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    What's Been Said about SFC - SJ-R article 01/22/20

    Wednesday, January 24, 2007, 02:02 PM CST [General]

    EN GARDE
    Beginners position themselves to learn fencing

    By DANIEL PIKE
    STAFF WRITER

    Published Sunday, January 22, 2006

    Instructor Kevin Hughes describes fencing as "physical chess" - a combination of footwork, hand-eye coordination and cognitive skills.

    It’s probably all of those, but 13 year-old Gantt Nicholson of Springfield attended Saturday's beginner fencing class at the Illinois State Police Academy for the combat.

    "I've always kind of been interested in sword fighting," said Nicholson, who was joined at the class by his mother, Linda Kelley. "A friend of mine is taking fencing lessons, so I did it and really liked it."

    Kelley, however, said she was participating mainly for recreation and exercise.

    "I did it so I could do something fun with my 13-year-old son," she said. "And also to get into shape at the same time."

    The closest Gantt and his classmates came to swashbuckling at Saturday's session - the first of four class meetings in the coming weekends - was a brief tutorial on holding and moving with the foil, which the fencing weapon is called.

    Hughes spent most of the hour-long session introducing equipment and reviewing safety rules with the all-ages class. Subsequent classes will focus on lunging and attacking - with Hughes serving as a practice pincushion until students are ready to absorb blows.

    Hughes, a master sergeant with the state police, began fencing in 1977 while he was a student at Northern Illinois University. This is the third series of beginner classes he has taught for the program, which is sponsored by the Springfield Ballet Company. The program began after Hughes was asked by the ballet company to choreograph sword fighting scenes for a recent production of "Romeo and Juliet."

    Hughes also is a member of the Springfield Fencing Club, which split the academy gymnasium with the class Saturday.

    "It's good for (the fencing club)," Hughes said. "Those who are really interested will stick around, and we'll be able to give them one-on-one training instead of being taught as a group."

    Hughes said that in most cases, it won't be long before the beginners are ready to fence competitively. He said two graduates of a previous beginner class have worked with the fencing club and will enter a tournament in St. Louis in March.

    Registration is closed for the current round of beginner classes, but Hughes said they will be offered again, possibly in mid- to late March. Hughes also teaches an intermediate class.

    Springfield's Jim Dickinson said he's wanted to learn fencing for a while, so he jumped at the opportunity when a friend invited him to Hughes' class.

    "The speed, the skill - I'm light on my feet, quick," said Dickinson, 56, who also is a runner. "So that's what's appealing about it."

    "I'm getting older, so I wish I'd done it earlier."

    Daniel Pike can be reached at 788-1532 or daniel.pike@sj-r.com.

     

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    Friday, December 15, 2006, 04:43 PM CST [General]



    January 19, 2007 The Point Fencing Clug - Friday Night Foil
    The Point Fencing Club
    500 N. Walnut
    Champaign, IL 61820
    (217)351-5838
    Registration for Open Foil closes at 7pm

    1 SFC member competed!!!

    January 21, 2007 CAA Open
    Chicago Athletic Association Open
    12 S. Michigan Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60603
    Close of Registration Times:
    Epee - 9am
    Foil - 11am
    Saber - 1:30pm
    2 SFC members competed!!!

    Feburary 10, 2007 CAA Open
    Chicago Athletic Association Open
    12 S. Michigan Ave.
    Chicago, IL 60603
    Close of Registration Times:
    Epee - 9am
    Foil - 11am
    Saber - 1:30pm
    Fees -
    Single event - $25 with Preregistration, $35 at the door
    For two events - $35 with Preregistration. For Three Events, $40
    Pre-registration available at Askfred.net

    February 16, 2007 Point Fencing Club Friday Night Epee
    The Point Fencing Club
    500 N. Walnut
    Champaign, IL 61820
    (217)351-5838

    Registration for Open Epee closes at 7pm

    February 18, 2007 Lionheart Fencing Club - Youth Foil
    Details to follow

    March 3, 2007 Point Fencing Club Veteran Foil
    Details to Follow

    March 11, 2007 Deerfield High School FC Youth Tournament
    9:00 am U19 Foil, U12 Epee, U12 Saber
    11:00 am U12 Foil, U19 Epee, U19 Saber
    1:00 pm U14 Foil, U14 Epee, U14 Saber
    I plan to run the events mixed unless there are at least 6 per gender in each event.

    March 16, 2007 Point Fencing Club Friday Night Foil
    The Point Fencing Club
    500 N. Walnut
    Champaign, IL 61820
    (217)351-5838
    Registration for Open Foil closes at 7pm

    March 17-18, 2007 Illinois Open
    The event will be held at Chicago Athletic Assoc. Details to follow

    March 24, 2007 Windy City Fencing Open and Youth Epee
    Details to follow

    March 25, 2007 IFC Foil/Saber Challenge
    IFC Foil/Saber Challenge
    Mar 25, 2007
    At Central Community Center
    Women's Foil 8:00 AM
    Mixed Foil 9:00 AM
    Y12 Mixed Foil 9:30 AM
    Mixed Team Foil 12:00 PM
    Mixed Saber 12:00 PM
    Women's Saber 1:00 PM
    Y12 Mixed Saber 1:30 PM
    Mixed Team Saber 2:00 PM
    Pre-registration available at: http://askfred.net/Events/Prereg/prereg.php?tournament_id=2398

    April 14-15, 2007 Illinois Divisionals @ College of Lake County
    Details to Follow

    April 29, 2007 Dominick Epee Challenge

    Dominick Epee Challenge
    Apr 29, 2007
    At Central Community Center
    Women's Epee 8:00 AM
    Mixed Epee 9:30 AM
    Y12 Mixed Epee 12:00 PM
    Mixed Team Epee 12:00 PM
    Fencing for the team event will start immediately after the end of the Mixed Epee event or at 12pm whichever is later.
    Pre-Registration is available at: http://askfred.net/Events/Prereg/prereg.php?tournament_id=2399

    May 5-6, 2007 Midwest Sectionals @ Catholic Memorial High School
    This event is being hosted by the Wisconsin division. Details to follow

    May 19, 2007 Dufour C and Under Epee @ Point Fencing Club
    The Point Fencing Club
    500 N. Walnut
    Champaign, IL 61820
    (217)351-5838
    Registration Closes at 10am

    May 26-27, 2007 Hutchinson Open @ CAA
    Details to Follow

    June 3, 2007 IFC Youth Tournament
    IFC Youth Tournament
    Jun 3, 2007
    At Central Community Center
    Y12 Mixed Foil 8:30 AM
    Y12 Mixed Saber 8:30 AM
    Y12 Mixed Epee 9:30 AM
    Y14 Mixed Foil 9:30 AM
    Y14 Mixed Epee 11:00 AM
    Y14 Mixed Saber 11:00 AM
    U16 Mixed Epee 1:00 PM
    U16 Mixed Foil 1:00 PM
    U16 Mixed Saber 2:00 PM
    Pre-registration available at: http://askfred.net/Events/Prereg/prereg.php?tournament_id=2400

    June 9-10, 2007 IFC Summer Nationals Epee Clinic
    Details to follow

    June 16, 2007 Windy City Fencing Open and Youth Epee
    Details to follow

    June 24, 2007 CAA Open
    Details to follow

    June 29-July 8, 2007 Summer National Championships - Miami, FL

    June 29-July 8, 2007 (Fri-Sun) Division I National Championships
    Summer National Championships Miami, FL
    Deadline for Division Qualifying Forms: May 4, 2007
    Deadline for Section Qualifying Forms: May 11, 2007
    Deadline for Entries at Regular Fees: May 18, 2007
    Late Entry Period at Triple Fees: May 19 - June 1, 2007
    Final Deadline for Entries at Triple Fees: June 1, 2007
    *Deadline for Classification Changes:
    *Classification Change deadline for the new classification to be reflected in the tournament

    July 20, 2007 Friday Night Foil - Point Fencing Club
    The Point Fencing Club
    500 N. Walnut
    Champaign, IL 61820
    (217)351-5838
    Registration for Open Foil closes at 7pm

    July 29, 2007 CAA Open

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