2012 Club Dates

Hello Everyone,
Please ignore the previous post, we have had to change some dates.

Van Diemen Fencing Club is based at the YMCA in Glenorchy: 

8a Constance Avenue, Glenorchy.

You can contact the club 10am-9pm, 7 days a week:

0428 057 473

van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com

www.hobartfencingclub.com.au

Changes to VDFC in 2012:

• Instead of beginner courses for children aged 7 to 10, new students now have 4 x individual lessons, then attend club. Additional individual lessons are optional.
• Saturday club will not run until we have enough members to cover venue hire costs. However, Tuesday club is still running.
• We have monthly squad training for ages 11+, training sessions from 10am to 3pm, designed to give a big boost to fencers' skills.

BEGINNER COURSES:


Ages 11 to 15 and 16+ 
Courses run for eight weeks, each class is 90 minutes long.
Each course costs $100 per student. Course fees are non-refundable.
All equipment is provided, students need only wear full length pants, sneakers and bring a full drink bottle.
Students must attend a minimum of six out of the eight classes to receive the Beginner Epee Fencing certificate.



DATES:
Beginner Epee Fencing:
Course #1: Thursdays, from March 8th.
11 to 15s: 5pm-6.30pm
16 and overs: 6.30pm to 8pm



Ages 7 to 10
New students have four individual lessons with Coach Avril Roddam. 
Each lesson runs for 30 minutes and costs $20.
On completing the four lessons, students will be ready to attend club, where we provide:

• games for co ordination, balance, agility and to improve fencing movements
• footwork and bladework
• free bouting
• basic refereeing

Junior club runs from 5pm to 6pm on TUESDAYS, $5 per session.

11s+ Club runs Tuesdays 6pm to 8pm, $60 per term, $2 per session for equipment hire.


Squad Training
Five hours of footwork, blade drills, games to improve speed, accuracy, balance and co ordination and free bouting.
$20 per fencer. 
Registration (+ payment) due a week prior to ensure adequate numbers.


Squad Training dates:
March: Saturday 17th, 10am-3pm
April: Saturday 28th, 10am-3pm
May: Saturday 19th, 10am-3pm
June: Saturday 16th, 10am-3pm
July: Saturday 21st, 10am-3pm
August: Saturday 11th, 10am-3pm
September: Saturday 22nd, 10am-3pm
October: Saturday 20th, 10am-3pm
November: Saturday 17th, 10am-3pm
December: Saturday 1st, 10am-3pm


Tournaments

The Tasmanian Epee Shield – MAY 12^th.

Open to all Tasmanian fencers, the Tasmanian Epee Shield will have an Open Women’s Epee event and an Open Men’s Epee event. The shield will remain at the club venue and winners will receive medals and their name on the shield.

VDFC #2 – JULY 28^th.

Van Diemen Fencing Club’s second tournament for the year will be open to all Tasmanian fencers and will feature U15s, U17s, U20s and Open events for Epee and Open Sabre.

The Tassie Teaspoon Cup – October 27^th.

The TTC ran in ’02 and ’03, but due to a declining Tasmanian fencing community, it was cancelled for ’04 and all subsequent years.

In 2012, Van Diemen Fencing Club is resurrecting the tournament and will hold it annually.

The idea for the tournament came when a fourteen year old Avril heard that in America, a tiny country town renowned for its potatoes, started a tournament called the Golden Spud, which became a famous fencing event on the USFA calendar.  Avril decided that Tasmania needed a similar event and after some brainstorming with fellow fencers, it was decided that an event, where engraved teaspoons on appropriately coloured ribbons were to be awarded in place of medals, would be held annually.

Thus the Tassie Teaspoon Cup was born.

VDFC #4

This event will be open only to Van Diemen Fencing Club members and will feature both Epee and Sabre events. The date will be set in the second half of the year.




If you would like more information about fencing in Tasmania or to book a fencing lesson, please contact the club:
0428 057 473
van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com
www.hobartfencingclub.com.au


Regards,
Coach Avril Holderness-Roddam

Beginner and Intermediate Courses

Hello!

It is coming to the end of a fantastic year at Van Diemen Fencing Club. 

I have enjoyed meeting so many lovely people and look forward to meeting more in 2012!

This year:

• VDFC opened at the YMCA in Glenorchy with a lovely opening night consisting of cupcakes and fencers from beginners to very experienced, some of whom hadn't fenced for several years and some of whom were training for National tournaments this year.
• We have had two tournaments and one still to come before the year ends. We held OPEN, U20s, U17s and U15s events and saw fencers competing in a happy and friendly atmosphere.
• We have had fencers from Europe visit and currently we have the lovely Magaly teaching the beginner Sabre course - everyone is loving it!
• We went to watch The Three Musketeers together at the cinema... an interesting adaptation it was!
• Some club members represented the club at other tournaments, another congratulations to Jack Aylward for coming 3rd at the Scullduggery Golden Blade Tournament!
• I have seen many members transform from nervous beginners to very fine fencers, using finesse, accuracy, speed and style to win their bouts.
• We have grown from a hand full of members to lots of regulars ranging from beginners to ex International fencers and I have a big surprise for everyone next year, but you'll need to come to club to find out ;)

Beginner and Intermediate Epee Fencing courses start in February 2012.

Ages 7-10

Ages 11-15

Ages 16+

Ages 11+ (Great for parent-child pairs etc)

Classes will fill quickly so contact the club now for more information and to book your space:  van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com / 0428 057 473

___________________________

The Coach:

Avril Holderness-Roddam

• Started Fencing in 2000
• Competes Nationally and keeps up to date with FIE rules, global fencing news and coaching techniques
• Has trained and won medals Nationally and over-seas
• Has a Senior First Aid Certificate with Red Cross
• Has a National Police Check for working with children
• Believes fencing should primarily be about having fun. That said, it is also a great sport for improving balance, co ordination, agility, self-confidence and fitness and suits all ages.

The Venue:

Van Diemen Fencing Club

• Targets for point control practice
• Jackets are washed after every use, masks are cleaned after every use
• Viewing area overlooking club floor for family and friends
• Showers and toilets 
• Scoring box
• Videos of high-level fencing tournaments running for students to watch
• Videos of recent State tournaments for members to watch to analyze and improve their fencing
• Fencing publications from other countries for members to read

Events:

• Tournaments for members and tournaments open to all fencers
• Workshops including equipment maintenance, tournament preparation etc
• Training sessions - general and high performance
• Social events; movie nights, BBQs etc
• End of year Awards Night for members and their families

___________________________

In 2012...

• A well known fencing author and experienced fencer and coach may (we're planning dates with him) be coming to VDFC ro run a training session with members. This is a once-in-a-blue-moon experience so be excited :)
• Early in the year a group of members will be flying to Melbourne to compete in a Victorian tournament.
• In December members will have the opportunity to compete in the Open Nationals in Canberra.
• VDFC will be reviving the Tassie Teaspoon Cup - a fun event where engraved teaspoons hung on ribbons are awarded in place of medals. The event will be open to fencers from all clubs.
• Lots more but you'll have to wait and see ;)

Cheers,

Club Coach,

Avril Holderness-Roddam

Update and Club Dates Nov 2011 - Jan 2012

Hello Everyone!
Time for a quick update!


Van Diemen Fencing Club is going well!  Our lovely French Sabre Coach, Magaly, has been running some highly enjoyable Beginner Sabre classes.  This week she covered parries and ripostes. It is wonderful to see so many happy students listening eagerly :)


The club now has a scoring box so club has been that bit more fun hooking up to the box for bouts.


We have an enthusiastic group for the beginner Epee course running on Mondays and the majority are females so hopefully we'll have enough ladies to run separate Epee events at tournaments soon which means twice the medals to hand out ;)


Club is now running on Saturdays (1pm-3pm) AND Tuesdays (6pm-8pm).


Our last Tuesday club for the year will be on December 13th and our last Saturday club for the year will be on December 10th.


Our last tournament will run on December 17th and 18th. Epee will be on the 17th and will be for club members only this time around. Sabre will be on the 18th and will be limited to Magaly's students.


Don't worry though! I know two months is too long to go without fencing, so we will be holding a training session to get us back in the swing of things. January 14th, 10am-2pm @ the club (YMCA Glenorchy). $20 per person. The session will include footwork, bladework drills, structured bouting and more. The session will be suitable for beginners through to State reps :)


The club is seeking enthusiastic youngsters ages 7 to 10 for junior classes and club in 2012. Currently we only have a couple of fencers in this age group and the more the merrier, so please spread the word!  Fencing is great for this age group because it improves balance, coordination, agility and boosts self confidence.


Our Awards Night is on November 26th!  At the China Diner in Moonah. There will be a lot of awards to hand out! From awards for being a reliable volunteer to awards for top-ranked Senior and Junior Epeeist in 2011. Please RSVP if you wish to attend the night, as I need to book a table.  Avril: 0428 057 473


CLUB SOCIAL EVENT:  This Friday, November 11th, we will be going to the cinema to see The Three Musketeers. This film is rated M so juniors must be accompanied by a parent.  Session times come out tomorrow so please call if you want to come so I can let you know when we'll see it.  We will aim for the session closest to 7pm.  Glenorchy Village Cinemas. Approx. $17 p.p. because it's 3D. We will all wait in the foyer so we can nab good seats as a group :)

Van Diemen Fencing Club always welcomes new members! From Beginner to Experienced, the more the merrier!

Saturday Club

Van Diemen Fencing Club are going to trial club on Saturdays through November.

So, in addition to Tuesday night club from 6-8pm, we will have Saturday club from 2 to 4pm on the following dates:  November: 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th.

If you are keen on having Saturday club, please attend, because the continuation of club on Saturdays in 2012 will rely on enough members participating.

Regards,
Avril Holderness-Roddam
Van Diemen Fencing Club

www.hobartfencingclub.com

Club Tournament #2 and Training Snap Shots

Van Diemen Fencing Club's Second Epee tournament for 2011 was held on the weekend (Sept. 24th).
Open Epee:
1st - Jack Aylward (VDFC)
2nd - Isaac Laredo (TUFC)
3rd - Scott Morgan (VDFC)
4th - Ali Mahjouri-Healey (VDFC)
5th - Emil Kavic (TUFC)
6th - Francis Chui (VDFC)
7th - Avril Holderness-Roddam (VDFC)
8th - Georgie Holderness-Roddam (VDFC)
9th - Heather Howard (VDFC)
10th - Zeekiah Pilon (VDFC)

U20s Epee:
1st - Ali Mahjouri-Healey (VDFC)
2nd - Heather Howard (VDFC)
3rd - Zeekiah Pilon (VDFC)

U17s Epee:
1st - Ali Mahjouri-Healey (VDFC)
2nd - Zeekiah Pilon (VDFC)
3rd - Heather Howard (VDFC)

U15s Epee:
1st - Ali Mahjouri-Healey (VDFC)
2nd - Zeekiah Pilon (VDFC)

Below: Entrants of the Open Epee event.

VDFC fencers, from left: Heather Howard, Jack Aylward, Scott Morgan and Ali Mahjouri-Healey, with their medals from this weekend's club tournament. Not pictured: Zeekiah Pilon.

(Above: Heather Howard, pictured with a medal from the Fencing Tasmania State Tournament in August.)

Above: VDFC fencer Ali Mahjouri-Healey with his medals from the Fencing Tasmania State Tournament in August.

VDFC member Jack Aylward with his 3rd place medal from the Fencing Tasmania State Tournament in August.

The Club:

Training is going well. As per usual, 6-8pm Tuesdays at YMCA Glenorchy.

Here are a few snaps from this evening's club, where ten fencers ranging in experience from State and National reps to beginners were having a lovely evening:

 Below:  Two more shots from the tournament.

Beginner courses start this saturday. For info: van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com / 0428 057 473

BEGINNER EPEE COURSES

CLASSES START THIS SATURDAY! (Oct 1st)

11-15 year olds: Sat (11am-12.30pm)

Ages 16+: Sat (12.30-2pm)

Classes are held at the YMCA in Glenorchy - 8a Constance Ave, Glenorchy.

Enrollment forms will be available on the day.

Bring:

• full length pants
• sneakers
• a full drink bottle
• course payment ($100 per person, cash or cheques accepted)

To contact the club:
0428 057 473  /  van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com

See you there!

Club Update

Hello Everyone!

CLUB
Tonight was a lovely night!
We had a full venue with lots of friendly, happy fencers ranging from beginners to National and ex International reps.
We had a French Sabreur with ten years of experience, who will, incidentally, be running a beginner Sabre course shortly - NUMBERS ARE LIMITED SO PLEASE REGISTER ASAP TO AVOID DISAPOINTMENT!

BEGINNER COURSES
Just a reminder that beginner courses in both Epee and Sabre will be starting soon so for more info call Coach Avril on 0428 057 473 or e-mail her at: van.diemen.fencing.club@gmail.com

VDFC TOURNAMENT #2
The second club Epee tournament for 2011 will be held at the venue (YMCA Glenorchy - 8a Constance Ave) on Saturday, September 24th (not this weekend but the next!).
Age groups will be: U15s, U17s, U20s and Open:
Open events are open to fencers from all clubs, the U15s, U17s and U20s will only be open to VDFC members.
There will be medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each event.
Safety requirements: chest guard, fencing jacket, full length pants OR fencing breaches with full length socks, fencing glove, suitable mask, sports shoes.

EXPERIENCED FENCERS
If you already have fencing experience, please feel free to come along to club on Tuesday nights at the YMCA in Glenorchy (8a Constace Ave), entry via the Fit N' Fun Gym.
It doesn't matter if you don't have your own equipment; all our masks and jackets are lovely and clean and we have chest guards, swords and gloves too.

EQUIPMENT
Van Diemen Fencing Club is the only club in Southern Tasmania to wash its jackets and clean its masks and chest guards after every use.
Nobody wants to wear a mask that is crusty with months of sweat. You can come to our club with the knowledge that all our equipment is clean and fresh.

WEBSITE
Our website has basic information about the club: http://www.hobartfencingclub.com.au/

We look forward to hearing from you!