MUFG, "Z"-fencing, Salle Jeanne,

Maestra Thompson has proposed an invitational Handicap (Dry) Foil
event for members of her clubs at MUFG and "Z" fencing club of
Lancaster at Brooks Gym on Saturday November 20.

The handicap format is very interesting. In a five touch encounter the
fencer with the lower rating starts with one point for each level of
difference. Two E's fencing start at 0-0, similarly with two C's. U
fencers start at 1-0 versus an E, 2-0 with D's, 3-0 against a C and so
forth. The maximum handicap is 4-0. This can be extended to double or
triple handicaps for fifteen touch DE bouts. A practical limit would
be double handicap with a maximum of 8-0.

It is done in golf all the time. The alternative is a level
competition, but the normal fencing competition format is not level.
By separating the top rated fencers, the top half of the field is
always fencing "downhill" till the final 16 or 8, depending on the
size of the event. This means that the bottom half is fencing "uphill"
or in another sense being feed to the higher ranked fencers. The top
fencers compete indirectly for position in the seeding for the final
by trying to reduce the number of touches scored against them by lower
ranked fencers in their pool. The goal is to win by "shut-out" as many
bouts as possible.

The Handicap format does not change that model except that the risk
tolerance for allowing touches when there is a mismatch is decreased
dramatically for the higher rated fencer. This handicap is now more
profound with the fencing time being reduced to three minutes.

It is fun for the new fencers and stressful for the experienced
fencers (they should be able to cope). Everybody who can, needs to
come see and greet all the new fencers that take the opportunity to
try out the skills that they have been working hard practicing.

Event times:
9:00 doors open,
9:30 check-in open,
10:00 check-in close,
10:30 fencing start

Questions:
contact Jeanne Thompson 569-2424

Cheers!
CLF