood in the team, but next year's Captain, Aaron Jerome is keen to recruit more members, as are our two excellent coaches.

We did well at the Public Schools Championships.  Guy Bishop reached 43 / 118 in the Senior Foil and Leke Akerele got as far as the top 16 in the Senior Epée, which was very exciting.  Henry Martin, who has only just started was 61st in the Mount Haes Foil, and amazed himself.  I think we have come to realise that we could be very good and we look forward to the next season.

My special thanks go to Captain Guy Bishop for his commitment and patience.  He has always been there for me and the team and it has been a pleasure to see him develop as a fencer.  I must also say vale to Will Johnson and Leke Akerele who have been great additions to the club.  I must also thank all the parents for their support.

James Price