Fencing north of t’Angel

Feb 2020.  A visit to Newcastle Fencing Club last week gave me a very intense evening on the piste (that’s Newcy On Tyne).
I’d emailed the club coach, Iain Aberdeen, ahead of our trip to the Frozen North to see our daughter - recently relocated there. Iain made me welcome on the Thursday evening – Epee Night. The “Fencing Centre” is in an unusual location – a large industrial unit on a trading estate, but it's an ideal space for their 8 permanent metal pistes, with reels built into the floor.  It’s the main Epee training facility for British Fencing Team GB in the North and Scotland – so little wonder almost everyone there on the night was wearing ‘GB’ apparel. This is a big club – over 60 registered members and over 30 there on the night I attended.
Iain's format is half–an-hour of very hi-tempo drill, in full kit, followed by one big Poole match – where everyone fences everyone, regardless of age, gender, or level. Iain vigilantly patrols and is ready to give tactical advice and ensure fair play. 
I think I did okay .... I won 9 of my 12 pool matches (each to 5 points). Then, a final hour of free fencing, and for me, not a second’s rest between invites ....all the senior fencers very eager to ‘grab the newbie’.
So overall, friendly, competitive... and a very intensive session.  I’ll certainly go again. Next time I’ll probably go for their Monday evening session, which is Foil and Sabre.  They also hold juniors and special coaching on Saturdays.
But 'oh', the following day...I ached all over ! That's the price to be paid for upholding the honour of Stone Fencing Club. The purpose of our trip was to give our daughter a hand with the decorating, but sadly, there was a lot more sitting than sanding. 
Paul Smythe

2020 Epee Success

Another competition success for one of our young fencers - Aldan Tai took third place at the British Youth Championship Qualifiers on Sun 26th Jan. The event was held at Packwood Haugh School, Shrewsbury. Aldan competed in Epee, in the U 16yr group - a field of 20 fencers. These are among the best youth fencers in the region. All those finishing in the top 8 have a guaranteed opportunity to represent the West Midlands region at the National Finals of the British Youth Championship (BYC) in May 2020.

Christmas Party 2019

The Club’s Christmas Party was a great hoot again this year – held at the Duke of York PH in Barlaston. Our old friends Fred and Leslie kindly came back from their new retirement home in Wales to host the games and the competitions. Great also to see old friends Ivan and all the loyal partners of fencing club members. Normally, each Wednesday, club members step out into the evening air to “go fencing” but sometimes return with mysterious deep yellow and black body markings. Which must prompt partners to wonder at times, what their other half is really up to on a Wednesday evening. So the Christmas party is a good way to reassure partners that it’s all totally innocent – if you don’t count the mental bruises inflicted by the pub quiz.

 In any pub quiz you would be forgiven for guessing that Vasco da Gama was the first sailor to circumnavigate the globe when in fact, as Fred revealed, it was Ferdinand Magellan. Doh ! But can you really be forgiven for not knowing the correct order of traffic lights ?  You’ve sat waiting for them to change a ‘million’ times but Fred’s questions are there to remind you haven’t learned anything new since you took your O-levels. 

 The bountiful supper of sausages, chips, onions and buttered bread was the best ever – especially good for healing the wounds of so many disappointed Quoits players earlier. Quoits must be the devil’s own way of reminding players that the laws of physics don’t work for you. The winning score was steadily building, initially from just over 100 to well over 300 - the eventual winner being lovely Leah – our pub landlady. Leah would have achieved superhero status just for the supper alone – but then she promptly donated the Quoits prize money back to the club !  Outstanding.

 It was an easy choice to award Brian the clubman of the year trophy. His dedication to coaching both newcomers and experienced fencers is the beating heart of our club. Ken’s remarks amplified the breadth of contribution that Brian makes to our understanding of the modern laws of fencing – and given Ken’s coaching success this year that’s true praise.

 We will miss Dan for the foreseeable future as he departs for a gap year, or more, in New Zealand. We hope that along with trying the extreme sports famously taken up there he will get a chance to fence at some of the big city clubs. Dan – if you’re reading this don’t forget to post back some pics for our website.

 Thanks again to Fred for hosting another excellent bash – and hope you can continue fencing near your new home town.

Look forward to seeing you all in the New Year – we’re back on Wed 8th Jan 2020.

Gianna Wins Silver !

Our star young fencer Gianna won the silver medal place at a prestigious regional fencing competition – the CocksMoors Woods Epee Championships. Gianna travelled to the competition in South Birmingham with her Dad, early on Sat 9th Nov 2019. Gianna competed in the U9’s Epee competition and got through four tough rounds of pool matches to find herself in the final. Her dad said afterwards “this is her first Epee competition – what a result ! We’re all so pleased”.
The sweet taste of success. Well done Gianna.

Fantastic donation of fencing Kit to Stone Fencing Club

Mrs Denny Shortland (pictured) retired recently and will be known to many throughout Staffordshire as a champion of community and schools sports, as well as a fencing coach in local Schools and Universities. Denny is a fine Epeeist and contacted the club in early Nov to say she would kindly donate all her equipment – and will occasionally come and fence with us on a Wednesday evening to keep her hand in.

The equipment may be a few years old but is in pristine condition – all protective clothing washed, masks scrubbed and swords restored. So if you fancy trying fencing for the first time now is the ideal opportunity. There’s a good chance we can fit you out with the right size and ‘hand’ of kit – just turn up in grippy trainers, stretchy bottoms and a bottle of water.
Many thanks Denny.

Robin Grey features Stone Fencing Club on BBC Radio Stoke's "Extra Time" show.

We were delighted to welcome Robin Grey from BBC Radio Stoke to the Club last Wednesday evening. Robin took over the station's Extra Time programme one year ago and has made a great success by providing a lively weekly round-up of sports news - from international events to local sports stories. Each week he points the floodlights at a community sports group and towards local sports stars.

Robin Grey, presenter from BBC Radio Stoke, chatting to Katey at our practice session on Wed 23rd Oct.

The broadcast went out on the following Frid night show - between 7 and 8pm, and again on Sat 26th at 7:45am. Its the first time that Fencing has featured on the show. Stone Fencing Club are the premier club in the Stoke and Staffordshire area so Robin's visit was a great oportunity to introduce our new club setting to the local radio audience.
If you want to catch the programme here's how you can hear it;
Tune to 94.6 FM and 104.1 FM and on DAB digital.
There’s a listen again feature for past programmes on the ‘BBC Sounds’ app (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds)
The Extra Time programme website is:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07nwcqg

Katey explaining the basic differences between Foil, Sabre and Epee fencing for "Extra Time" listeners.

Congratulations to Ideh and Stuart

We have two new recipients of bronze fencing awards - Ideh and Stuart. Congratulations to both of them for all their hard work to achieve this award.

Congratulations Gianna!

We are delighted that Gianna has received her bronze fencing award. Congratulations!

(July 2019)

Stone Fencing Club has moved!

From Wednesday 7 November 2018, we will be meeting at Meir Heath and Rough Close Village Hall. 

We are looking forward to fencing in our new venue and hope to see you there soon. Click on the Directions tab to find out how to get there.

Fencing Club music video

Stone Fencing Club has been featured in a video made by one of our members as part of their A level course work. The creator of the video, Amelia, received a distinction, so the examiners must have liked it!

Click on the YouTube link below to view the film.

Well done Amelia!

Join The 49'ers

Each month, the 49ers Club gives Stone Fencing the opportunity to raise funds for new equipment, coaching, etc. By paying £3.00 per month and picking a number between 1 and 49, members have a chance to win £49.00 if their number matches the bonus ball drawn on the first Saturday of every month. 
The winner of October's 49ers draw was Tracy Kennedy. Congratulations!
If you would like to join the 49ers Club, please contact Fred Powell.

Showing category "Club events" (Show all posts)

Diary Dates, Dec 2014 - Jan 2015

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Thursday, December 4, 2014, In : Club events 
Wednesday 10 December - fencing club open as usual

Wednesday 17 December - no fencing, as it's our Christmas Party! 8pm, Duke of York Public House, Barlaston.

Wednesday 24 December - club closed

Wednesday 31 December - club closed

Wednesday 7 January - club re-opens, fencing as usual

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Welcome to 2014

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Wednesday, January 1, 2014, In : Club events 
Hello fencers. Thanks for making 2013 another sucessful year.

Special thanks go to Fred for organising the Christmas party again. We had a great night!

Thanks to Hannah and Dave for organising the foil competition. Thanks too to Martin and Fred for helping the club buy our new, flashy electric scoring box.

Stone Fencing Club re-opens on Wednesday 8 January 2014.

If you can't wait that long, we have been invited by Ken to fence at Wrekin Sword on Friday 3 January.

See you soon!

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Coaching Session with Ken and Andrew

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Saturday, March 16, 2013, In : Club events 
Ken and Andrew Holding will be running a coaching session at the club on Wednesday 27 March 2013.

Don't forget that nightly fees for the coaching evenings are £6.00 for adults and £5.00 for 16 and under.
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New Beginners

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Tuesday, February 26, 2013, In : Club events 
Stone Fencing Club ran a successful beginners' course in February, with six new fencers achieving their grade one foil certificate. We look forward to seeing them all at the club.



Left to right: Jon (SFC coach), Emil, Alexei, Martin (SFC coach), George, Henry, Patrick and Tracey.
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Coaching Session, Weds 13 February

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Friday, February 1, 2013, In : Club events 
Date for your diaries: Ken and Andrew will be at the club for a coaching session on Wednesday 13 February.
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Club Awards 2012

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Thursday, December 20, 2012, In : Club events 
Stone Fencing Club had a very enjoyable night at the Duke of York, Barslaston on Weds 19 December, which included Fred's annual confusing games. This year we played darts, had a quiz, shot bolts through a hole in a cardboard box and shot an apple off member's heads with a crossbow! You can see some photos from the night on the photo gallery page of this website.

Award winners:

Junior Member - Dylan

Special Award - Adam

Senior Member - Dave

Club Captain 2103 - Hannah

Most Improved Fencer - James M

Ou...
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Dates for your diary

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Thursday, December 13, 2012, In : Club events 
Wednesday 19 December - no fencing. This is the night of our Christmas party, which will be taking place at the Duke of York pub, Barlaston, 8pm.

Wednesday 26 December - no fencing.

Wednesday 2 January - no fencing.

Wednesday 9 January - fencing starts up again at Yarlet. 8-10pm.
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Coaching Session, Weds 31 October

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Friday, October 12, 2012, In : Club events 
Our next coaching session with Ken and Andrew will be on Wednesday 31 October. Fees for the coaching are £6 per person.
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Coaching Session with Ken and Andrew

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Friday, June 29, 2012, In : Club events 
Our next coaching session with Ken and Andrew Holding will take place on Wednesday 11 July. £6.00 per person.
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Taster sessions for Year 7 at Brewood

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Friday, June 29, 2012, In : Club events 
Year 7 pupils at Brewood Middle School took part in fencing taster sessions on Thursday 28 June 2012, as part of their Olympic Week. Martin, Katey and Elliott from Stone Fencing Club travelled down to Brewood for the training, where over 75 pupils were given the opportunity to try foil fencing. We were met with a lot of enthusiasm from the children, many of whom enjoyed the opportunity to attack their school friends with foam swords!


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Coaching Session with Ken and Andrew

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Tuesday, June 5, 2012, In : Club events 
Ken and Andrew Holding will be running a coaching session at the club on Wednesday 6 June 2012.

Hope you all can make it.
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Dates for your diary

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, In : Club events 
Wednesday 15 February, 8-10pm
Coaching session at Stone Fencing Club with Ken and Andrew Holding. £6.00 per person.

Thursday 16 February, 6.30pm
Stone Fencing Club v Harper Adams University
Venue: Harper Adams University

Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 February
Keele University Open
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Fencing Club Christmas Party

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Thursday, December 22, 2011, In : Club events 
We had a fantastic night at the Duke of York in Barlaston for our Chistmas Party on 21 December. The room was packed with fencers and their families for a night of darts, quizzes, sausages and chips!

Jon gave us a full review of 2011, which has been an excellent year for the club, seeing an enthusiastic group of beginners join us, a new website, the 49ers raising money for the club and some great coaching sessions from Ken and Andrew Holding. We were very successful at competitions against ove...
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Four New Grade 3 Foilists

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Thursday, December 15, 2011, In : Club events 
Congratulations to Matt, Jim, Warren and Jenny for achieving their Grade 3 foil awards. Thanks very much to Ken for grading the fencers.


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Upcoming Events - Coaching Session and Christmas Party

Posted by Katey Goodwin on Thursday, December 8, 2011, In : Club events 

Dates for your diary:

Wednesday 14 December 2011 - coaching session

Ken and Andrew Holding will be running a coaching session at the club. Fees for the night will be £6 per person.

Wednesday 21 December 2011 - Stone Fencing Club Christmas Party!

8pm at the Duke of York pub, Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent

There will be a Special K Darts and Target Shooting Competition (no idea what that means!), plus quizzes and surprises!
As usual, SCOBB will be on offer - that's sausages, chips, onions and bread...


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