Winner, Henry, being presented with the trophy by Mark

With the scorer being given a bonus week break, having just returned from her holidays, the July monthly club competition was finally held on the first Tuesday of August.  With a bumper number of attendees (14), despite it being the school holidays, it was decided to compete for the trophy using a one-hit format.  Every fencer would fence every other fencer in a poule unique, with each duel lasting one minute.  The fencer to land the first hit would win the bout, with double hits voiding the match and neither fencer getting a ‘win.’  The fencer with the most wins overall would be crowned the July competition winner.

Fighting over two pistes we slowly, but surely, made our way through the poule unique.  The bottom seven fencers of the piste (Phil, Richard, Steve, Sandy, Claudia, Sofia and Henry) all managed bouts against each other, as did the top half of the piste (Mark, Dave, Jaina, Rohan, Gully, Kev and Peter) before they eventually fought each other.

Gully took an early lead and, once Henry eventually arrived, he soon managed to match Gully’s winning streak.  Their winning streaks soon put targets on their backs and, for the spectators, it was the perceived underdogs who they were rooting for.  With Henry’s late arrival, he was always on ‘catch up’ for matches completed, so the momentum remained with him, with his matches being closer together.  Gully, on the other hand, with time to rest between bouts, found his concentration slipping.  Peter and Sofia were the first to have taken the match against the vivacious guest fencer.  Henry was the final fencer to ‘put the boot in,’ ensuring that Gully won only nine of his thirteen fights.

Sandy and Phil were the quiet assassins of the evening (yes, Sandy was quiet ON the piste!).  Steadily making their way through bout after bout, they were unfairly overshadowed by Gully and Henry, as they were both consistent with Phil managing seven wins and Sandy eight wins overall.  Next up were Sofia, Richard, Dave and Rohan with five wins apiece, with this format always seeming to accommodate Sofia and Richard’s style of fencing more than most.  Also, a special mention to Rohan, who was the only person that evening to beat Henry, although Sofia did manage a double hit with Henry, thus voiding the match for them both.

With four wins each we had Mark, Steve and Claudia, with Jaina and Peter finishing with three wins apiece and, finally, Kev bringing up the rear.

So, congratulations to Henry, who managed eleven wins, one draw and only one loss on the evening, cementing his title as the July club competition winner.  Married life (yes, I’m still milking this glorious occasion, Henry!), seems to be very much suiting young Henry.  He seems to be a man very much at ease with life and, very happy with it at the moment and, this is very much shining through in his fencing.  Can he continue with this ‘honeymoon period’ in his life, or will we see another champion crowned next month?  Only time will tell!

Many congratulations Henry – another monthly competition title to your name.  A ‘well done’ also to all those who competed too – a great turn out and some great hits landed as well.  Let’s see what format you’ll come up with in the future.  See you all next month and well-done Henry.

Final placings results are also based upon countback.

Phil also getting in on the presenting act- because we all love Henry…or is he just trying to steal the trophy?