MUFG, "Z"-fencing, Salle Jeanne, YFC, and friends,

I have returned from the 7th annual Robert Flynn Memorial Open Epee
held at Bucks Academy of Fencing. This year posted a group A2 with 58
fencers - 5 As!, 11 Bs, 10 Cs, 7 Ds, 10 Es and 15 Us. This was a very
unusual distribution of ratings. The A and Bs combined outnumbered the
U fencers and the number of Ds was less than either of the Bs or Cs
alone! The field was broken into two pools of 8 and six pools of 7. I
was in one of the pools of 7 with Mark Holbrow, (B), Lucas Browngold
(B), myself (C), and some others C, D, E, E, U. My record was 4-2.
With wins against all but Browngold, who finished Second place over
all very nearly wining his A and one of the E rated fencers. I had
both Browngold and Halbrow at 4-4. Browngold edged me out for his
winning touch on me but I beat Mark using cross-over lunge; the one we
were practicing on Thursday. 4-2 plus my indicators seeded me 20, in
the middle of the range of 4 victories. Holbrow seeded 14, six places
above me on indicators, as he was 4-2 as well. Being 20 in a table of
64 my first DE bout was vs seed #45 then presumably #13 then #4 to
make it to the final of four. I beat my #45, but did not pass #13. He
was a B and was very fast at picking me off on the shoulder when I
would attack. One attack that did get me a touch alone was that
cross-over lunge again. We finished 15-11 in the third period. That
put me down one to finish in position 21. In the final they were
awarding Cs down to 8th place!

The sister of Robert Flynn was there to thank us for the Memorial
event, and the whole thing went off smoothly. Almost everybody had a
good time and there was some dynamite fencing in the final.

Another thing – this was the first time I had been back to BCAF since
they moved to the new facility. It is the largest permanent fencing
site that I have ever seen. I do not know what rivals it outside of
the Colorado Springs Olympic training facilities. My point is that
some of my first fencing experiences were with these people at Bucks
(in the 80's) and I received a very warm welcome when I turned up for
this event. It was the first time I had been back is about a year and
it seemed that I was truly missed. I feel that this represents a
spirit of camaraderie between BCAF and Salle Jeanne.

In the future I will be sure to not miss any more events at Bucks.
Everybody should watch the schedule and see if they can find an event
to attend or observe down at Bucks. I highly recommend it even just to
see their new venue. It is well worth the increase Turn Pike tolls.
They even have free on site parking (a rare commodity in the New Hope
shopping area)

Cheers!
CLF