Mark presenting the trophy and hot cross buns to winners Henry, Will and Sofia

With the February competition taking the record, for the longest running club competition to date, it was decided to delay the March competition until the first week, and day, of April.  With twelve fencers in attendance, it was agreed that we would run a team competition, with none of those competing wishing to be declared the ‘April Fools’ at the end.  With a little help from Sandy, the teams were allocated as follows:

Team A – Paul, Peter, Sandy

Team B – Gully, Mark, Steve

Team C – Joe, Richard, Dave

Team D – Will, Sofia, Henry

First up, we saw Team A take on Team B.  Sandy took an early lead against Mark, but Gully just as quickly took control, and Team B, into a 6 v 3 lead.  Paul versus Steve was ‘even Stephens,’ keeping Team B with a three-point lead at 9 v 6.   Peter then took on Mark.  Having not had time earlier, to warm up against Gully’s onslaught, Peter took control this time putting Team A into a two-point lead.  Sandy continued Team A’s winning ways, beating Steve 3 v 2 and maintaining a three-point advantage for Team A. Gully, clearly on form, showed Paul how it was done, scoring six hits to Paul’s two and, surging Team B back into a one-point lead.  Steve versus Peter was even, maintaining Team B’s one point advantage, with two matches left to play.  With the big hitters coming up last, Paul took back the advantage for Team A, against Mark.  With a two-point lead, could Sandy withhold an on-form Gully?  The answer was ‘just’.  With the final scores tied at 27 v 27, it was time for the fencing equivalent of the ‘golden goal’, which, on this occasion went to Gully and saw Team B heading for the final showdown. 

In the second heat of the evening, the first duel was not to be missed.  Joe versus Henry was a tight affair, with Joe just edging it by one hit.  Second up saw Will take on Richard and bring Team D into a one-point lead.  Next, Dave regained the lead, this time by two points, for Team C, against Sofia.  Henry took on Richard and despite a very thrilling and well fought march, Henry couldn’t reclaim the lead for Team D, but he did bring them back into contention, being only 1 point in arrears at 11 v 12.  Next up, Sofia fenced Joe and did an outstanding job of losing by only one hit, which kept Team D in contention at only 15 v 13 down.  Will’s earlier efforts saw him slow down against Dave, which saw the older master take control, and Team C, back into a commanding 18 v 14 lead, with only three duels remaining.  In their last match of the heats, Richard took on his arch enemy Sofia.  Not to be outdone, by the soon to be birthday girl, he showed her who was boss, winning the match 3 v 1 and surely taking Team C to the final, with an unassailable 6-point lead.  The last two duels of Dave v Henry and Joe v Will looked to be a cracking, but tightly fought finale to the heats and, surely no-one could overcome Team C’s six-point lead?  Up next was Henry versus Dave.  High on the euphoria of his wedding preparations, Henry was a man not to be underestimated.  Like a male Mary Poppins, he swept in on an East Wind and gave a taste of a spoonful of sugar and brought the score back to a commendable 22 v 24 in Team D’s favour.  It was now Will’s to lose.  Up against Joe, both men fought a tight knit round, levelled at 3 v 3, but Henry’s lead from the previous round was enough to see Team D through to the final. 

With time not on our side, each match was reduced to two minutes for the both the third-place play-off and the final, with both matches being fought simultaneously. 

The third place play off was a tightly fought affair.  The score went to and fro between the two teams (Team A and Team C), with the third match between Sandy and Richard so tightly fought that they were timed out at 7 v 7.  Joe then took on Peter to regain the lead at 12 v 8; a lead which was quickly regained by Paul, in the next match, but just as swiftly overturned again by Sandy, putting Team A back to winning ways.  Peter then came across a very determined Richard to see the lead swing back to Team C at 19 v 21.  This match saw the tide turning more than a blustery day down at Margate!  If we had had a club ‘swing-o-meter’ even Peter Snow would have had trouble controlling it on this match!  It did make for a very happy Sandy, who was over the moon and justified at his team selections!  However, with only two matches to fence, it seemed that Richard’s determination filtered down through the team and, both Dave and Joe held on in their matches to give Team C, of Richard, Joe and Dave, the third-place position, while Team A, of Sandy, Peter and Paul were awarded the wooden spoons on this occasion. 

The final knockout saw Team D, of Sofia, Will and Henry, take on Team B, of Steve, Gully and Mark.  Team B took an early lead, which they managed to maintain for almost half of the relay legs.  Going into the fifth duel, Henry v Mark, Team D found themselves starting with a 9 v 12 deficit.  Riding high on the ecstasy of his forthcoming nuptials (I’m milking this joyous event for as long as I can Henry!), Henry put on a blistering performance, bringing Team D back into a 15 v 13 lead, and leaving Mark, Henry’s opponent, wondering if Rocky had made a comeback and sucker punched him into submission!  From that point on the momentum remained with Team D, with Will beating Steve 3 v 1, Sofia levelling her match with Mark, Henry only just defeating Steve at 3 v 2, leaving Will to bring home the bacon (or, on this occasion the Waitrose Lemon and White Chocolate Hot Cross Buns) against Gully; which he did with a masterclass of hits, beating Gully 3 v 2 and leading Team D to the title of Champions for the March 2025 Monthly Club Competition and relegating Team B to runners-up. 

As always, at this time of year, the winners were awarded the trophy and, in homage to the upcoming Easter holiday, a packet of the aforementioned White Chocolate Chip and Lemon Hot Cross Buns from Waitrose – delicious!

Well done to everybody who competed and a huge thank you to all those who helped to referee the matches.  There were some amazing twists and turns and hits and, a lot of fun.  A very special well done to our March 2025 Monthly Club Competition Winners; Will, Sofia and Henry. 

Mark presenting the trophy to the Team Winners

Richard, subserviently, handing out the Easter hot cross buns to the relay winners of Henry, Will and Sofia, while Mark ponders snatching a pack and making a run for it!